2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser presented a classic yet modern aesthetic, maintaining its iconic boxy shape with a flat roof. Each of its three trims featured design elements reminiscent of past models, such as the heritage grille and round or rectangular LED headlights, which paid homage to earlier series. The vehicle's exterior was further enhanced by color-selectable fog lights on the higher trims, adding a contemporary touch. Inside, the Land Cruiser offered a range of seating materials from cloth to real leather, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard across all trims. The cabin was designed for comfort, with cushy seats and a padded center console, ensuring a pleasant driving experience even on challenging terrains.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox underwent a significant redesign, adopting a modern look with a flat roof and upright grille, aligning it more closely with larger Chevrolet models like the Traverse and Suburban. Each trim had distinct styling elements, such as the Midnight Edition High Gloss Black treatment for the LT trim and the sporty RS trim with black mirrors and badges. The new ACTIV trim emphasized adventure with all-terrain tires and a unique grille design. Inside, the Equinox featured a spacious cabin with consistent headroom and a flat floor for rear passengers. The interior was enhanced by thoughtful design choices, such as the placement of the "dead pedal" and the availability of a moonroof that extended light into the rear seats.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a 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. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by Toyota's Multi-Terrain Select system, which could operate in both 4Hi and 4Lo, and the new push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise low-speed navigation over challenging terrain.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox retained its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower. Torque varied between 184 lb-ft for front-wheel-drive models and 203 lb-ft for all-wheel-drive versions. The Equinox introduced a continuously variable transmission for FWD models and an eight-speed automatic for AWD models, the latter providing smoother and quieter shifts. The Equinox's performance was adequate for city driving, though the engine's limitations became apparent during highway merges. The AWD models could tow up to 1,500 pounds and featured selectable drive modes, including Off-Road mode for better handling on loose surfaces.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console was designed for easy access to off-road features, and the cargo area provided 37.5 cubic feet of space with a raised load floor and a rubber mat for easy cleaning. The trunk included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox featured a flat roof, providing consistent headroom of 38.2 inches in the front with the moonroof and 37.8 inches in the back. The moonroof extended light into the rear seats, enhancing the cabin's spacious feel. The Equinox offered 29.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 63.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down. A hidden storage compartment beneath the load floor added versatility, though the cargo volume was smaller compared to some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser's higher trims came with the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, which utilized 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 both front and rear passengers. The middle trim offered a 10-speaker sound system, with an optional upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system in the First Edition.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox featured Google Built-In as standard, along with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 11.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen was 30% larger than previous models, offering enhanced functionality. The Equinox included a wi-fi hotspot and a six-speaker audio system, with wireless charging standard on RS and ACTIV trims. The voice control system had some volume issues, but overall, the tech features were comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist and front cross-traffic alert to the middle trim, with these features standard on the First Edition.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox offered a Safety & Technology package that added rear pedestrian alert and HD surround vision. The Chevy Safety Assist suite included standard features like rear park assist, lane-change alert, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. Teen Driver Technology was also standard, allowing parents to set speed and volume limitations and receive a "report card" on driving behavior.