2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a distinct departure from its predecessors, showcasing a bold new design that was both upscale and attention-grabbing. While previous models like the Hyundai Palisade and Ioniq series hinted at a futuristic aesthetic, the Santa Fe embraced a more boxy, utilitarian shape. This design choice was intentional, as Hyundai's design chief, SangYup Lee, emphasized the practicality of a box for storage capacity, aiming to make it both elegant and premium-looking. The Santa Fe's aerodynamic efficiency was surprisingly high for its shape, and its sophisticated color palette, including matte options, added to its upscale appearance. The interior was equally impressive, with premium styling and materials, particularly in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, which offered a mix of soft and decadent surfaces.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser leaned into its heritage with a retro-inspired design, particularly in the base 1958 model, which featured round headlights and basic equipment. The more modern Land Cruiser trim offered a sophisticated look with additional color options and upscale interior features. The Premium Package added real leather, a sunroof, and other luxury touches. The Land Cruiser's design prioritized off-road capability, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized clearances and visibility. Inside, the Land Cruiser's utilitarian approach was evident, with comfortable front seats but less supportive second-row seating. The cargo area was generous, though the high load floor required some effort when loading heavy items.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional, except for the XRT trim, which had AWD as standard. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT adding off-road modes. A hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was also available, providing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy varied, with the base FWD model achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the hybrid offered up to 36 mpg combined. The Santa Fe's towing capacity reached 4,500 pounds in the XRT trim, thanks to additional cooling features.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It had a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking differentials, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser included standard off-road features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, with the higher trim adding Multi-Terrain Select and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing showed a lower 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, with features like 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a robust suspension system, though it struggled with handling on twisty roads.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The cargo area was designed for car camping and tailgating, featuring an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered spacious and comfortable seating. The Santa Fe's interior materials varied by trim, with options ranging from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. Notable features included a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox and a new grab handle for loading cargo.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a more utilitarian interior, with SofTex artificial leather in the base model and real leather in the Premium Package. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked support. The cargo area provided 46.2 cubic feet of space, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The high load floor required effort when loading heavy items. The Land Cruiser's design included practical features like running boards and a roof rack, though the rear window design limited airflow in the cabin.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display in the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, offering a seamless integration of digital real estate. The infotainment system included a touchscreen display with intuitive controls, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. The SE and SEL trims had a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered additional features like wireless charging and Hyundai Pay. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the base model's 7-inch display to dual 12.3-inch displays in the higher trim, featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included five connected service plans and a cloud-based navigation system with a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless charging, a head-up display, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitors. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai vehicle to include driver monitoring, enhancing safety by detecting driver alertness and issuing warnings if necessary.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The system also offered adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist, though it occasionally struggled in certain conditions. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with varying scores in different crash tests.