2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

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 destination charges, making it a costly choice for those seeking a budget-friendly SUV. 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, equipped with the Premium Package, Heritage Blue and Grey paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, 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 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E distinguished itself with Mustang-inspired styling, featuring a familiar grille insert and squinting headlights. Its sculpted design continued along the sides, diverging from the classic coupe with an SUV-like two-box shape and a sloped roofline, reminiscent of the BMW X6. The rear showcased a roof spoiler and Mustang's sequential three-bar taillights. Most Mach-E models came with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the GT trim boasted 20-inch wheels. The Rally trim added a black roof, wheel arches, and side cladding, with dish-style wheels inspired by Ford rally cars. The interior featured synthetic leather with contrast stitching, and the GT offered sport seats with bolsters and contrast stitching. The Mach-E Rally included aluminum pedals and "Mach-E Rally" logos. Ambient lighting enhanced the cabin, except in the base Select trim. The Mach-E's design combined sporty elements with practicality, offering a unique blend of style and functionality.

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 eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, channelled through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking rear and centre differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and featured standard 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 official fuel economy rating of 10.1 L/100 km, real-world testing revealed 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 tires and suspension tuning. It offered a high driving position with excellent visibility, making it easy to park and manoeuvre on trails. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup using a 73-kilowatt-hour battery, delivering 325 horsepower and 380 kilometres of range. An Extended Range battery increased the range to 483 kilometres. The Mach-E GT featured a dual-motor powertrain with 480 hp and 451 km of range, while the Rally had the same powertrain but a range of 410 km. The Premium model tested had dual motors and the extended-range battery, providing 370 hp, 500 pound-feet of torque, and 483 km of range. The Mach-E's electric motors delivered immediate torque, enabling rapid acceleration, with the GT achieving 0-96 km/h in 3.8 seconds. A Performance Upgrade increased torque to 700 lb-ft, allowing the GT to reach 96 km/h in 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E offered various driving modes, including Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, each altering throttle response and sound. The Mach-E handled well with a low centre of gravity and rear-drive bias, though the ride could be improved, particularly in the rear. The GT and Rally featured stronger Brembo brakes and optional magnetic dampers for enhanced performance.

Upgrading from the Land Cruiser 1958 to the Cruiser trim replaced cloth upholstery with Toyota’s SofTex artificial leather, adding ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package introduced real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats provided excellent support, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller individuals. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the centre console's cool box seemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space, expanding to 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a longer wheelbase than equivalent gas-powered vehicles, providing ample interior space. It accommodated a couple or family like a typical compact or midsize two-row crossover, with good headroom and legroom in both rows. The Select trim, priced to qualify for the federal rebate, lacked some features like heated front seats, which were standard on the Premium trim. The Mach-E's cargo space was 841 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,691 litres with the rear seats folded. The sloping rear roof limited space compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V. An optional 135-litre front trunk offered additional secure storage.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded the 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen 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, 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 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch centre touchscreen with Sync 4A software, though it was slow to load screens. The 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster displayed basic information. The Ford Connectivity package included a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, real-time navigation, and a voice assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a wireless charging pad and two 110-volt power outlets optional. A six-speaker audio system was standard, with an optional 10-speaker B&O system available.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, 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 and three stars in rollover resistance.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E came with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ suite, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist system was optional, offering Level 2 driver assistance on mapped highways. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.