2025 Lincoln Aviator vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, showcased classic design proportions. It featured a blunt nose, short front overhang, and an appealing dash-to-axle ratio, complemented by a tapered roofline that, while compromising third-row passenger room, created an alluring silhouette. The Aviator's design leaned more towards a sports wagon than a traditional SUV, though the 2025 styling updates were perceived as less elegant and more generic, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. Inside, the Aviator offered a plush interior with a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding the screen-heavy approach of other Lincoln models. However, the remote keyless entry fob was criticized for its cheap plastic construction, though this might encourage the use of the Aviator’s Phone as a Key technology.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, presented a retro look with the base 1958 model, featuring round headlights and basic equipment. The more modern Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, offered a sophisticated appearance with larger screens and critical off-roading hardware. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, bringing the MSRP to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances and room for people and cargo. Inside, the utilitarian design was enhanced with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens, providing a technologically advanced feel. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like a front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered various driving modes, including Excite and Conserve, and featured adaptive air suspension. Despite its power, the Aviator was not particularly exciting to drive, focusing instead on providing a composed and calming cruising experience. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, but real-world testing yielded 17.7 mpg. The Aviator offered clear sightlines and a pleasant ride quality, though larger bumps and road noise from the 22-inch wheels were noticeable. The Dynamic Handling Package did not significantly enhance the driving character, but the Air Glide suspension effectively controlled body motions.

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, producing 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It had a full-time 4WD system with electronic locking differentials and a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser offered off-roading features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. However, its EPA rating of 23 mpg combined was optimistic, with real-world testing showing 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled in urban and off-road settings, handling speed bumps and rough pavement with ease. It provided a high driving position with excellent visibility, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. The electric assist motor contributed to a powerful feel, but acceleration and braking revealed its limitations.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator offered luxurious comfort with its Perfect Position front seats, featuring 30-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain’s chairs were also comfortable, though the third-row seats were less accommodating for adults. Storage space was excellent, with a smartphone charging pad, cupholders, and a sizable bin in the center console. The Aviator provided 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.6 cubic feet.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, with the Premium Package, featured real leather upholstery and a power sunroof. The front seats were comfortable, but the second-row seats lacked support. The rear window design was less practical, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded. However, the high load floor height required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience. It supported Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts, though Apple CarPlay and Siri worked well. The Aviator included an app called Elevated Journey with mindfulness coaching and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system. The head-up display provided a widescreen presentation of data, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, with the Premium Package, upgraded to two 12.3-inch displays with Toyota Audio Multimedia. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0, offering advanced driver assistance systems like active blind-spot monitoring, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system, was standard, providing a four-year subscription. The Aviator earned five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.