2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser J250 was a nod to its iconic past with a boxy design and flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to earlier models, such as the heritage grille and round headlights. The lighting was updated to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The higher trims offered color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. The lowered beltline improved visibility, and the First Edition trim came with additional off-road gear. Inside, the base trim had cloth seats, while the middle trim featured SofTex, and the First Edition boasted real leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated seats. The cabin was comfortable, with cushy seats and attractive stitching, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain ahead.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered in a rental scenario, was a black-on-black hardtop with dark gray wheels, which proved less than ideal in a tropical climate. Despite the color choice, the Wrangler's design was rooted in American freedom, drawing from its World War II military vehicle heritage. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. The Sport S model had a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with an MSRP of $49,175. The interior was functional, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and metallic accents. The Wrangler's appeal lay in its capability to traverse diverse terrains, though it lacked the sophistication of more modern vehicles.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 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 had an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD. The Multi-Terrain Select system operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, and the vehicle included rear- and center-locking differentials. The middle and top trims offered a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar, enhancing off-road articulation. The updated CRAWL control function provided low-speed cruise control with five speed settings, operating silently over challenging terrain.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's standard 4WD, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with slow steering and sloppy handling, but the Wrangler's off-road capabilities were impressive, especially with the right version and features like the Rock Trac transfer case and locking axles.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, had 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 features, and the cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space with a raised load floor. The trunk included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and heated options available. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. The cargo area offered 31.7 cubic feet of space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet by folding the back seat down. Accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be cumbersome in tight spaces.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard on higher trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. 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 a 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 a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim had an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, Adventure Guides, and GPS Trail Logs. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and a remote engine starting system. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group package.

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.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact, but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact.