Toyota Land Cruiser vs Subaru Crosstrek

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek retained much of its predecessor's design, yet introduced new elements like fresh sheet metal, a new chassis, and additional color options such as Sun Blaze, Offshore Blue, and Sapphire Blue. The Wilderness trim offered an exclusive Geyser Blue paint job. While the wheelbase and overall length remained similar, the Crosstrek featured a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space. The base trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road adventures. Roof rails were standard on higher trims, enhancing its outdoorsy appeal. The front fascia had a unique design with headlights seemingly merging into the wing bar, giving it a smiling appearance. Black plastic cladding with air inlets and outlets improved aerodynamics and reduced road noise. The split taillight design from the previous generation continued, allowing wider trunk access. The Wilderness trim added unique exterior elements like a hexagonal grille, larger cladding, and increased ground clearance to 9.3 inches, along with a ladder-style roof rack. Inside, the Wilderness trim featured StarTex synthetic leather upholstery, copper accents, and all-weather floor mats.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, available in two trims, the 1958 and the Land Cruiser, offered a retro look with round headlights and basic equipment in the base model. The Land Cruiser trim, however, presented a more modern and upscale appearance with additional color options and a refined interior. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, a sunroof, and other features. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capabilities with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark gray cladding, and an optional roof rack. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-colored leather option. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a technological edge. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. However, it excelled in urban and suburban environments, offering a comfortable ride and impressive off-road capabilities with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a smaller 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with no manual transmission option available. The CVT was praised for its smooth operation and simulated shift points, although the 2.0-liter engine was noted for its lack of speed. The Wilderness trim featured a shorter final-drive ratio, enhancing its off-road capabilities and towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. However, this resulted in increased road noise and decreased fuel economy. The Crosstrek's steering was light but precise, and its stiffer structure reduced body roll. The standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode traction management system provided excellent off-road performance. Fuel economy was decent for a subcompact crossover, with the 2.0-liter engine achieving 27 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined, while the 2.5-liter engine offered slightly lower figures.

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 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The full-time four-wheel-drive system included electronic locking differentials, and the Land Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing showed lower fuel efficiency at 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views. However, it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. The electric assist motor and turbocharged torque provided a powerful and responsive feel, but acceleration tests revealed modest performance. The Land Cruiser's suspension absorbed rough terrain well, making it a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space and utility for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were adequate, although taller passengers might prefer the front seats. The trunk provided 19.9 cubic feet of space, expanding to 54.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured durable materials and thoughtful design elements, such as cupholders that accommodated Nalgene water bottles. The Wilderness trim added adventure-oriented features like Nalgene cupholders in the trunk and all-weather floor mats.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly in the Land Cruiser trim, offered a more luxurious interior with SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner's power-down feature. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the high load floor required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, offering crisp graphics and retaining physical controls for essential functions. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad available on higher trims. While the technology was impressive, it suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through menus to access certain features. In states with Right to Repair laws, some features were removed, such as remote start via the Subaru Starlink app.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in the Land Cruiser trim, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays with a sophisticated appearance. 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 cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a JBL premium sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured Subaru's EyeSight safety system, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The system's wider-angle lens and automatic emergency steering enhanced safety.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front cross-traffic alert. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with varying performance in different tests.