2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 BMW X3

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, retained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to earlier models, such as the heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, round headlights on the base and top trims, and rectangular ones on the mid-grade trim. All lighting was upgraded to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The higher trims boasted color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. The lowered beltline improved visibility, and the vehicle came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available for the middle trim. The First Edition trim was equipped with additional off-road gear, enhancing its rugged appeal. Inside, the base trim offered cloth seats, while the mid-grade featured SofTex, and the First Edition boasted real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated front seats.

The 2025 BMW X3 presented a seductive appearance for a two-box SUV, with a long and tall hood, captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and tapering greenhouse and roofline, giving it an athletic look. The test model's 21-inch wheels emphasized its taut, crouched stance. The Arctic Race Blue paint, with its chilly silver undertones, complemented the machined surface wheel finish and gloss black M Sport details. Inside, the cabin featured Veganza artificial leather with perforated and quilted surfaces, mimicking real leather. The dashboard housed the BMW Curved Display, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The interior felt spacious, with angular trim elements that illuminated at night, visually extending the cabin's width. The front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and optional ventilation, while the rear seats were less comfortable, positioned too low for longer-legged passengers.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, tested primarily on an off-road course, showcased its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The vehicle came with an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and center-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar on middle- and top-trim models. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings, operating silently over challenging terrain.

The 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 4,176-pound weight, it achieved a zero-to-60 mph time of six seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and standard xDrive AWD system. The 48-volt mild-hybrid system improved off-the-line responsiveness and made the engine's automatic start-stop system nearly imperceptible. The M50 xDrive variant offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The test vehicle, equipped with the M Sport package, sport-tuned suspension, and 21-inch wheels, provided a go-kart-like ride quality on imperfect pavement but excelled on twisty roads. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine delivered impressive fuel economy, though the test vehicle achieved 24.2 mpg, short of the EPA rating of 29 mpg.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back, and legroom at 33.0 inches front and 26.7 inches rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, with buttons for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and lockers. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, equipped with a rubber mat and a 120-volt AC outlet. The Premium Package included a center console cool box, standard on the First Edition.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a spacious interior, with a simple dashboard featuring the BMW Curved Display. The power-adjustable front seats, with Veganza artificial leather, provided comfort and optional ventilation. The rear seats, however, were less comfortable, positioned too low for longer-legged passengers. The cargo area measured 31.5 cubic feet, with a lightweight cargo cover, netted storage area, grocery bag hook, and illumination. A temporary spare tire and additional storage were found under the load floor, with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat for carrying longer items.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system on higher trims, with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display. MTM activated automatically at low speeds, providing a useful view on off-road courses. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base trim had an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system, with an optional upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system in the First Edition.

The 2025 BMW X3's BMW Curved Display, powered by Operating System 9, offered a Quick Select user experience. However, creating profiles and accessing BMW Digital Services proved challenging during testing. The system occasionally froze or became unresponsive, prompting reliance on wireless Apple CarPlay. The navigation system, with optional augmented video, provided accurate directions. Despite the frustrating experience, the issues may have been unique to the test vehicle or user error.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's track record and the Tundra's Top Safety Pick award provided some confidence. All Land Cruisers came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist to the middle trim, standard on the First Edition.

The 2025 BMW X3's driver assistance features were more rewarding than its infotainment system. The standard Active Driving Assistant suite included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and active blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control and Steering Assistant technology. The optional Driving Assistant Professional Package offered hands-free Traffic Jam Assistant and other advanced features. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for the frontal-impact crash test.