2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2026 Ford Explorer

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, the 1958 and the Cruiser. The 1958 trim, named after the year the model first hit North American roads, offered a nostalgic design with round headlights and basic features, priced at $73,270. However, the Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, was the preferred choice for those seeking a modern and upscale look. It featured a more refined interior, larger screens, and essential off-roading enhancements. The Cruiser trim also offered a Premium Package, which included leather upholstery and advanced technology, bringing the price to $90,603. Despite its utilitarian design, the Land Cruiser's interior was more sophisticated than the 1958 model, with Java-coloured leather adding a touch of elegance. The SUV's traditional two-box design maximized off-road capabilities and interior space, while the optional roof rack enhanced its utility.

The 2026 Ford Explorer retained its familiar appearance, having undergone a facelift in 2025 that gave it a more rugged, truck-like look. The Tremor model further emphasized this ruggedness with all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and off-road lights. The Explorer's Tremor model featured Electric Spice accents, adding a touch of flair. With 22 centimetres of ground clearance, the Tremor excelled in off-road conditions, surpassing competitors like the Chevrolet Traverse Z71 and Honda Pilot TrailSport. The Explorer lineup remained unchanged, with the Active as the base model and the Platinum as the most luxurious. The ST-Line and ST models focused on road performance, featuring sport-tuned suspension and enhanced brakes. Inside, the Explorer's interior, revamped in 2025, offered a modern infotainment system and improved materials, though it lacked the premium feel expected at its price point.

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, providing ample power for both daily driving and off-road adventures. The Land Cruiser's full-time four-wheel-drive system, with electronic locking rear and centre differentials, allowed for a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. Off-road capabilities were enhanced with features like Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select modes. However, the Land Cruiser's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, with real-world consumption at 15.0 L/100 km compared to the official rating of 10.1 L/100 km. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser struggled with handling on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning and tires.

The 2026 Ford Explorer offered two powertrain options: a standard 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 available on the Tremor and standard on the Explorer ST, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Explorer's unibody design, shared with the Mustang and Lincoln Aviator, contributed to its confident handling and comfortable ride. The Tremor model, with its raised suspension and all-terrain tires, impressed with its off-road capabilities, handling challenging trails with ease. The Explorer's 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts and kept the engine in its powerband, enhancing performance. While the four-cylinder engine could feel strained when fully loaded, the V6 offered ample power for passing and towing.

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 provided excellent support, the second-row seats lacked comfort, with limited thigh support and an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards were helpful for roof rack access but could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, requiring the glass to be flipped up for ventilation. Cargo space was generous, with 1,062 litres available behind the rear seats and 2,324 litres with the back seats folded, though the high load floor made loading heavy items challenging.

The 2026 Ford Explorer accommodated up to seven passengers across three rows, with the option for second-row captain's chairs. While the Explorer offered reasonable space for a midsize crossover, it fell short in second-row legroom compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot. Cargo space was competitive, with 461 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,302 litres with the rear seats folded and 2,415 litres with the second row down. The Explorer's interior featured practical storage solutions, including phone trays, large door pockets, and a spacious centre console. The rotary shift knob facilitated easy access to adjacent cupholders. The Explorer's towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms was average for its class, though some rivals offered higher ratings.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded the digital driver display and infotainment system to dual 12.3-inch screens, offering a sophisticated appearance. 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, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect. 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 Drive Connect system featured a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital assistant, providing accurate directions and passing voice recognition tests with ease.

The 2026 Ford Explorer came standard with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio. The Explorer's infotainment system, introduced in 2025, featured well-integrated screens and the Ford Digital Experience interface. USB-C ports were standard in the first and second rows, with additional ports in the third row. The base Active model had a six-speaker audio system, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker B&O system, with a 14-speaker version available. The Explorer's touchscreen was responsive, though climate control icons could be more user-friendly. The 360-degree camera system provided useful views for off-road driving, remaining active at higher speeds for enhanced functionality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent accidents. TSS 3.0 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist were also part of the package, along with adaptive cruise control and a road sign reader. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. While some ADAS features were helpful, others could be intrusive, and the system struggled in certain conditions. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Ford Explorer featured the CoPilot 360+ suite as standard on Active models, including adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. Higher trims offered CoPilot 360 2.0, adding a 360-degree camera system and predictive speed assist. Ford's BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system, upgraded to version 1.5 for 2026, included automated lane change capability. The Explorer received the highest safety ratings, earning an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top marks in frontal and side crash testing.