Toyota Land Cruiser vs Nissan Kicks

The 2025 Nissan Kicks was designed with young consumers and first-time car buyers in mind, drawing inspiration from sneaker culture to create a vehicle that exuded comfort, agility, and style. The Kicks designers aimed to make the vehicle appear tougher than other small crossovers without crossing into sporty territory. Built on the new CMF-B platform, the Kicks was slightly larger and had more ground clearance, distinguishing it from its competitors. It offered nine color options, with the base trim limited to five, while the mid and top trims featured two-tone configurations. The Kicks also incorporated small, thoughtful details like the Kicks logo on side-mirror supports and sneaker-tread-like rocker panel trim, enhancing its premium feel despite its affordability.

Inside, the Kicks featured a variety of textures that mostly complemented each other, although some cost-cutting measures were evident in areas like the headliner and lower console surfaces. The vehicle came standard with 16-inch steel wheels, with 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels available. The interior boasted Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, providing comfort and support with either standard cloth or optional synthetic leather upholstery. Heated front seats were optional on higher trims, but all seats were manually adjustable. The Kicks also featured LED exterior lighting across the lineup.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, presented a blend of retro and modern design elements. The base model, named the 1958, paid homage to the year the Land Cruiser was first sold in the US, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. The more expensive Land Cruiser model boasted a modern, upscale look with additional color options, a nicer interior, and essential off-roading hardware. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, showcased Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and an accessory roof rack, bringing the price to $71,004.

The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances and visibility, with dark gray cladding underscoring its utility. The interior, while utilitarian, was more refined than the 1958 model, featuring Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. The vehicle excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like a front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views. However, it struggled on twisty roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. Despite its shortcomings, the Land Cruiser offered a powerful and responsive driving experience, especially in urban and suburban settings.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous criticisms of being loud and harsh by introducing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a new CVT, delivering 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant improvement over the previous generation's 1.6-liter engine, which produced 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The new powertrain allowed the Kicks to keep pace with traffic while maintaining good fuel economy. The introduction of all-wheel drive (AWD) across the lineup enhanced the Kicks' SUV-like feel and made it more appealing in regions with harsh winters. The AWD system utilized torque vectoring to optimize traction, and the vehicle's multi-link suspension and retuned steering contributed to a balanced driving experience.

The Kicks excelled in ride and handling, with minimal body roll and improved noise control in the cabin. However, it was slow to accelerate at times, particularly when passing at high elevations. Sport mode offered some improvement, but it didn't affect suspension or steering tuning. The Kicks also featured a new Snow mode on AWD versions, enhancing traction in slippery conditions. Fuel economy ratings were 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models, while AWD models achieved 37 city, 34 highway, and 30 combined.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured 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 produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's full-time 4WD system included electronic locking rear and center differentials, and the vehicle came standard with Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature.

Despite an official 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 mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The vehicle's suspension absorbed rough pavement well, and its high seating position provided excellent visibility. Off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views enhancing its performance. However, acceleration was modest, and the vehicle exhibited rear-end squat and nose dive during hard braking and cornering.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks offered a good view of the road from the driver's seat, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The proximity lock and unlock feature on SV and SR trims allowed for hands-free access. The Kicks' redesign allocated more space to passengers, particularly in the second row, and the panoramic moonroof added an airy feel. The vehicle boasted best-in-class cargo space, with up to 30 cubic feet (23.9 cubic feet with AWD) and 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the cabin experienced wind buffeting with only the driver's side window down, which could be alleviated by opening another window or the moonroof.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured SofTex artificial leather 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 than ideal, requiring the glass to be flipped up rather than powered down. The vehicle offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the high load floor height required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks featured a base infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a four-speaker stereo. The SV trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a six-speaker stereo, and two USB-C ports. The SR trim included dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless charging, and a Bose audio system with 10 speakers, including headrest speakers. The screens were well-integrated, and the Bose system added personality to the driving experience.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the 1958 model's 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen to dual 12.3-inch displays. The Toyota Audio Multimedia 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 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 2025 Nissan Kicks came standard with a rearview camera and Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. ProPilot Assist was standard on the SV trim, offering features like predictive forward collision warning and lane-departure prevention. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, a first for a subcompact crossover. However, it hadn't been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Additional features included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but only three stars for rollover resistance.