2024 Genesis GV70 vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2024 Genesis GV70 distinguished itself within the Genesis lineup and its competitive set with its sleek design and luxury-car style. It retained certain Genesis styling features for brand recognition, such as split headlights and a large shield-like grille, but was sleeker than the larger GV80 and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. Notable details included a hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinctive 21-inch wheels. The GV70 struck a balance between SUV size and luxury style, outperforming competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in finesse and offering a more cohesive luxury SUV image than the Porsche Macan or Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as its gasoline counterpart, with a shiny grille housing the charge port, making it convenient for charging. Inside, the GV70 featured a distinctive interior with traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather and a panoramic sunroof, complemented by unique details such as an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, presented a blend of retro and modern styling. The base model, named 1958, paid homage to the year the model was first sold in the US, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. The more upscale Land Cruiser model boasted a modern look, more color options, and a nicer interior with larger screens and essential off-roading hardware. The Premium Package added leather, more tech, and features like a roof rack. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized utility with a traditional two-box SUV shape, maximizing off-road clearances and visibility. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-colored leather option providing contrast. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a technological edge, and the steering-wheel controls were intuitive. The Land Cruiser's exterior and interior design choices reflected its off-road capability and practicality, though some features like the rear window and center console's cool box were less practical.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered unchanged powertrain options, with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and an available 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors delivering a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a "Boost Mode" providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered vigorous straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The ride quality was reasonable but not exceptional, with the suspension tending to crash over bumps. The Electrified GV70 maintained similar driving dynamics to the gasoline model, with the added benefit of adjustable regenerative braking and a 236-mile range.

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, producing 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The full-time four-wheel-drive system included electronic locking differentials, enabling a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Off-road features like Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select modes enhanced its capability. However, the Land Cruiser's handling on twisty roads was less impressive due to its tires and suspension tuning. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled in urban and off-road settings, with a suspension that absorbed bumps and a high driving position offering excellent visibility. Off-road features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views added to its capability, though its acceleration and braking performance were modest.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than rivals but more front-seat legroom than the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. Its 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space was better than the Mercedes but less than the Audi Q5. Folding the rear seats provided 56.9 cubic feet of space. The Electrified GV70's interior space was minimally impacted by the battery pack, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The stylish interior design, featuring an orb-like infotainment controller and rotary shifter, limited small-item storage, but a dedicated phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls were included. Automatic side bolsters in the front seats added a sporty touch.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured SofTex artificial leather in the base model, with real leather and a sunroof available in the Premium Package. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The rear window design limited airflow, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded was 82.1 cubic feet.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system, while simpler than rivals, featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The system was user-friendly, with a rotary controller and a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles. Digital key functionality allowed phone-based access and operation.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the 1958 model's 7-inch display to dual 12.3-inch screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a JBL sound system, wireless charger, head-up display, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with four-star frontal and rollover ratings from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Highway Driving Assist. The Highway Driving Assist 2 system added lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring. A safe exit assist function and radar-based rear occupant alert system were also available.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. 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.