Toyota Land Cruiser vs Honda HR-V

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to the year it first hit the U.S. 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 prompted potential buyers to reconsider their choice. The more modern Land Cruiser trim, priced at $62,965, offered a sophisticated look with additional color options, a refined interior, and essential off-roading features. The Premium Package further enhanced this model with leather upholstery, advanced technology, and a more upscale appearance.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized functionality, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized off-road capabilities and interior space. The interior was utilitarian yet upscale, especially with the Premium Package, which added Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. The SUV's steering-wheel controls were notably intuitive, especially when compared to those in a Lexus RX. The Land Cruiser's purposeful design and practical features, such as the optional roof rack, made it a versatile choice for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2026 Honda HR-V was offered in three trim levels: LX, Sport, and EX-L, with prices ranging from $27,650 to $31,500, including a $1,450 destination charge. Adding all-wheel drive (AWD) incurred an additional $1,500. The test vehicle, an EX-L AWD, featured Nordic Forest Pearl paint and a total MSRP of $33,455. Despite its somewhat unconventional design, the HR-V's green paint and 18-inch alloy wheels enhanced its appearance.

The 2026 HR-V saw significant styling updates, including new wheel designs for each trim level and standard dark-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside, the HR-V offered a more appealing interior with available gray upholstery and trim, creating a visual contrast against the predominantly black interior. The EX-L trim featured genuine leather seats with perforated surfaces and Z-pattern stitching, along with upgraded cabin lighting and detailing. The HR-V's interior showcased Honda's attention to detail, with features like metal mesh dashboard trim and tamboured knobs, contributing to a higher-class feel.

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, enabling a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's full-time four-wheel-drive system included electronic locking rear and center differentials, along with standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive 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. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The SUV's high seating position provided excellent visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver on trails. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views. While the Land Cruiser felt powerful and responsive, its acceleration and handling were best suited for slow and steady driving.

The 2026 Honda HR-V featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. Weighing up to 3,336 pounds, the HR-V's engine worked hard, especially when paired with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the CVT performed well in urban driving, the HR-V's lack of power was evident during acceleration onto highways or when overtaking slower vehicles. The HR-V's fuel economy was rated at 28 mpg combined for front-wheel drive (FWD) and 27 mpg combined for AWD, but real-world testing yielded an average of 24.8 mpg.

The HR-V's dynamic tuning was commendable, with a multi-link rear suspension and Agile Handling Assist providing a lively feel in twists and turns. The steering was not particularly quick, but the brake pedal felt good, and the brakes performed well during a mountain descent. The EX-L's 18-inch wheels and tires offered impressive grip, and the HR-V's seven inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle minor obstacles with ease.

Upgrading from the Land Cruiser 1958 to the Land Cruiser trim swapped cloth upholstery for Toyota's SofTex artificial leather, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a standard-size power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards were helpful for roof rack access but could be cumbersome for taller passengers.

The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, as it required driving with the window glass flipped up. The center console's cool box, part of the Premium Package, seemed unnecessary and reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded. However, the high load floor height required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2026 Honda HR-V's interior lacked the innovation of its predecessor, with the rear "Magic Seat" now folding flat like other crossovers. The HR-V missed opportunities to enhance practicality, such as a fold-flat front passenger seat or a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat. The EX-L trim included a standard moonroof but lacked rear climate control vents, USB charging ports, and cargo area storage solutions.

The HR-V's front storage was reasonable, though the plastic surfaces produced scratching noises. The seats were comfortable, with the EX-L offering an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats. The back seat provided adequate space for adults but lacked support and amenities like a center armrest, cupholders, and rear air-conditioning vents. The HR-V's cargo area offered 24.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 55.1 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured upgraded technology with dual 12.3-inch displays, replacing the 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Land Cruiser 1958. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system included 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.

Drive Connect offered a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital assistant, which performed well in voice recognition tests. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital camera-based rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

For 2026, the Honda HR-V's standard touchscreen size increased from 7 to 9 inches, with a faster processor for improved responsiveness. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and every HR-V featured a wireless smartphone charger. However, the system lacked built-in navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio. The base LX had four speakers, while the Sport trim had six and the EX-L had eight.

The HR-V's tech was simple and user-friendly, with seamless integration with an iPhone for pairing, using Siri, and streaming music. The EX-L's eight-speaker audio system delivered good sound quality. The 7-inch digital instrumentation panel was smart, and the walk-away automatic vehicle locking feature was a pleasant surprise. However, the HR-V's technology offerings were less comprehensive compared to competitors like the Hyundai Kona.

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). 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 combined 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. The Land Cruiser's ADAS performance varied, with some features proving helpful while others were less reliable. The SUV received a four-star overall 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 Honda HR-V featured Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assistive features including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on the Sport and EX-L trims, while front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking were exclusive to the EX-L.

Honda Sensing technology was generally unobtrusive, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to perform as expected. The HR-V received favorable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2025. However, IIHS ratings for the 2026 model were not yet available.