Toyota Land Cruiser vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

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 was first sold in North America, featured a retro design with round headlights and basic equipment, offering a nostalgic nod to its origins. Despite its lower price point, the 1958 trim still commanded a significant investment. The Cruiser trim, however, presented a more modern and upscale appearance, with additional colour options and a more refined interior. It also included essential off-roading hardware and software, making it a preferred choice for those seeking both style and functionality. The Cruiser trim, especially with the Premium Package, offered a luxurious experience with features like leather upholstery and advanced technology, although the limited colour palette was somewhat disappointing.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid introduced a redesigned look for its sixth-generation model, offering a more cohesive and conventional design compared to its predecessor. While it lost some of its distinctiveness, the Forester Hybrid maintained a rugged appearance with black plastic elements hinting at its off-road potential. Inside, the Forester Hybrid retained some of its previous charm with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the front seats providing ample cushioning and support. The hybrid model also included heated outboard rear seats, enhancing comfort for passengers. Despite some loss of personality, the Forester Hybrid aimed to appeal to a broader audience with its modern design and practical features.

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, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered through a full-time four-wheel-drive system, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Land Cruiser featured advanced off-roading capabilities, including Multi-Terrain Select modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. However, its fuel efficiency was less impressive, with real-world consumption significantly higher than official ratings. Despite its powerful performance, the Land Cruiser struggled with handling on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning, making it more suited for urban and off-road environments.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder engine paired with a parallel hybrid system, producing 194 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain offered adequate acceleration, though the transmission made it feel slower than it was. The Forester Hybrid's ride quality was firmer than expected, but it excelled in off-road conditions with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control. While not as capable as dedicated off-road SUVs, the Forester Hybrid struck a balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability, making it an attractive option for those seeking versatility.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a utilitarian interior with SofTex artificial leather upholstery in the Cruiser trim, along 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 were less comfortable, lacking thigh support and offering an awkward backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's cargo space was generous, with 1,062 litres available behind the rear seats and 2,324 litres with the seats folded, though the high load floor made loading heavy items challenging.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid impressed with its unobstructed forward view, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space and comfort, while the rear seats provided generous legroom and headroom. The panoramic sunroof enhanced the sense of openness for rear passengers. The Forester Hybrid featured practical storage solutions, including a wireless charging pad and USB ports for rear passengers. Its cargo space was slightly less than some rivals, with 779 litres available, but the upright tail design allowed for bulkier items. The hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases added convenience for loading and unloading.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim featured dual 12.3-inch displays for the driver and infotainment system, offering a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with various connected service plans. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a head-up display, and digital key technology, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, featuring built-in navigation and smartphone integration. The Starlink infotainment system was praised for its user-friendly interface and large on-screen buttons. The Forester Hybrid also offered multiple external camera views for off-roading, along with an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing a well-rounded tech package.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, the system's performance varied, with some features proving less reliable in certain conditions. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results in specific tests.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA in most categories and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Subaru's EyeSight suite of safety features was standard, including collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The Forester Hybrid's safety systems performed reliably, with the option to disable audible alarms for a more pleasant driving experience.