2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Acura ADX

The 2025 Acura ADX, despite sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with unique Acura styling. Its striking pentagonal grille, diamond-patterned mesh, and diminutive proportions gave it a distinct presence. Standard LED lighting, including headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, enhanced its modern look, while A-Spec models added LED fog lights for extra flair. The rear design featured vent-like creases, a hatch-top wing, and dual exhaust outlets, contributing to a sporty appearance. The ADX offered a range of exterior colours, with the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim unlocking vibrant options like Milano Red and Adriatic Sea Blue. Inside, the ADX exuded Acura's premium feel, with the A-Spec trim showcasing a red interior that extended across the dash, door cards, and centre console. The use of textured shiny black trim reduced glare and fingerprints, enhancing the overall cabin experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser embraced a retro look with its 1958 base model, featuring round headlights and cloth seats. The Cruiser trim, however, offered a more modern and upscale appearance, with additional colour options and a nicer interior. The Cruiser trim also included critical off-roading hardware and software, making it a more versatile choice. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue and Grey paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances and provided ample room for passengers and cargo. Inside, the Cruiser trim's Java-coloured leather added a touch of luxury, while dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhanced the technological appeal. Despite its utilitarian interior, the Land Cruiser offered a comfortable driving experience, especially for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2025 Acura ADX came equipped with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), the ADX delivered adequate performance for its size. While not the most powerful in its class, it offered sufficient power for everyday tasks like highway merging and city driving. The ADX featured multiple drive modes, including Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences. The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim added an Individual mode for further customization. Visibility from the driver's seat was excellent, thanks to slim A-pillars and adjustable seating. The ADX's noise cancellation measures effectively minimized wind and road noise, enhancing the overall driving experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. This setup produced an impressive 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, transferred through a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The Land Cruiser boasted a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and included features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control for off-road adventures. However, its fuel economy fell short of expectations, with real-world testing revealing a consumption rate of 15.0 L/100 km. Despite its powerful performance, the Land Cruiser struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. Nevertheless, it excelled in urban and suburban driving situations, offering a comfortable and capable ride.

The 2025 Acura ADX prioritized premium materials, with leatherette seating surfaces in the base trim and microsuede accents in A-Spec and Platinum Elite A-Spec trims. The interior offered ample headroom and legroom, surpassing competitors like the Lexus UX and BMW X1. Cargo space was generous, with 690 litres behind the rear seats and 1,560 litres with them folded down. Standard features included a power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and dedicated rear-seat vents, enhancing convenience and comfort.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim replaced cloth upholstery with SofTex artificial leather, offering ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats provided excellent support, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, with a high load floor height requiring some effort when loading heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded was 2,324 litres, providing ample room for gear and equipment.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a comprehensive suite of technology, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi hotspot, and a wireless phone charging pad. The nine-inch centre infotainment screen and 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster provided a user-friendly interface. A-Spec models added rear USB-C ports, while the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim included Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, HD Radio, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The top-of-the-line audio system featured Bang & Olufsen's "beosonic" app, allowing users to customize sound settings based on mood or ambiance.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays, offering a more sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Four connected service plans were available, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital camera-based rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Acura ADX came equipped with the AcuraWatch suite, offering a comprehensive range of safety and driver-assistance features. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot information, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim added a surround-view camera system. While the ADX had not yet been crash-tested, Acura aimed for top safety ratings similar to the Honda HR-V.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), providing advanced driving assistance systems. TSS 3.0 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist offered semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with varying scores in different crash tests.