Toyota Land Cruiser vs Ford Explorer

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to the year it first hit the US market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Despite its nostalgic charm, the 1958 model was priced at $58,195, which might have seemed steep for those seeking a budget-friendly SUV. The more modern Land Cruiser trim, priced at $62,965, boasted a contemporary design, a wider color palette, and a more luxurious interior with larger screens. It also included essential off-roading features and offered a Premium Package with leather and advanced tech. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, showcased Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, bringing the total cost to $71,004.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability with a traditional two-box SUV shape, maximizing clearances and visibility. Its utilitarian interior featured traditional switchgear, with the Java-colored leather adding a touch of elegance. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhanced its technological appeal. Despite its rugged exterior, the Land Cruiser's interior was more refined than the 1958 model, justifying its price. The steering-wheel controls were notably intuitive, especially compared to those in a Lexus RX. Overall, the Land Cruiser combined classic design with modern amenities, making it a compelling choice for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2026 Ford Explorer retained its familiar look, having undergone a facelift in 2025 that gave it a more rugged, truck-like appearance. This design set the stage for the 2026 Tremor model, which further enhanced its off-road capabilities with all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels, a raised ride height, and off-road lights in the grille. The Tremor also featured Electric Spice accents, a golden hue reminiscent of Subaru's Wilderness models. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Tremor surpassed competitors like the Chevrolet Traverse Z71 and Honda Pilot TrailSport in off-road prowess.

The Explorer lineup remained largely unchanged, with the Active as the base model and the Platinum as the most luxurious. The ST-Line and ST trims offered sportier styling, while the Tremor focused on off-road performance. Inside, the Explorer's interior, revamped in 2025, featured a new infotainment system and improved design. However, the materials in the Tremor test vehicle felt subpar for its price. Despite this, the Explorer offered ample options, from basic cloth seats to luxurious leather upholstery in the Platinum trim. Overall, the 2026 Ford Explorer combined rugged styling with a comfortable ride, making it a versatile choice for both on-road and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with power distributed through a full-time four-wheel-drive system featuring electronic locking rear and center differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and included standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The higher-end Land Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature.

Despite an official EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing revealed a less impressive 15.7 mpg. However, the Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, with its suspension soaking up rough terrain and city streets alike. While it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning, it offered a commanding view and easy maneuverability. Off-road, the Land Cruiser's features, including 8.7 inches of ground clearance, made it a capable vehicle. Its power and responsiveness were aided by the electric assist motor and turbocharged torque, though acceleration and braking revealed some limitations.

The 2026 Ford Explorer retained its powertrain options, with a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Tremor and ST models featured a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, delivering 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard on most trims and all-wheel drive standard on the Tremor. The Explorer's unibody design, shared with the Mustang and Lincoln Aviator, contributed to its confident handling and comfortable ride, even in the off-road-focused Tremor model.

The twin-turbo V6 provided ample power, with quick turbo spool-up and a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer's handling impressed, especially on highways and sweeping corners, while the active noise cancellation kept the cabin quiet. Off-road, the Tremor model demonstrated its capability on challenging trails, though it was more comfortable on-road than a dedicated off-roader like the Bronco. Overall, the Explorer offered a balance of power, comfort, and off-road capability, making it a versatile choice for various driving conditions.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to Toyota's SofTex artificial leather in the higher trim, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats provided excellent support, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The running boards, though helpful for roof access, could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary, taking up valuable storage space.

The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the high load floor required some effort when loading heavy items. Despite these drawbacks, the Land Cruiser's interior combined comfort and functionality, making it a practical choice for both daily use and off-road adventures.

The 2026 Ford Explorer accommodated up to seven passengers across three rows, with the option for second-row captain's chairs. While it offered reasonable space for a midsize crossover, it had slightly less headroom in the third row and less legroom in the second row compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot. The Explorer's cargo space was competitive, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 85.3 cubic feet with the second row down.

The Explorer's interior featured ample storage options, including phone trays, large door pockets, and a spacious center console. The rotary shift knob allowed easy access to adjacent cupholders. With a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, the Explorer matched the average for its class, though it fell short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder. Overall, the Explorer offered a practical and versatile interior, suitable for families and adventurers alike.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a significant upgrade in technology, with dual 12.3-inch displays replacing the smaller screens in the base model. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect. The latter provided cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant, which performed well in voice recognition tests.

The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology. These features enhanced the Land Cruiser's technological appeal, making it a well-equipped SUV for modern drivers.

The 2026 Ford Explorer came standard with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio. The infotainment system, introduced in 2025, featured better-integrated screens and the Ford Digital Experience system. USB-C ports were standard across all rows, with additional USB-A ports for first-row occupants.

The Explorer's infotainment system was user-friendly, though the climate control icons could be more intuitive. The instrument cluster offered a range of functions, including a map view, but navigating the controls could be challenging. The 360-degree camera system, available on higher trims, provided useful views for off-road driving. Overall, the Explorer's technology package was comprehensive and well-suited for both everyday use and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent accidents. TSS 3.0 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist, which, when used with adaptive cruise control, provided a semi-autonomous highway driving aid.

Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist (PDA). The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. While some ADAS features were helpful, others, like PDA, could be intrusive. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Ford Explorer featured the CoPilot 360+ system, standard on Active models, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered CoPilot 360 2.0, adding a 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Ford's BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system, upgraded to version 1.5 for 2026, added automated lane-change capability. While the system worked well, more gradual braking would have been preferred. The Explorer earned the highest safety ratings, including an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash testing and four stars in rollover testing.