2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. Despite being exclusive to North America, its global appeal was evident, as it quickly became Volkswagen’s third-best selling model in the U.S. during its inaugural year. The Taos was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with prices ranging from $24,155 to $34,535, excluding destination charges. The SEL trim, which we tested, featured 4Motion all-wheel drive and a stylish Cornflower Blue exterior, giving it an upscale appearance with bold 19-inch alloy wheels and a premium interior that resembled a cut-rate Audi.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser embraced its iconic status with a boxy design and heritage-inspired details. The J250 model featured a flat roof and a heritage grille, reminiscent of the 40 series, while the round and rectangular headlights paid homage to earlier models. The Land Cruiser offered three trims, each with unique features, such as color-selectable fog lights and off-roader gear in the First Edition. Inside, the Land Cruiser focused on comfort with heated seats across all trims and a Premium Package that added a moonroof and ventilated front seats. The cabin was designed for driver comfort, with easy access to off-road controls and a focus on capability.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It offered a choice between front-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos had up to five driving modes and additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, the powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. Despite its sporty character, the Taos struggled with power, especially when compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N. The Taos SEL demonstrated a Germanic driving character with firm handling and excellent visibility, but it suffered from wind and road noise at highway speeds.

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, delivering a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive. The Land Cruiser excelled off-road, with features like Multi-Terrain Select, an automatic limited-slip differential, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function provided low-speed cruise control for challenging terrain, operating silently and effectively. The Land Cruiser's transmission was unobtrusive, allowing for a smooth off-road experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior with cloth seats in the S trim, CloudTex artificial leather in the SE, and real leather in the SEL. The SE and SEL trims included cold-weather equipment, such as heated side mirrors and front seats. The Taos felt larger inside than its competitors, with ample rear-seat room and comfort. It provided generous cargo space, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. However, the 4Motion version had slightly reduced cargo capacity.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. The center console offered easy access to off-road controls, and the Premium Package included a center console cool box. The cargo area had a raised load floor with a rubber mat, providing 37.5 cubic feet of space. It came standard with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen for S and SE trims and a 10.25-inch display for the SEL. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the Taos S featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the SE and SEL offering an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SEL included a native navigation system and an eight-speaker Beats Audio premium sound system. However, the user experience was hindered by hidden virtual controls and a complicated radio tuning process.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard for the two higher trims, with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base infotainment system had an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system with an optional upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert included in the Taos S. The SE trim added VW’s IQ.Drive collection of ADAS, which included Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system and automatic high-beam headlights. Travel Assist performed well during testing, providing smooth and accurate navigation.

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 confidence in its safety. All Land Cruisers came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included 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 to the middle trim.