Toyota Land Cruiser vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax emerged as a more stylish and appealing option compared to its predecessor. It adopted car-like proportions, shared with the Buick Envista, to attract customers who missed the Cruze or Sonic. The Trax's design featured Blazer-like headlights, a wide grille, and a tall front end, giving it a distinct personality. Its chunky wheel arches and sleek side profile added to its appeal, while the wide stance and imposing grille provided a touch of SUV toughness. The Trax lineup included various trim levels, each with unique features such as different wheel sizes and distinctive styling elements. Inside, the Trax maintained an entry-level feel with rubbery surfaces, but its design details were a cut above. The interior featured large air vents, contrasting trim, and a layout reminiscent of a Corvette. While most of the interior was basic black, the LT test car's gray door panels and blue accents added a touch of flair.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser offered two versions: the Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 model featured round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim level boasted rectangular lamps and artificial leather upholstery. The higher trim level also offered more color options and additional features. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 catered to those seeking a basic yet functional vehicle, while the upmarket Land Cruiser, priced from $64,620, targeted buyers looking for more luxury. The test vehicle came equipped with several options, including a two-tone paint job, a Premium Package, and various off-road features. Inside, the Land Cruiser emphasized function over form, with a cabin that wasn't as upscale as its Lexus counterpart but still exuded quality. The optional Premium Package added luxurious touches like leather upholstery and heated rear seats. The Land Cruiser's displays and switchgear were similar to those of the Lexus, offering a sense of sophistication.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax was powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It featured a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option to keep costs down. Despite its small engine, the Trax delivered impressive performance, with quick acceleration and minimal turbo lag. The conventional automatic transmission contributed to its drivability, offering smoother power delivery compared to a CVT. While not designed for performance, the Trax handled twisty roads with poise, though it exhibited some body roll and limited grip. The suspension provided a comfortable ride, and active noise cancellation enhanced refinement, though some tire noise and engine drone were still present.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, offering a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's hybrid system delivered impressive torque, making it feel powerful, though not exceptionally quick. Designed for off-roading, it excelled on challenging terrain, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select enhancing its capabilities. In daily driving, the Land Cruiser provided a rugged yet comfortable ride, though it exhibited some drivetrain clunks and a touchy brake pedal. On highways, it was smooth and easy to drive, though wind noise was noticeable.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax offered competitive interior space for a small crossover, with headroom comparable to the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek. It provided more rear-seat legroom than the Subaru and significantly more than the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks. With 25.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 54.1 cubic feet with them folded, the Trax offered practical utility. Its tall seating position facilitated easy ingress and egress, and forward visibility was impressive. However, rear visibility was somewhat limited, compensated by large exterior mirrors. The interior featured large door pockets and cup holders, though the wireless device charger struggled to hold phones in place.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior varied between the 1958 model and the higher trim level. The 1958 featured manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery, while the higher trim offered power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, wrapped in SofTex artificial leather. The Premium Package added genuine leather, memory settings, and additional features. The Land Cruiser accommodated up to five passengers comfortably, though it lacked a third-row seat. Storage was mixed, with a small center console cool box and limited cupholder capacity. The power liftgate provided access to a 46.2 cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 82.2 cubic feet, though the high liftover height and lack of a flat surface posed challenges for loading.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a four-speaker audio system as standard on the base LS model. Higher trim levels featured an 11-inch touchscreen, an all-digital 8-inch instrument cluster, and a six-speaker sound system. The LT model included a digital cluster with a large speed readout and a user-friendly touchscreen layout. However, the touchscreen's driver-oriented angle made it difficult for the front passenger to use, and the volume knob was awkwardly placed.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 featured a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The higher trim level offered a more advanced tech stack with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The test vehicle included wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Toyota Connected Services. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the Intelligent Assistant occasionally misinterpreted commands.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax offered standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and forward collision warning. Higher trim levels had additional options like adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. However, safety ratings were lacking, with the IIHS giving the Trax a "Poor" rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and low marks for headlights and front-crash prevention tech.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit assist system. The Premium Package added lane-change assist and Traffic Jam Assist. The NHTSA gave the Land Cruiser an overall safety rating of four stars, with mixed ratings from the IIHS, including a "Marginal" score in the moderate overlap frontal impact test.