2026 Lexus RX Hybrid 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, offering additional colour options, a refined interior with larger screens, and essential off-roading enhancements. The Premium Package further elevated the Cruiser trim with leather upholstery and advanced technology, bringing the MSRP to $90,603. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capabilities, with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark grey cladding, and an optional roof rack to maximize utility. Inside, the Cruiser trim boasted a more luxurious feel than the 1958, with Java-coloured leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhancing its technological appeal. The intuitive steering wheel controls were notably superior to those in the Lexus RX.

The 2026 Lexus RX Hybrid aimed for high style with the RX 500h F Sport Performance, though its design was sometimes considered overly flamboyant. The front featured a large, black trapezoidal grille, slim headlights, and air intakes, creating a bold and somewhat controversial look. The profile was stylish yet less aggressive, with flat wheel flares and a character line suggesting motion. The floating roofline and rear spoiler added to its sporty appearance, complemented by 21-inch wheels and dark trim. Inside, the RX 500h offered Dark Graphite or Rioja Red leather, with the latter adding a sporty touch. The interior featured a pair of digital screens and soft-touch materials, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The RX 500h's design was a blend of sportiness and elegance, appealing to those seeking a visually striking vehicle.

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, channelled through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. 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 suspension tuning. Its high seating position and excellent visibility made it easy to maneuver, while off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor.

The 2026 Lexus RX Hybrid, specifically the RX 500h, matched the power of some luxury crossover rivals with a different approach. It utilized a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system to produce 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The engine generated 271 horsepower, while two electric motors contributed the remaining 95 hp. The RX 500h featured a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a 0-96 km/h time of 5.9 seconds. The powertrain components worked seamlessly together, providing smooth power delivery. The RX 500h came with adaptive dampers, rear-axle steering, and a firmer suspension, enhancing its handling capabilities. However, the ride could become busy on bumpy roads, and the steering lacked feel. The RX 500h offered a Custom mode for personalized settings, but for a truly sporty experience, other luxury SUVs like the BMW X5 or Audi SQ7 were recommended.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior featured an upgrade from cloth to 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. While the front seats provided excellent support, the second-row seats lacked comfort, with insufficient thigh support and an awkward backrest angle. The Land Cruiser offered 1,062 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 2,324 litres with them folded down. However, the high load floor made loading heavy items challenging. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the centre console's cool box was deemed unnecessary.

The 2026 Lexus RX Hybrid's interior was comfortable, with eight-way power-adjustable sport seats featuring heating and cooling. The seats provided ample support and room for larger frames. The rear seats offered good legroom, though accommodating three adults was tight. The RX 500h provided 838 litres of cargo space with the second row up and 1,308 litres with them folded down, which was average for its class. The interior design emphasized comfort and practicality, making it suitable for long journeys.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim featured dual 12.3-inch displays, upgrading from the 1958's smaller screens. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. 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, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Lexus RX Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen, along with a standard head-up display. The infotainment system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Lexus Intelligent Assist allowed voice commands. The touchscreen was responsive, but the touch-sensitive steering wheel pads were frustrating to use. A three-year Drive Connect subscription provided Google points of interest and real-time traffic information.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. It also offered lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a five-star side-impact rating but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also included lane keep assist, high beam assist, and traffic sign recognition. The RX received a five-star rating from the NHTSA but scored poorly in the IIHS's updated moderate front overlap test. The RX's safety features worked well during testing, though the steering wheel controls were challenging to use.