2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, a continuation of its fourth generation, maintained its striking design with sharp angles and unique features like headlights that seamlessly integrated into the grille. This design choice, while bold, resulted in a cohesive and modern appearance that stood out even in a typically unflattering white color. The Tucson's athletic stance was complemented by its distinctive headlight integration, a design trend Hyundai executed well. Unlike some luxury brands that replicate styles across models, Hyundai ensured each vehicle had its own unique flair. The Tucson offered various trims, each with specific features, from the SE's 17-inch alloy wheels to the Limited's dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights. Inside, the Tucson's cabin was modern and refined, with technology that felt approachable. However, the absence of a volume dial in favor of touch-capacitive buttons was a minor inconvenience. The Tucson's base SE trim came with essential features like an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims added conveniences like push-button start and dual-zone climate control.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its second model year, offered two trims: the base 1958 and the more upscale Land Cruiser. The 1958 trim paid homage to the model's origins with a retro look, while the Land Cruiser trim presented a modern, upscale appearance with additional off-roading capabilities. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, featured Heritage Blue paint, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, bringing its price to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances and utility, with a traditional two-box SUV shape and dark gray cladding. Inside, the Land Cruiser's utilitarian interior was enhanced with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. However, the second-row seats lacked comfort, and the rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner. Despite these drawbacks, the Land Cruiser's interior felt worth the price, especially with the Premium Package's added features.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this powertrain was adequate for city driving, it struggled to deliver quick acceleration on highways, requiring heavy throttle input and generating noticeable engine noise. For those seeking more power, Hyundai offered a 226-hp Tucson Hybrid and a 261-hp Tucson Plug-In Hybrid, though these variants came with a unique button-style shifter design. The Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, offering a comfortable and composed driving experience. It absorbed road imperfections well, making it suitable for long trips or daily commutes. While not as sporty as some competitors, the Tucson provided a well-rounded driving experience.

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, delivering 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through a full-time 4WD system with electronic locking differentials, allowing for a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. However, its real-world fuel efficiency fell short of the EPA's 23 mpg combined rating, with our tests yielding 15.7 mpg. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. It excelled in urban and suburban environments, offering a powerful and responsive driving experience, though acceleration and braking revealed some limitations.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered up to 74.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 38.7 cubic feet with them in use, making it one of the roomiest in its class. The hands-free power liftgate, available on SEL trims and above, provided convenience without the need for awkward foot movements. The Tucson comfortably accommodated five passengers, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were particularly spacious, making it suitable for longer trips. The cabin featured deep cup holders and a center tray with a wireless charging pad.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Premium Package added real leather upholstery and a sunroof, enhancing the interior's appeal. However, the second-row seats lacked comfort, and the high load floor made loading heavy items challenging. The Land Cruiser's running boards, while helpful for roof access, could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary, reducing storage space.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson's standard infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, praised for its user-friendly interface. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with a fully digital instrument panel, though they sacrificed wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Tucson's remote start system was intuitive, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and drive off without pressing the start button.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from the 1958's 7-inch display to dual 12.3-inch screens with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless charging, a head-up display, and digital key technology. The Drive Connect feature offered cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant, enhancing the infotainment experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and Hyundai's Smart Park feature. The Tucson received high safety ratings from the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ designation, and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and Traffic Jam Assist. However, our experience with Toyota's ADAS varied, with some features proving less reliable in certain conditions. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results in specific tests.