2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Audi Q5

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, maintained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. The J250 model featured a heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, a nod to the 40 series, while the round headlights on the First Edition echoed the 20 series. Other versions sported rectangular headlights reminiscent of the FJ62. All lighting was upgraded to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. Higher trims boasted colour-selectable fog lights from RIGID Industries, adding a contemporary twist. The beltline was lowered for improved visibility, and the vehicle came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available. Inside, the base trim offered cloth seats, while higher trims featured SofTex or real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with additional features like a moonroof and ventilated seats in higher trims. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats, a padded centre console, and attractive contrast stitching.

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a robust SUV aesthetic with a large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights, giving it an imposing front-end look. The body featured well-defined lines, adding musculature, while the styling elements appeared more evolutionary than revolutionary. Canadian trims included base, Progressiv, and Technik, with matrix-design LED headlights and animated taillights on all but the base model. The Q5 was available in standard SUV and coupe-like Sportback body styles, with the latter offering a sleeker profile at the expense of cargo space and rear-seat headroom. The SQ5 performance grade featured matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, a rear diffuser, and quad exhaust tips, with 21-inch wheels standard. Inside, the design was distinctive, with a mix of top-notch materials and a somewhat discordant layout. Leather seating was standard, with a red interior and Alcantara trim available on the SQ5. However, the SQ5 seats lacked adequate bolstering for enthusiastic driving.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and 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 standard full-time four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on all but the base models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The vehicle came with an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and centre-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for low-speed cruise control, operating silently over challenging terrain.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. The base model's 2.0-litre turbo-four produced 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the SQ5's 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 delivered 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Q5's performance was competitive, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds for the standard model and 4.8 seconds for the SQ5. However, the dual-clutch transmission exhibited turbo lag and rough shifts, affecting acceleration. The standard steel-spring suspension with passive frequency selective damping provided capable handling, while the SQ5's air suspension with adaptive damping offered sportier tuning. Despite competent tuning, the Q5's handling didn't encourage aggressive driving, and the steering lacked feedback. Off-Road and Off-Road Plus modes raised the air suspension and incorporated hill-descent control, but the Q5 was more suited to dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 917 mm in the front and 897 mm in the back, and legroom at 838 mm front and 678 mm rear. The centre console provided easy access to off-road features, with buttons for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and lockers. The rear liftgate opened to a cargo area with a raised load floor, offering 1,063 litres of cargo volume. The trunk included a 120-volt AC outlet, USB-C ports in higher trims, and a rubber mat for easy cleaning.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar dimensions to the 2024 model, with adequate headroom and legroom. It featured a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat, with cargo-area buttons for adjustment. The Q5 offered 757 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,710 litres behind the first row, surpassing some rivals but falling short of others. Standard features included a power tailgate, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, with heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof on the Progressiv trim. The Q5 had a towing capacity of 2,000 kilograms, exceeding some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came with a Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard above the base trim, displayed on a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with two USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base model featured an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. Additional features included a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror in higher trims.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, with a 10.9-inch passenger screen on the Technik trim. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a cooled wireless charging pad, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system on Progressiv models. The MMI infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, offered a user-friendly interface. A built-in voice assistant handled vehicle functions, while an available head-up display provided additional information. The Q5 also introduced Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light for driver cues.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's track record and the Tundra's Top Safety Pick award provided some confidence. Standard safety features included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. Higher trims added lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came with standard driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. An exit alert feature used ambient lighting to warn occupants of oncoming vehicles or cyclists. The Q5 had not been rated by the NHTSA, and IIHS ratings were not favourable, with too many Marginal or Acceptable ratings for a Top Safety Pick designation.