2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was available in three variants: the 3.3 Turbo, the 3.3 Turbo S, and the PHEV, with trim levels ranging from Select to Premium Plus. Prices spanned from $39,575 to $59,480, including the destination charge. Our test vehicle, a 3.3 Turbo with Premium Plus trim and Soul Red paint, had an MSRP of $51,450. The CX-90's exterior boasted lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels, giving it a luxury SUV appearance. Its sculptural sheet metal and athletic design contributed to a sophisticated look. Inside, the CX-90 featured an elegantly rendered interior with polished metallic trim and Nappa leather, though some materials reflected its competitive pricing. Ergonomic issues included a confusing electronic shifter and counterintuitive climate controls, but overall, the CX-90 exuded sophistication compared to other midsize three-row crossover SUVs.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, offered in two trim levels, included the base model 1958 with a retro look and the more modern Land Cruiser model. The base model, priced at $58,195, featured round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. The Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, offered a more upscale appearance, additional colors, and a nicer interior with larger screens. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, and 20-inch wheels, had an MSRP of $71,004. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances and utility. Inside, the Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of luxury. While the Land Cruiser excelled in off-road capability, its utilitarian interior and limited color options were notable drawbacks.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo's drivetrain fell short of expectations, lacking the refinement typically associated with inline-six engines. The turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine produced 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque in the 3.3 Turbo models, while the 3.3 Turbo S delivered 319 hp and 369 lb-ft (340 hp with premium gas). Power was channeled through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system, with a rear-wheel bias for improved dynamics. The CX-90 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Despite its impressive ride and handling, the CX-90's drivetrain exhibited unpredictable behavior, especially during cold starts. Noise and impact harshness were also concerns, detracting from the upscale impression created by its styling and interior. However, the CX-90's taut suspension and communicative handling made it a fun-to-drive family hauler.

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, transferred through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser's maximum towing capacity was 6,000 pounds, and it came equipped with off-road features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. Despite an official 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, with its suspension soaking up rough terrain. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities, including 8.7 inches of ground clearance and advanced features, made it a capable vehicle for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's interior, despite California's cool summer, struggled to cool down quickly, raising concerns about its three-zone climate control system. In the 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus trim, the CX-90 featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front-seat ventilation was as ineffective as the air conditioning. The panoramic sunroof provided ample natural light, and second-row passengers enjoyed comfortable seating, though seat-track travel was limited. The third row was best suited for children, and the CX-90's storage options were limited, with a smartphone charging tray, shallow bin, and small trays under the load floor. Cargo space measured 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 40 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 74.2 cubic feet with the second row flattened.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured SofTex artificial leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, 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 seemed unnecessary. Cargo space measured 46.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet when the 60/40-split folding back seat was dropped. However, the high load floor height required extra effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard featured a traditional design with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. While the infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only when using wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the native Mazda Connect platform required using a knob and buttons on the center console. Mazda's voice recognition system fell short of modern expectations, but a new Google Built-in infotainment system was expected in future models. The test vehicle included a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Mazda's Active Driving Display, which provided helpful data and blind-spot alerts.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured two 12.3-inch displays with a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system offered 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 Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a conversational digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital camera-based rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was one of only four midsize, three-row, gas-powered SUVs to receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The CX-90 PHEV earned five-star ratings in all crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while gas-only models received four-star ratings in frontal-impact testing. Mazda equipped the CX-90 with a comprehensive list of driver aids, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Higher trim levels added advanced features like steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera system. While the CX-90's driver aids generally met expectations, some features, like the speed reduction feature, could be irritating.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), which included advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. The Land Cruiser also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided a hands-on semi-autonomous highway driving aid. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist (PDA). The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four stars in frontal-impact testing, five stars in side-impact testing, and a three-star rollover resistance rating.