2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser presented a classic yet modern aesthetic, with its boxy design and flat roof reminiscent of its iconic predecessors. The heritage grille, round headlights on the First Edition, and rectangular lights on other trims paid homage to earlier models, while all lighting was updated to LED for a contemporary touch. The vehicle's design was further enhanced by colour-selectable fog lights on higher trims, and the lowered beltline improved driver visibility. Inside, the Land Cruiser offered a blend of comfort and functionality, with cloth seats in the base trim and SofTex or real leather in higher trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with additional features like a moonroof and ventilated seats available in higher trims. The cabin's design echoed Toyota's truck lineup, emphasizing comfort with cushy seats and padded surfaces.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained its fifth-generation design, characterized by a chunky, boxy appearance with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights aligned with Hyundai's design language, though the rear lights' placement was critiqued for visual imbalance. The Santa Fe offered a range of vibrant colours, breaking away from the typical greyscale SUV palette. Each trim featured distinct wheels, with the off-road-focused XRT trim adding chrome and black accents. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated up to seven passengers, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim offering captain's chairs in the second row. Upholstery options ranged from leatherette to Nappa leather, and while the interior fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC controls was appreciated, though the fan speed buttons were less intuitive.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-litre 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 standard full-time 4WD, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on all but the base model, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, enhancing off-road capability. 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. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise off-road navigation, operating silently compared to previous versions.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. AWD was standard across the lineup, and a hybrid variant offered 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe provided stable handling with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some acclimatization. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, improving off-road geometry. While the Santa Fe handled graded dirt roads well, it wasn't designed for rugged rock crawling.

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 controls, and the infotainment screen was conveniently placed. The cargo area, with a raised load floor and rubber mat, offered 1,063 litres of space, with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo capacity. With the third row folded, the Santa Fe provided 1,148 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row down. The rear liftgate width increased to 127.5 cm, facilitating easier loading. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kg.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard above the base trim, which utilized a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. 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 six speakers, while higher trims included a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. Additional features in higher trims included a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, with navigation available in higher trims. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The digital key feature allowed for unlocking and starting the car via a smartphone or Apple Watch. Higher trims offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. The Bluelink app provided remote connectivity and over-the-air updates ensured the latest software.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's safety reputation provided some assurance. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. Higher trims added lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe included a comprehensive suite of safety features, with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist standard across all trims. Higher trims offered additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories.