2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to its North American debut year. This version featured a retro aesthetic with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colours. Despite its nostalgic charm, the 1958 model was priced at $73,270, including destination charges, making it a significant investment. The Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, presented a more modern and upscale appearance, with additional colour options, a refined interior, and essential off-roading enhancements. The Premium Package further elevated the Cruiser trim with leather upholstery and advanced technology, bringing the total cost to $90,603. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability, with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark grey cladding, and an optional roof rack to maximize utility.

Inside, the Land Cruiser's utilitarian design was complemented by traditional switchgear, offering a more luxurious feel than the 1958 model. The Java-coloured leather provided a pleasing contrast, while dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of modernity. The steering wheel controls were notably intuitive, especially when compared to those in a Lexus RX. The Land Cruiser's interior was practical, with a focus on functionality, although the paint options were somewhat limited to drab shades. Overall, the Land Cruiser combined classic design elements with modern technology, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a capable and stylish SUV.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in six trims in Canada, all equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system. The Outlander's front design was distinctive, featuring a thin upper eyebrow for daytime running lights and large, square headlights with chrome bezels. While the lighting design remained unchanged, subtle modifications to the grille and diffuser were made for 2025. Despite these updates, the Outlander retained its unique, albeit polarizing, appearance. Inside, the top GT Premium trim offered quilted leather seats and soft-touch surfaces, with physical controls for the HVAC system for ease of use. The Yamaha speaker faces in the doors added a touch of elegance, inspired by traditional Japanese geometric patterns. However, some plastic elements attempted to mimic high-end materials, a common trait in mid-tier crossovers like the Outlander.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time 4WD system featuring electronic locking rear and centre differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and included features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an optimistic fuel economy rating of 10.1 L/100 km, real-world testing revealed a consumption of 15.0 L/100 km. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. Its high seating position provided excellent visibility, and off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While comparable to competitors like the Mazda CX-50 and Honda CR-V, the Outlander also offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid variant. The Outlander's CVT, divided into eight steps, mimicked a standard automatic but still exhibited the typical droning characteristic of CVTs. Despite its less powerful engine, the Outlander's fuel economy was rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, falling short of some competitors. The plug-in hybrid version offered 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel rating of 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres and 61 kilometres of all-electric range. The Outlander's S-AWC AWD system, developed from rally racing experience, provided stability on curvy roads, with retuned suspension for 2025 offering improved comfort and reduced body roll.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery in the Cruiser trim, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers, though they aided in roof rack access. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the centre console's cool box was deemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander included a third row of seating, suitable only for small children due to limited legroom. With the third row in place, cargo space was less than 308 litres, but folding the seats increased storage to 866 litres. The driver's seat featured digital HVAC controls with physical buttons for fan and seat heating, as well as temperature knobs. The top-line tester included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The cup holders accommodated large cups but struggled with average-sized bottles, causing them to tip during braking.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded the 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system to dual 12.3-inch displays. The Toyota Audio Multimedia 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, with Drive Connect offering cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a new Yamaha premium sound system, with upper trims offering a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system. The system included customizable sound modes and volume adjustments based on speed and ambient noise. The Outlander had a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a physical volume knob, and a camera system button. Upper trims included a digital gauge cluster, a rear camera mirror, and a head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect and Remote Services were available with trial periods, offering features like remote start and live traffic information.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. Additional features included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, though performance varied. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing and three stars in rollover resistance.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a limited suite of ADAS features as standard, with blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and automatic braking. Higher trims included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. The NHTSA had not rated the 2025 model, but the 2024 model received four stars in rollover testing and five stars in side crashes. The IIHS rated the Outlander's headlights as "Good," with previous models receiving "Good" ratings in crashworthiness and "Poor" in front crash prevention.