2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, having evolved significantly since its debut in 1999. The updated design for this model year further distinguished it from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The most notable exterior change was the new front end, which brought the gasoline Escalade stylistically closer to Cadillac's electric vehicles, featuring large vertical headlights and smaller horizontal daytime running lights. The rear maintained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, enhancing the vehicle's imposing presence. Inside, Cadillac replaced the previous 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display spanning the entire dashboard, reinforcing the Escalade's high-tech appeal. The interior offered a range of luxurious materials and curated motifs, with the Premium Luxury Platinum model showcasing Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, rivaling the craftsmanship of luxury sedans.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, presented a blend of retro and modern aesthetics. The base model, named the 1958, paid homage to the year the Land Cruiser was first sold in the US, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. The more upscale Land Cruiser model boasted a modern look, larger screens, and essential off-roading hardware. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, elevating its MSRP to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability, with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark gray cladding, and a high roof load rating. Inside, the utilitarian interior was enhanced with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens, offering a technologically advanced feel. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Land Cruiser provided a comfortable and capable driving experience, excelling in urban and off-road environments.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. While the diesel option was discontinued, the V8 remained a solid performer, though it offered less power than the Lincoln Navigator's twin-turbo V6. The Escalade-V variant featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, delivering an impressive 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. All models were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and efficient gear shifts. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional on most models, while the Escalade-V had a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 8,100 pounds for the standard-wheelbase model. Despite its power, the Escalade's handling and ride quality were not as refined as some competitors, and the brakes lacked confidence-inspiring performance. The optional Performance Upgrade Package, including Brembo brakes, was recommended for those seeking enhanced stopping power.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time four-wheel-drive system and electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser's towing capacity was 6,000 pounds. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, while the higher trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though its handling on twisty roads was less impressive. The suspension absorbed bumps and rough terrain effectively, providing a comfortable ride. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade ESV, with its extended wheelbase, offered 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and 142.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The standard model provided 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Escalade's towing capacity was 8,100 pounds for the standard model and 8,000 pounds for the ESV. While the Escalade offered ample interior space, it faced competition from other full-size SUVs in terms of headroom and legroom. The power liftgate and power-folding seats made reconfiguring the interior easy, though the Escalade lacked some towing features offered by competitors.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 82.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The high load floor required effort when loading heavy items, but the cargo area was spacious and well-shaped.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Additional controls were managed by a tablet-like touchscreen and a rotary dial. The standard audio system included 19 speakers, with an optional 36-speaker version available. The Escalade also offered an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. While the tech could be overwhelming, Cadillac made usability a priority, retaining standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured two 12.3-inch displays with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. This system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology. The voice recognition system performed well, providing accurate directions and responses.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. The Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and Super Cruise offered hands-free driving on mapped roads. While Super Cruise had improved, the handoff to manual control could be abrupt. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing and three stars in rollover resistance.