Toyota Land Cruiser vs Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path with its sloping roofline, giving it a "crossover coupe" appearance reminiscent of more upscale models like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. This design choice, while potentially compromising rear visibility, was deemed acceptable. The front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with thin daytime running lights above and real headlights positioned vertically beside the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from its siblings, the Envision and Encore GX, which adopted similar styling in their mid-cycle refreshes. The interior, while similar to the Trax, offered a more streamlined look with softer materials, though some textures felt artificial. Despite this, the cabin was a step up from the Trax, maintaining a balance between entry-level expectations and a touch of premium feel.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its second model year, offered two trim levels: the base 1958 and the more upscale Cruiser. The 1958 trim, with its retro look, round headlights, and basic equipment, paid homage to the model's North American debut year. The Cruiser trim, however, presented a modern, upscale appearance with more colour options, a refined interior, and essential off-roading features. The Premium Package further enhanced the Cruiser with leather upholstery and advanced tech. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road capabilities and interior space, while the interior, especially in the Cruiser trim, offered a more luxurious feel with dual 12.3-inch digital screens and Java-coloured leather. Despite some design quirks, like the rear window and centre console, the Land Cruiser's utilitarian nature and off-road prowess were evident.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This setup, shared with the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, distinguishing it from the Encore GX. The suspension system varied with trim levels, with the Avenir and some ST models featuring a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for improved ride quality. The Envista handled well on challenging roads, though it felt slightly unsettled on imperfect surfaces. Overall, it provided a more premium feel compared to the Trax, with a quieter and more comfortable ride.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system, allowing for a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, equipped with features like Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select modes. However, its fuel efficiency was less impressive, with real-world consumption exceeding the official ratings. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Land Cruiser struggled with handling on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. Nevertheless, it offered a powerful and responsive driving experience, particularly in urban and suburban settings.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its coupe-like design, was 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, offering a 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch. This resulted in increased rear-seat legroom by 7.6 cm and greater shoulder room, though headroom decreased slightly due to the roofline. The seats were comfortable, and features like a power moonroof and liftgate were available on higher trims. Despite its car-like design, the Envista provided good outward visibility and maneuverability. However, its cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with them folded, less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly in the Cruiser trim, offered a more luxurious interior with SofTex artificial leather or real leather in the Premium Package. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked support. The rear window design and centre console's cool box were less practical, affecting storage space. The Land Cruiser provided 1,062 litres of cargo space, with a maximum of 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded. Despite the high load floor, the cargo area was spacious and practical for various needs.

The 2024 Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, with physical controls for climate and audio, though some controls were a reach for passengers. While lacking advanced tech options like a head-up display, the Envista's infotainment system was impressive for its price range.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in the Cruiser trim, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and connected service plans. The Drive Connect system offered cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant, enhancing the user experience. The Premium Package added a JBL sound system, head-up display, and digital key technology, providing a comprehensive tech suite.

The 2024 Buick Envista's safety ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. However, it included standard driver assist features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. In Canada, additional features like adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring were standard, aligning with typical offerings in its price range.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The system offered semi-autonomous highway driving aids and additional features like road sign recognition and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with varying scores in specific tests.