2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2026 Mazda CX-5

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, 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 structure and dark grey cladding underscoring its utility. The interior, particularly in the Cruiser trim, was utilitarian yet sophisticated, featuring dual 12.3-inch digital screens and intuitive steering wheel controls.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 was lauded for its striking design, a testament to Mazda's evolved Kodo design language, dubbed "Wearable Gear." The CX-5 boasted a sculpted and purposeful look, with a Signature Wing grille seamlessly integrating into new LED headlights and angular rear lighting. A new "MAZDA" script badge replaced the traditional logo, enhancing its premium appearance. However, the wheel designs were less impressive, with the base 17-inch wheels appearing small on the larger body, and the 19-inch options lacking intricate detailing. Inside, the CX-5 continued Mazda's tradition of high-quality interiors, featuring a clean dashboard design and a prominent central touchscreen. The materials used were a step above the competition, with soft-touch surfaces and a two-tone interior option on upper trims. Despite some hard plastic elements, the overall ambiance was more akin to an upscale sedan than a mainstream crossover. The dimensional improvements, including a longer wheelbase and wider body, translated into a more spacious and comfortable interior for passengers.

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 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 with handling on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. Its high seating position offered excellent visibility, and its off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5, however, was powered by a carryover SkyActiv-G 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain felt underpowered for the vehicle's 1,747-kilogram weight. The CX-5's 0-96 km/h time of 9.6 seconds was slower than its competitors, and the transmission struggled with responsiveness. The absence of the previous generation's turbocharged engine was notable, though a hybrid variant was anticipated for 2027. Despite its powertrain limitations, the CX-5 excelled in handling, with direct steering and well-managed body roll. The ride quality was firm yet comfortable, and improved insulation reduced road and wind noise. Fuel economy ratings were 9.9 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 9.0 combined, which were higher than many competitors offering more power and better efficiency.

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 high load floor height in the cargo area required effort when loading heavy items, though it offered 1,062 litres of space, expandable to 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded. The rear window design was less practical, and the centre console's cool box reduced storage space.

In contrast, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 benefited from dimensional growth, resulting in a more spacious interior. The extended wheelbase improved rear knee clearance, and rear headroom was class-leading. Front legroom was competitive, and rear legroom was adequate. Cargo space increased to 954 litres behind the second row, expandable to 1,882 litres with the seats folded. Larger door openings facilitated entry and exit, and the hands-free power liftgate on the GT trim's Premium Package added convenience. However, towing capacity decreased to 680 kilograms, trailing behind some competitors.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim featured dual 12.3-inch displays, with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Four connected service plans were available, 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, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5's infotainment system was significantly upgraded, featuring a 12.9-inch touchscreen on all trims, with a 15.6-inch option on the GT trim's Premium Package. Google built-in provided native navigation, voice assistant, and app access, with a year's free data trial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, wired on the base trim and wireless on higher trims. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster was standard, though its execution was lacking. The removal of the physical volume knob was a drawback, and the climate control interface was not intuitive. Higher trims offered a Bose audio system, SiriusXM, and additional tech features.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, though performance varied. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind-spot monitoring. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 offered a comprehensive standard safety suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. The GT trim added an adaptive front-lighting system, and the Premium Package included advanced features like front cross-traffic alert and a driver monitoring system. While crash test results were pending, the outgoing model had a strong safety record, and expectations were high for the new CX-5.