2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby 90 and the visually heavy 130. Buyers had a plethora of options to personalize their Defenders, from base prices starting at $58,525 for the 90 to $120,525 for a 130 V8, including destination charges. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, came with the Extended Black Exterior Pack and a host of off-roading technologies, bringing its MSRP to $106,092. The Gondwana Stone paint, paired with orange brake calipers and 20-inch wheels, was less appealing than other available colors like Pangea Green or Santorini Black. Inside, the Defender X featured premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, maintaining an industrial yet quality-focused interior theme.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a more traditional SUV design with a utilitarian focus. The base 1958 model, priced at $58,195, featured a retro look with round headlights and basic equipment. The more modern Land Cruiser model, at $62,965, provided a sophisticated appearance with additional off-roading capabilities and a Premium Package option. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, Heritage Blue paint, and a roof rack, had an MSRP of $71,004. The Land Cruiser's interior, while utilitarian, was enhanced with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens, offering a technologically advanced feel. Despite its drab color options, the Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances and visibility, making it a practical choice for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided robust acceleration and a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X, with its adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, excelled in off-road conditions, offering 11.4 inches of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches. However, on-road performance was less impressive, with the vehicle's weight and steering limiting its agility on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was below expectations, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the 19 mpg combined rating.

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 to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This setup, along with a full-time 4WD system, allowed for a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by Multi-Terrain Select modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an official EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, the Land Cruiser achieved only 15.7 mpg in real-world testing. While it excelled in urban and off-road environments, its handling on twisty roads was hindered by its suspension and tires, making it less suitable for spirited driving.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered spacious seating across three rows, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats providing excellent comfort and visibility. The interior felt open and airy, thanks to a panoramic sunroof and large windows. However, the Defender's side mirrors were undersized, and the rear view was limited. The Defender 130's cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, complicating loading in tight spaces.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly with the Premium Package, featured comfortable front seats with real leather and a power sunroof. However, the second-row seats lacked support, and the rear window design limited airflow. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The high load floor required effort when loading heavy items, but the cube-shaped cargo area was practical for storage.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring an 11.4-inch touchscreen and a configurable digital driver display. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a range of connected services. While previous iterations of Pivi Pro were criticized for their user interface, the system in our test vehicle performed well, with accurate voice command responses and an intuitive user experience. Additional features included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the Defender's usability.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, with the Premium Package, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays and the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. This system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a cloud-based navigation system with a digital assistant. The Premium Package also added a JBL premium sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, and digital key technology. The Land Cruiser's infotainment system was user-friendly, with accurate voice recognition and a range of connected services.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a suite of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The system operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable for the Defender at the time of review.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems such as forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The system's performance varied, with some features requiring manual intervention. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a five-star side-impact rating but a three-star rollover resistance rating.