2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser presented a classic yet modern aesthetic, with its boxy design and flat roof reminiscent of its iconic predecessors. Each of the three trims featured unique elements that paid homage to past models, such as the heritage grille and distinctive headlight designs. The vehicle's LED lighting and color-selectable fog lights added a contemporary touch. Inside, the Land Cruiser offered a range of seating materials from cloth to real leather, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard across all trims. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats and padded surfaces, ensuring a pleasant driving experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, was less visually striking despite its exclusive paint job and orange brake calipers. The RX lineup offered three models, each with varying power and efficiency. The RX 350h was the most efficient, while the RX 500h provided the most power. The RX 450h+ offered a plug-in hybrid option. The RX's interior was contemporary, with quality materials and ambient lighting, though some ergonomic choices, like the steering wheel controls, were less intuitive. The RX prioritized occupant comfort and practical cargo space, with ample room for adults in the rear seats.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with a two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Land Cruiser excelled off-road, thanks to its Multi-Terrain Select system and CRAWL control function, which offered five speed settings for navigating challenging terrain. The vehicle's ability to disconnect the front sway bar and its silent operation during off-road maneuvers were notable improvements.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three models with varying performance. The RX 350h delivered 246 hp and was the most fuel-efficient, while the RX 450h+ provided 304 hp and a plug-in hybrid option. The RX 500h stood out with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. Despite its power, the RX 500h's fuel efficiency was lower than expected, and its drivetrain occasionally hesitated. The RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked dynamic capability and communication between the driver and the road.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, and the cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space with a raised load floor. The vehicle included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model featured snug front seats with enhanced bolstering, though the bottom cushions were less comfortable over long drives. The rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated features. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Interior storage was practical, though some compartments lacked lining, leading to potential noise.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, enhancing the 12.3-inch center touchscreen's utility during off-road driving. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. The base infotainment system offered an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system, while higher trims could upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen display for infotainment. The Lexus Interface system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and cloud-based navigation. The RX 500h model offered a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, though some features like digital key functionality and a hands-free power liftgate were optional. The steering wheel controls were less intuitive, causing potential distractions while driving.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by major safety organizations, but it came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added features like lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid included Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 provided advanced driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The RX earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS rated it poorly in some tests. The optional Convenience Package added a surround-view camera, enhancing safety during driving.