2024 Ford Escape vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2024 Ford Escape carried forward the significant updates from its 2023 redesign, which included a restyled front end, new wheel designs, and an updated trim lineup. These changes gave the compact crossover a more aggressive look, replacing the previous model's wide-eyed, toothless smile. Despite these enhancements, the overall appearance remained soft and generically appealing. The Escape was available in several trims in Canada, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, ST-Line Elite, and Plug-in Hybrid, with prices ranging from $33,049 to $46,999, excluding destination and dealer fees. Our test vehicle, an ST-Line Elite, featured additional options like Rapid Red paint and a Panoramic Vista Roof, bringing the total cost to $49,924. Inside, the Escape's interior initially appeared upscale with diamond-stitched, perforated leather and tech upgrades, but the glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery detracted from its premium feel.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a more traditional SUV design with a focus on off-road capability. The base model, named the 1958, featured a retro look with round headlights and basic equipment, while the Cruiser trim provided a more modern and upscale appearance. The Cruiser trim also included critical off-roading hardware and software, making it the preferred choice for those seeking adventure. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, showcased a Heritage Blue and Grey exterior, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, with a total price of $90,603. The Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian yet comfortable, with Java-coloured leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser's paint options were limited to mostly drab colours, and the rear window design was less practical than expected.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered two powertrain options: a 192-horsepower hybrid and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle featured the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, achieving an average fuel economy of 9.8 L/100 km, falling short of the official rating of 8.4 L/100 km. The Escape's driving dynamics were more about comfort than sportiness, with a soft ride and nimble handling in typical situations. However, the suspension allowed for too much body motion, and the steering felt sluggish. The turbo engine provided quick acceleration, but the overall driving experience didn't match the sporty appearance of the ST-Line trim.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking differentials, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. Despite an official fuel economy rating of 10.1 L/100 km, our real-world testing yielded 15.0 L/100 km. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select enhancing its capabilities. However, its handling on twisty roads was less impressive due to its tires and suspension tuning, making it better suited for urban and off-road environments.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line featured a black interior with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters, accented by red stitching. While leather was optional in the ST-Line Elite trim, it was not recommended due to its uncomfortable feel. The test model included amenities like ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats, but lacked ventilated seats. The front seats were spacious and supportive, while the rear seats offered comfort when slid back. Interior storage was generous in the front, but less so for rear passengers. Cargo space measured 1,061 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,852 litres with the seats folded down.

In the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, upgrading to the Cruiser trim replaced cloth upholstery with SofTex artificial leather, and the Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The high load floor in the cargo area required effort when loading heavy items. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, expanding to 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured digital instrumentation, with upper trims like the ST-Line Elite offering a 12.3-inch display. The 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system impressed with its landscape format and intuitive layout, though the colour theme and thin fonts were less appealing. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system, though the latter had damaged speakers in our test vehicle. The optional head-up display and Active Park Assist 2.0 added convenience, but the placement of controls was unconventional.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays, featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered connected service plans, cloud-based navigation, and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a JBL sound system, wireless charger, head-up display, and digital key technology, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2024 Ford Escape came with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of driving assistance systems including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The ST-Line Elite added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. While the lane-keeping systems were inconsistent, the adaptive cruise control performed well on highways. The Escape received favourable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, with five-star ratings except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, though they struggled in certain conditions. 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 strong side-impact ratings but a lower rollover resistance score.