Toyota Land Cruiser vs Subaru Outback

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to its debut year in the US. 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, making it a costly choice for those seeking a budget-friendly SUV. The more modern Land Cruiser trim, priced at $62,965, boasted a contemporary look, 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. Compared to a Lexus RX, the Land Cruiser's steering-wheel controls were notably more intuitive. Despite its personality, the limited color options were somewhat disappointing. The vehicle's purposeful look was complemented by dark gray cladding, and the optional roof rack increased its utility. Overall, the Land Cruiser offered a blend of classic style and modern functionality, appealing to those seeking a capable off-road vehicle with a touch of luxury.

The 2026 Subaru Outback marked a significant shift in design, adopting a more SUV-like appearance while maintaining its wagon roots. Despite only slight increases in dimensions, the Outback's blockier, upright design gave it a more commanding presence. The new rectangular grille, horizontal accent lights, and boxy headlights contributed to its rugged look. Faceted plastic trim around the body and wheel arches enhanced its off-road appeal, while the flatter roofline and upright rear liftgate window reinforced the blocky theme. Inside, the dashboard was redesigned with a flatter, more modern look, featuring a digital instrument panel and a repositioned infotainment touchscreen. Physical climate controls were reintroduced, improving usability.

The interior materials were of high quality, even in the base Premium trim, with woven textile coverings on the dash and door panels. Higher trims offered smoother materials and leather upholstery, with the top Touring trim's saddle-brown palette adding warmth and ruggedness. The Outback's interior was thoughtfully designed, with improved storage solutions and a focus on practicality. The cargo capacity increased, and the multifunction cargo cover added versatility. The robust roof rack was capable of supporting overlanding setups, and Subaru offered various accessories to enhance its utility. Overall, the 2026 Outback combined modern design with practicality, making it a strong contender in the midsize SUV segment.

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. The Land Cruiser boasted a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg, partly due to challenging conditions.

The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. It handled urban and suburban environments well, with a high seating position offering excellent visibility. Off-road, it proved capable, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control enhancing its performance. The Land Cruiser's power and responsiveness were aided by the electric assist motor, though acceleration and braking revealed some limitations. Overall, it was a robust vehicle for those who valued off-road capability and daily practicality.

The 2026 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter boxer-four producing 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The base engine surprised with its performance, providing adequate power for the 3,741-pound Outback. The CVT's quick response improved acceleration, and the turbocharged engine offered a more potent option for those seeking extra power. The Outback handled city and highway driving with composure, cornering well and absorbing road imperfections.

The CVT featured eight simulated gears, controllable via steering-wheel-mounted paddles, aiding in descents. The Outback's off-road capability was a highlight, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode for improved traction. The forthcoming Wilderness model promised even greater capability with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires. Overall, the Outback offered a balanced performance, suitable for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior offered a mix of comfort and practicality. Upgrading from the 1958 model introduced SofTex artificial leather, 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 were helpful for roof access but could hinder entry and exit for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space.

The Land Cruiser offered 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. Overall, the Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian yet comfortable, with ample cargo space for various needs.

The 2026 Subaru Outback's interior space was impressive, with a total volume of 146.9 cubic feet, qualifying it as a midsize SUV. The rear seats accommodated taller adults comfortably, with ample legroom and large windows enhancing the sense of space. The Outback's design focused on practicality, with improved storage solutions like cupholders for larger mugs and door pockets for 32-ounce flasks. The cargo capacity increased to 34.6 cubic feet, with a maximum of 80.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The multifunction cargo cover added versatility, and the robust roof rack supported overlanding setups.

Subaru's attention to detail was evident in the interior design, with thoughtful features catering to active lifestyles. The Outback's interior was spacious and practical, making it an excellent choice for families and adventure enthusiasts.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured advanced technology, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and infotainment system. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Five connected service plans were available, with Drive Connect offering 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 Land Cruiser's technology was user-friendly, with voice recognition performing well in tests. The infotainment system was well-equipped, offering a range of features for connectivity and convenience.

The 2026 Subaru Outback also advanced in technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system was responsive, with customizable layouts and an anti-reflective coating for improved visibility. The infotainment interface was intuitive, with logical menus and sharp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a wireless charging pad was available. The climate controls were separate from the infotainment screen, enhancing usability.

The Outback's technology focused on ease of use, with practical features that enhanced the driving experience. While not groundbreaking, the tech offerings were well-executed and user-friendly.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving aid. Additional features included a 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. While some safety features were occasionally intrusive, they proved valuable in critical situations.

The 2026 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight suite of safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, and more. The Touring trim added premium features like a surround-view camera system, hands-free highway driving assist, and active lane-change assist. The highway pre-curve speed control feature used mapping data to adjust speed before bends.

While crash test results were not yet available, Subaru's commitment to safety suggested top marks were likely. The Outback's safety features were comprehensive and effective, enhancing driver confidence.