2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, maintained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. It was available in two trims and two packages in Canada, each featuring elements that paid homage to earlier models. The heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out across the front was a nod to the 40 series, while the round headlights on the First Edition echoed the 20 series. Other versions had rectangular headlights reminiscent of the FJ62. All lighting was 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 better visibility, and all models came with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch wheels available in the Premium Package. The First Edition included additional off-road gear like a roof rack and skid plate. Inside, the base 1958 trim featured cloth seats, while others had SofTex or real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated seats and a moonroof available on higher trims. The cabin was comfortable, with cushy seats and attractive stitching, allowing drivers to focus on the road ahead.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the epitome of old-school Cadillac luxury, showcased a new design that distinguished it from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The most significant exterior change was a new front end, aligning the gasoline Escalade stylistically with Cadillac's EVs. The headlights were large vertical bars with smaller horizontal daytime running lights, while the rear retained tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, enhancing the vehicle's imposing presence. Cadillac offered standard and long-wheelbase Escalade ESV body styles, with various trim levels, including the performance-focused Escalade-V. The Sport models featured darkened exterior trim and mesh grilles. Inside, Cadillac worked to differentiate the Escalade from other GM SUVs, adopting a screen-centric interior design. The 2025 model replaced the 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. Base models had Inteluxe synthetic leather, while higher trims offered real leather, with curated interior motifs available. The Premium Luxury Platinum test car featured Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, showcasing impressive craftsmanship.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured 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 had 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 Land Cruiser also included an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and centre-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar, enhancing off-road capability. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise low-speed navigation over challenging terrain, operating silently compared to previous versions.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V continued with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, delivering 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low and high ratios for efficient driving. In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard on most models, with the Escalade-V having a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Most trims included an electronic rear limited-slip differential and a two-speed transfer case. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on all but the base Luxury grade, offering adaptive damping for improved ride quality. Despite its power, the Escalade's brakes lacked confidence, with Brembo six-piston front calipers available in the Performance Upgrade Package.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser offered 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 controls for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and lockers conveniently placed. The wireless charging pad was located ahead of the cupholders, and the Premium Package included a centre console cool box. The rear liftgate opened to a cargo area with a raised load floor, offering 1,063 litres of cargo volume. A 120-volt AC outlet, powered by a 2400-watt inverter, and USB-C ports were available in higher trims.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in short and long-wheelbase configurations, offered seating for up to eight or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The long-wheelbase ESV model provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade boasted the most first-row headroom in its class, with competitive legroom across all rows. The standard-length model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats. ESV models further increased cargo capacity. The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,675 kilograms for the standard model and 3,628 kilograms for the ESV, comparable to rivals.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard above the base trim, with a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen display. The system activated automatically at low speeds, aiding off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base infotainment system had an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker system or a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. Additional features included a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror in the Premium Package and First Edition.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with a high-tech interface, featuring a 55-inch door-to-door display incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy-to-use icons and a rotary dial for climate controls. The optional Executive Second Row Package included 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

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. All models came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package and First Edition added lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. GM-specific features included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, teen driver monitoring, and Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system. Super Cruise had improved since previous tests, though the handoff to manual control was abrupt. Current crash test ratings were unavailable.