Toyota Land Cruiser vs Lincoln Aviator

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 U.S. market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Priced at $58,195, it was a more affordable option, but the Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, was considered the better choice. This version boasted a modern, upscale look, a wider color palette, and a more luxurious interior with larger screens and essential off-roading enhancements. The Premium Package added leather and advanced tech, elevating the MSRP to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability, with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark gray cladding, and an optional roof rack. Inside, it featured utilitarian switchgear, dual 12.3-inch screens, and a choice of black or Java leather, offering a blend of traditional and modern elements.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator, essentially a luxurious Ford Explorer, was built on a rear-wheel-drive unibody platform, giving it a premium feel. Its exterior design was elegant, with a long dash-to-axle ratio, a slightly raked profile, and large wheels. The Aviator's grille featured a reverse-horseshoe design with chrome accents, flanked by LED headlights. The interior was the main attraction, especially in the Black Label trim, offering synthetic leather in the base model and upgraded leather in higher trims. The Black Label featured curated themes, such as the Flight theme with tan leather and dark aluminum trim, and the Moonbeam theme with off-white leather and Moon Ash wood. The Invitation theme in the test vehicle showcased Savannah leather with brown stitching, Khaya wood trim, and a synthetic suede headliner, highlighting the Aviator's focus on luxury and quality materials.

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 4WD system featuring electronic locking rear and center differentials. It had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and included features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. It offered a high driving position, excellent visibility, and off-road capabilities enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator prioritized passenger comfort, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 383 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. It used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with AWD optional on lower trims and standard on the Black Label. The Aviator could accelerate to 60 mph in under six seconds, with smooth transmission shifts and a focus on ride quality over handling. It featured a short-arm, long-arm front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension with adaptive dampers. The optional Air Glide suspension, part of the Dynamic Handling package, offered additional control and adjustable ride height. The Aviator had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, slightly less than the Explorer, but sufficient for midsize trailers. Its ride was smooth but somewhat mushy, with body lean in corners and heavy steering, making it feel ponderous.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered SofTex artificial leather in place of cloth upholstery in the upgraded model, 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 were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. It provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort to load heavy items.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, heated and ventilated front seats, and tri-zone automatic climate control in the base trim. The Reserve trim added a power tilt/telescoping steering column and quad-zone climate control. The Black Label trim offered a 30-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with massagers and heated and ventilated second-row seats. The Aviator seated up to seven, with most versions having second-row captain’s chairs. The third row was less comfortable for adults, suitable only for short trips. Cargo space was generous, with 16.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 39.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.9 cubic feet with the second row down, though less than some competitors.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from a 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen to dual 12.3-inch displays in the higher trim, featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Five connected service plans were available, including Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator's tech suite included a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5.8-inch second-row touchscreen. It featured the Lincoln Digital Experience with apps like Google Assistant and Google Play, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, remote start, digital key functionality, and a 10-speaker audio system. The Reserve trim added a head-up display, wireless phone charger, and a Revel 14-speaker audio system, while the Black Label offered a Revel 28-speaker system.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also featured adaptive cruise control, road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. 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 five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator included Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-centering steering, high-beam assist, parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, driver-attention monitor, surround-view camera, and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. The Aviator earned five stars from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, though it lacked a headlight rating for a Top Safety Pick award.