2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 higher trims, and the interior offered a range of materials from cloth to real leather, with heated seats and a heated steering wheel standard across all trims. The cabin was designed for comfort, with cushy seats and padded surfaces, allowing drivers to focus on the road ahead.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained its fifth-generation design with a chunky, boxy appearance and a long wheelbase. The SUV featured pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights, fitting well with Hyundai's design language. While the rear design had some proportion issues, the Santa Fe offered a variety of wheel sizes and trims, including the off-road-focused XRT with chrome and black accents. Inside, the Santa Fe provided seating for seven, with options ranging from cloth to Nappa leather, and included features like a dual-way center console and a UV-C sanitizing glove box on upper trims. The interior space was generous, with adjustable second-row seats and ample cargo capacity.

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 full-time four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the Multi-Terrain Select system, automatic limited-slip differential, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function provided low-speed cruise control for challenging terrains, operating silently and effectively.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, the Santa Fe provided stable handling and responsive steering, though it experienced some turbo lag and occasional transmission delays. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, improving its off-road geometry. However, the Santa Fe was more suited for graded dirt roads rather than rugged terrains, with towing capacities ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 pounds depending on the trim.

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 provided easy access to off-road controls, and the cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space with a raised load floor and a rubber mat for easy cleaning. The vehicle included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims, enhancing its practicality.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provided ample interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded to expand cargo space from 14.6 cubic feet to 79.6 cubic feet. The rear opening was widened to 50.2 inches, facilitating the loading of large items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 4,500 pounds. The vehicle also included features like a hands-free liftgate and dual-zone climate control, enhancing its functionality.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, displayed on a 12.3-inch center touchscreen. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. The base trim had an 8-inch display, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker or 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. Additional features in the Premium Package included a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with upper trims also featuring a digital gauge cluster. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with optional features like Amazon Music, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Hyundai Pay. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging. The Santa Fe offered a digital key and a fingerprint scanner for added security, with upper trims providing a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. The Bluelink app connectivity and over-the-air updates ensured the vehicle remained up-to-date.

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 features like lane-keep assist and front cross-traffic alert, enhancing its safety suite.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, except for the headlight and LATCH categories. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered additional features like Highway Drive Assist and Blind-View Monitor, providing comprehensive safety coverage.