2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, retained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. The heritage grille, with "TOYOTA" spelled out, and the round headlights on the First Edition trim, paid homage to earlier models. LED lighting throughout the vehicle symbolized the blend of classic inspiration with modern standards. The higher trims featured colour-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. The lowered beltline 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 boasted 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 and padded consoles, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain without discomfort.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presented a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover family, with a taller stance and a shorter wheelbase for an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and fake vents contributed to its sporty look, though it appeared tall and narrow from certain angles. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood. The interior boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up "SV" inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. The minimalist design included a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button, creating a cockpit-like feel. Material quality was high, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive. The interior felt enclosed, aligning with the SUV's sporty mission, but could feel cramped for its size.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 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 4WD, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, and the vehicle 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base Dynamic SE model had a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant produced 454 hp and 487 lb-ft, while the Autobiography model increased output to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two featured a twin-turbo BMW V8 with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. The sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring enhanced agility, while carbon-ceramic brakes provided efficient stopping power. The Terrain Response system, hill descent control, and ascent control supported off-roading, with varying ground clearance and approach angles across models.

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 hard controls for climate and media. The cargo area, with a raised load floor and rubber mat, offered 1,063 litres of volume, with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, a two-row five-seater, provided similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, with slightly less legroom than some competitors. Reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation were standard. The cargo space measured 835 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,860 litres with seats folded. The power-operated tailgate and air suspension's "access height" facilitated loading. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kg for turbo-six and V8 models, and 3,000 kg for plug-in hybrids.

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

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport had a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design limited physical controls, relying on the touchscreen for functions. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by 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, 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.