2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 and basic equipment, available in three paint colours. Despite its nostalgic charm, the 1958 model was priced at $73,270, including fees, making it a significant investment. The Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, presented a more modern and upscale appearance, with additional colour options and a refined interior. It also included essential off-roading hardware and software, and the Premium Package added leather and advanced tech features. The Cruiser trim test vehicle, with its Premium Package, Heritage Blue and Grey paint, and 20-inch wheels, reached a price of $90,603. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capabilities, with a traditional two-box SUV shape and dark grey cladding underscoring its utility. Inside, the Cruiser trim offered a more luxurious feel than the 1958, with Java-coloured leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhancing its technological appeal.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, marking the start of its third generation. It adopted a sleek, modern look inspired by VW's electric vehicles, particularly noticeable in its narrower headlights and illuminated VW badge and light bar in the top Highline R-Line trim. The grille appeared larger, with smaller actual openings and prominent air intakes. The Tiguan's side profile featured a sportier tapering hatch, enhanced by a black contrasting roof and dark-tinted windows. The rear showcased a single bar taillight design, and the overall styling evolved from previous themes with influences from newer VW models. Inside, the Tiguan embraced modernization with a minimalist dashboard and a digital instrument panel standard across all trims. The gear selector moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the centre console. Materials quality was average for the class, with soft-touch materials in key areas and durable plastics in the rear seats. The Tiguan's interior improvements, including the elimination of capacitive-touch buttons, enhanced its user-friendliness and practicality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time four-wheel-drive system featuring electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and included standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an official fuel economy rating of 10.1 L/100 km, real-world testing showed a less efficient 15.0 L/100 km. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. It offered a high driving position with excellent visibility, making it easy to maneuver. Off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views enhancing its performance.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive were standard in Canada. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to be similar to its predecessor, reaching 100 km/h in approximately 8.5 seconds. The drivetrain delivered power smoothly and linearly, with improved braking and a suspension tuned for comfort. The Tiguan maintained composure on winding roads, exhibiting minimal body roll. Its quiet cabin added to the comfortable driving experience, with well-silenced tire and wind noise. While not sporty, the Tiguan was appropriately tuned for a balance of performance and comfort. A more powerful Turbo version was anticipated for 2026, offering increased output for spirited drivers. Volkswagen also hinted at an upcoming hybrid powertrain, though details were yet to be revealed.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured SofTex artificial leather in the Cruiser trim, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. Front seats were comfortable for long trips, but second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, and the centre console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded was 2,324 litres.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan returned without a third row, increasing second-row legroom by nearly 4 centimetres. The elimination of capacitive-touch buttons improved usability, with traditional controls on the steering wheel. Visibility was comparable to other small SUVs, with narrow front roof pillars and a sufficiently large rear window. The centre console offered more storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. The Tiguan's cargo capacity behind the first-row seatbacks was 1,668 litres, though capacity behind the second row was not finalized. The angled liftgate hatch limited loading of bulkier items, but deep pockets provided convenient storage for smaller items. Remote seatback releases and a power liftgate enhanced practicality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays, featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered four connected service plans, including Drive Connect with 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 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 15-inch display on the top trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless phone charger with a cooling fan. Capacitive-touch sliders were present but minimally used, with a new volume knob on the centre console. The standard audio system had seven speakers, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system available on the top trim. VW's Car-Net system offered remote monitoring and control.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also offered lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional features included a road sign reader, automatic high beams, and Proactive Driving Assist. 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 five stars in side-impact testing.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and parking sensors. Emergency Assist and post-collision braking were also standard. The Highline R-Line added a head-up display, surround-view camera system, and traffic sign reader. Safety features functioned well, with no false alarms or oversensitivity issues.