2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, maintained 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-tier trim. All lighting was updated to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The higher trims boasted color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary touch. The lowered beltline improved visibility, and the vehicle came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available for the mid-tier 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-tier 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 Cadillac Escalade, a symbol of luxury, showcased a new front end aligning it stylistically with Cadillac's EV lineup. The headlights were redesigned as large vertical bars, complemented by horizontal daytime running lights. The rear retained its tall, vertical taillights, reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, enhancing its imposing presence. The Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase versions, with multiple trim levels, including the performance-focused Escalade-V. The interior was screen-centric, featuring a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The base models had synthetic leather, while higher trims offered real leather, with semi-aniline options. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim impressed with its Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, showcasing Cadillac's commitment to luxury. Despite sharing a platform with other GM SUVs, the Escalade's interior design and features set it apart, offering a blend of traditional luxury and modern technology.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, delivering a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It had 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 and rear- and center-locking differentials. A push-button disconnect for the front sway bar was a new feature, enhancing off-road articulation. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise low-speed maneuvering, operating silently compared to previous versions.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and efficient gear shifts. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional, except for the Escalade-V, which had a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Most trims included an electronic rear limited-slip differential and a two-speed transfer case. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on all but the base trim, offering adaptive damping for improved ride quality. Despite its power, the Escalade's brakes lacked confidence, though a Performance Upgrade Package with Brembo calipers was available.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating, with no third-row option in the U.S. Headroom measured 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back, while legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road controls, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently located. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, equipped with a rubber mat for easy cleaning. A 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports were available in higher trims.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short and long-wheelbase versions, with the ESV model providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade accommodated up to eight passengers, or seven with second-row captain’s chairs. It boasted the most first-row headroom in its class, though second and third-row headroom were less competitive. The standard model offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 121 cubic feet with the seats folded. The ESV model further increased cargo capacity. The Escalade had a maximum towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, with the ESV rated at 8,000 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, utilizing a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display for off-road navigation. 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 higher trims offered a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade integrated a 55-inch door-to-door display, combining a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package included 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came standard 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.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. It also featured GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system, which had improved since previous tests. Current crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.