Toyota Land Cruiser vs Volkswagen Tiguan

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 refined interior with larger screens and essential off-roading enhancements. The Premium Package added leather, more tech, and other upgrades, bringing the price to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capabilities, 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 Java-colored leather interior, offering a blend of traditional and advanced elements.

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan, in its third generation, drew styling inspiration from VW's electric lineup. The traditional grille was replaced with an LED lightbar, and the front end was nearly sealed off, similar to the all-electric ID.4. The SEL R-Line Turbo trim featured an illuminated VW logo and an LED light bar. The rear bumper mirrored the front's honeycomb pattern, and LED taillights added an upscale touch. Despite a shorter front and rear overhang, the wheelbase remained at 109.9 inches. The d-pillar's increased slope affected cargo capacity, but the Tiguan still offered a range of wheel sizes and interesting colors like Monterey Blue and Avocado Green. Inside, the base S trim had cloth seats, while higher trims featured leatherette or two-tone Varenna leather upholstery. The SEL R-Line Turbo trim stood out with quilted stitching and walnut trim. A tablet-style touchscreen, measuring 12.9 inches in most trims and 15 inches in the SEL R-Line Turbo, dominated the dashboard, which had a minimalist design. The Tiguan's interior was quiet, with excellent pedal feel and impressive build quality.

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 a full-time 4WD system and electronic locking differentials, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, while 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, with impressive suspension tuning that absorbed rough terrain. However, it struggled on twisty roads due to its tires and suspension. The SUV offered a high driving position with excellent visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver on trails. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control.

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque with FWD, or 221 pound-feet with 4Motion AWD. The SEL R-Line Turbo trim introduced a more powerful engine with 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Tiguan's eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery, and the SUV was tuned for comfort, with drive modes like Normal, Sport, Eco, and Individual. The suspension offered sharp cornering but resulted in a rougher ride on bad pavement. The Tiguan was notably quiet, with minimal wind, tire, or engine noise. However, it lacked a hybrid option, which could deter fuel economy-focused buyers.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered SofTex artificial leather upholstery in the Land Cruiser 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 running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box was deemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser 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 when loading heavy items.

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan, redesigned for 2025, no longer offered a third row, resulting in reduced interior space compared to the previous generation. Cargo capacity decreased to 69.8 cubic feet behind the front seats and 33.8 cubic feet behind the back seat. Despite this, the Tiguan remained more spacious than some competitors. The third-row removal increased second-row legroom by 1.5 inches, and visibility was excellent due to narrow A-pillars. The interior featured practical elements like large door pockets, tandem-oriented cupholders, and a wireless charging pad with an integrated cooling fan. The charging pad's vertical orientation kept phones secure and cool.

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, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. 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 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a 12.9-inch touchscreen, with the SEL R-Line Turbo featuring a 15-inch version. While visually striking, the larger screen integrated many controls into the software, with finicky slider controls for volume and climate. A redundant volume knob was located between the front seats. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 10.25-inch digital driver display. The "atmospheres" ambient lighting system offered various mood settings, managed via the Driving Experience Dial. The SEL R-Line Turbo trim upgraded to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety 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 NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS. It featured the Intelligent Crash Response System, which shut off the fuel pump, activated hazard lights, and unlocked doors in a crash. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System applied brakes to prevent additional collisions. The Tiguan's IQ.Drive suite included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-condition monitor. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist provided semi-autonomous driving, with driver-initiated lane-change assist as part of Travel Assist.