2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trim levels, including the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Sport trim was the most affordable, but it lacked many appealing amenities, making the leather-lined EX-L model a more recommended choice. Prices ranged from $40,200 to $54,580, plus a $1,395 destination charge. The Black Edition, evaluated in Southern California, featured a Modern Steel paint color and no additional options, bringing its MSRP to $55,975, including destination. This edition was based on the Pilot Elite and featured black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, and black badges. Inside, it boasted black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. The Black Edition's custom look was more suited for suburban environments, while the Pilot's overall design aimed for a rugged appearance, especially in the TrailSport trim. The interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital driver display and infotainment system appeared dated.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the First Edition no longer available. The base model, named the 1958, had a retro look with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, priced at $58,195. The more modern and upscale Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, offered additional colors, a nicer interior with larger screens, and essential off-roading hardware and software. The Premium Package added leather and more tech features. The test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, had an MSRP of $71,004, including a $1,495 destination charge. The Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances, visibility, and cargo space, with a traditional two-box SUV look. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-colored leather option. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a technologically advanced feel, and the steering-wheel controls were intuitive compared to other models.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed most Pilot models to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Pilot offered various driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. Models equipped with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system featured hill descent control and up to 7.3 inches of ground clearance, with the TrailSport offering 8.3 inches. The AWD system's torque vectoring allowed up to 70 percent of engine output to flow to a single rear wheel, increasing to 75 percent in the TrailSport. The V6 provided good acceleration, though the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with an observed 17.8 mpg in city-heavy driving and 20 mpg on the evaluation loop, falling short of the 21 mpg EPA rating. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, aided by the Black Edition's 20-inch wheels and tires. The compliant suspension was beneficial in typical driving situations, though an adaptive-damping suspension system would have improved the ride quality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The full-time 4WD system included electronic locking rear and center differentials, Downhill Assist Control, and Crawl Control. The Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. The official EPA rating was 23 mpg combined, but the observed fuel economy was 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and weekend adventurer, though it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The suspension absorbed bumps and rough pavement well, and the high seating position provided excellent visibility. Off-road, the Land Cruiser was capable, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control enhancing its performance. The electric assist motor and turbocharged torque contributed to a powerful and responsive feel, though acceleration and braking revealed some limitations.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. However, the Black Edition's front passenger seat had limited adjustment, which could be a deal-breaker for long trips. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with heating and ventilation, and the second-row seats were roomy but lacked leg support. The third row was habitable for adults if the second row slid forward. The Pilot featured a triple-zone automatic climate control system, heated second-row seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was generous, with 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered SofTex artificial leather in the base model, with real leather available in the Premium Package. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded was 82.1 cubic feet.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens compared to rivals. The Black Edition featured a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. The voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the Bose audio system was adequate but not exceptional. The CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers, and a small head-up display was included.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the 1958 model's 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen to dual 12.3-inch displays. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and connected service plans. The Drive Connect feature offered cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant, which performed well in voice recognition tests. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came equipped with Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition also had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system with TrailWatch technology. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems had some issues, and the road sign recognition system was occasionally inaccurate. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included 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 assistance. 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 four stars in frontal-impact tests, five stars in side-impact tests, and a three-star rollover resistance rating.