2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC adhered closely to Mercedes’ contemporary design ethos, presenting a refreshing sight in the compact crossover segment. Its taut lines contributed to a trim and muscular silhouette that flowed elegantly from the signature Mercedes star-pattern grille to the standard LED headlights. The vehicle's taller, upright cabin and short overhangs suggested a multi-terrain capability, particularly in models without the AMG Line, which featured unpainted wheel arch liners. The GLC's crisp headlights and intricately detailed tail lights ensured its aesthetic appeal would remain fresh for years. The optional 20-inch AMG five-spoke wheels enhanced its athletic form, while the interior exuded luxury with contrasting leather-adorned door panels and premium materials. The GLC 350e PHEV model boasted supple white leather seats with heating and ventilation options, offering great adjustability and a commanding road view. Despite the haptic steering wheel and climate controls being made of piano black plastic, they were nicely contrasted by faux carbon fiber, satin-stitched leather, and painted aluminum trim accents throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, available in two trim levels, offered a retro look in its base model, the 1958, with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. However, the more modern and upscale Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, was the preferred choice. It featured a nicer interior with larger screens and critical off-roading hardware and software. The Premium Package added leather and more tech, enhancing the vehicle's appeal. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and an accessory roof rack, had a total price of $71,004. The Land Cruiser's traditional two-box SUV design maximized off-road clearances, visibility, and cargo space. Its utilitarian interior featured traditional switchgear, and the Java-colored leather added a desirable color contrast. The dual 12.3-inch digital driver and infotainment screens provided a technologically advanced appearance. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, making it a capable vehicle for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered a range of powertrains, including the GLC 300 SUV with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or GLC 300 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), and the GLC 350e 4Matic plug-in hybrid. All models were powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The GLC 300 produced 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the 350e's output was slightly lower at 201 hp and 236 lb-ft. However, the 300 featured a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that added 23 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. The 350e's hybrid system included a 23.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and an electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 313 hp and 406 lb-ft. Despite carrying additional weight, the 350e matched the 300's 0-60 time. The GLC's ride quality, steering, and handling were commendable, with the vehicle absorbing road imperfections well and maintaining composure on highways and winding roads. The braking performance was adequate, and the regenerative braking system helped prolong the 350e's impressive 54-mile electric range.

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. The system delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, transferred through a full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD) system with electronic locking rear and center differentials. The Land Cruiser had a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and came with standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. 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 weekend adventurer, with its suspension tuning absorbing road imperfections and providing a comfortable ride. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control enhancing its performance on challenging terrains.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered a commanding view of the road, with ample hip, shoulder, and legroom in the front seats, even for taller drivers. However, the back seats were a bit tight on leg and headroom, a common issue in the compact crossover segment. The front seats had a clever design with a curve to maximize rear legroom, though rear-seat passengers couldn't stretch out completely. The GLC's boxy shape and 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 52.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, made it practical for everyday use. The split rear seat dropped instantly via buttons behind the hatch, allowing for easy storage of larger items like an XL-sized road bike. The GLC's hybridization contributed to an estimated fuel economy of 29.3 miles per gallon over 273 miles of mixed driving. The 350e had an estimated EPA fuel economy of 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined in hybrid mode, with an estimated efficiency of 60 MPGe city, 70 MPGe highway, and 64 MPGe combined in all-electric mode.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats provided excellent support on longer trips, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller individuals but were helpful for accessing the roof rack. The rear window design was less convenient compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the high load floor height required some effort when loading heavy items.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the latest third-generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, with haptic controls for steering wheel, climate control, and infotainment functions. The 11.9-inch touchscreen required some adjustment to get used to the right swipe intensity, and there was occasional sluggishness in touchscreen response. Despite these challenges, wireless Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connected seamlessly, and the screen resolution was impressive. The GLC's ambient lighting customization added to the driving experience, especially during nighttime drives with the Burmester 3D surround sound system.

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 included 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 Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect. The Drive Connect system offered cloud-based navigation and a conversational digital assistant, which performed well in voice recognition tests. 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC came standard with advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring, active parking assistance, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and active braking assistance. The optional $1,950 Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, steering assist with stop-and-go capability, lane-change assist, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, evasive maneuvering, and speed limit assist. These features worked smoothly, with adaptive cruise control and steering assist making for a comfortable driving experience in stop-and-go traffic.

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