Toyota Land Cruiser vs Ford Expedition

The 2025 Ford Expedition was a testament to the form-over-function design ethos, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more attractive appearance. Its slab sides and rectilinear silhouette ensured ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, making it clear that this vehicle was designed for transporting people comfortably. Despite its functional focus, the Expedition featured stylish elements like horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim. The blacked-out pillars and a distinct character line added to its visual appeal, while the new split-gate tailgate design offered practical benefits for luggage handling and seating.

The Expedition was available in four trim levels: Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch, with two lengths to choose from. The King Ranch trim boasted luxurious Del Rio leather seating, while the entry-level Active trim impressed with its ActiveX synthetic leather upholstery and standard features like tri-zone automatic climate control and a 24-inch panoramic driver information display. The interior design was minimalist, with a futuristic feel, thanks to the large displays and button-light layout, making the Expedition a spacious and modern choice for families.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, the 1958 and the Land Cruiser, showcased a blend of retro and modern design elements. The base 1958 model featured a nostalgic look with round headlights and basic equipment, while the Land Cruiser trim offered a more upscale appearance with additional colors, larger screens, and enhanced off-roading capabilities. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, a sunroof, and other tech features, elevating the interior's comfort and sophistication.

The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances and visibility, with dark gray cladding emphasizing its utility. The interior was utilitarian yet comfortable, with Java-colored leather providing a pleasing contrast. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of modernity, while the intuitive steering-wheel controls made it user-friendly. Despite its impressive off-road capabilities, the Land Cruiser's handling on twisty roads was less than ideal, but it excelled in urban and suburban environments, offering a smooth and comfortable ride.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque in its standard form. The Tremor trim featured a high-output version of this engine, boosting power to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 5,794-pound curb weight, the Expedition's powertrain excelled on highways, providing a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension handled rough terrain with ease. The Tremor trim, with its increased ground clearance and off-road enhancements, performed admirably on challenging courses, although its size limited its hardcore off-roading capabilities. However, the Expedition's fuel economy was a downside, with 4WD models achieving only 15/22/18 mpg.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total output of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The full-time 4WD system, along with features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, made it a capable off-roader. However, the Land Cruiser's real-world fuel economy fell short of expectations, achieving only 15.7 mpg during testing. Despite this, it offered a powerful and responsive driving experience, excelling in urban and suburban settings. Its off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in towing capacity, with a maximum of 9,600 pounds, surpassing competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe. Inside, it offered ample cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet behind the third row in the standard model, expanding to 36.1 cubic feet in the Expedition Max. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided up to 123.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads and a touchscreen for climate controls, offering a high-tech feel, although some may find it less intuitive.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a comfortable interior with SofTex artificial leather upholstery in the base model, while the Premium Package added real leather and a sunroof. The front seats provided excellent support, but the second-row seats lacked comfort. The rear window design was less practical, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The high load floor height required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Ford Expedition featured a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering ample space for Google Maps projection and customizable widgets. The 13.2-inch touchscreen display, powered by a Google-based operating system, provided access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play store. However, the Ford Connectivity Package was necessary for full functionality, requiring a subscription after the first year.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded its displays to two 12.3-inch screens, offering a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with various connected service plans. The Premium Package added a JBL premium sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, and digital key technology, enhancing the Land Cruiser's tech offerings.

The 2025 Ford Expedition came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features like a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts were also standard. BlueCruise 1.4, a hands-free driving tech, was available on select trims, offering a 90-day trial before requiring a subscription.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results in specific tests.