2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to the year it first hit the US market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Despite its nostalgic charm, the 1958 model was priced at $58,195, making it a costly choice for those seeking a budget-friendly SUV. The more modern Land Cruiser trim, priced at $62,965, boasted a contemporary look, a wider color palette, and a more luxurious interior with larger screens and advanced off-roading capabilities. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, additional tech, and a roof rack, bringing the total cost to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized utility, with a two-box SUV structure, dark gray cladding, and a roof load rating of 770 pounds static and 165 pounds dynamic. Inside, the SUV offered a utilitarian yet upscale feel, with Java-colored leather and dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhancing its technological appeal.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid continued the evolutionary improvements seen in previous generations, maintaining its attractive design. The 2026 model carried forward changes from 2024, including new sheet metal and chassis construction, with a notable update to the front fascia featuring a frameless grille and aerodynamic enhancements. The Crosstrek Hybrid was available in two trims, Sport and Limited, with the Limited Hybrid offering a balance of rugged utility and refined comfort. The interior showcased Subaru's straightforward design philosophy, with consistent material quality and distinctive orange contrast stitching on the gray StarTex seats. The Limited Hybrid added upscale touches like chrome-trimmed power window switches and a heated steering wheel, while an optional power moonroof contributed to an airy atmosphere. Despite some compromises in previous iterations, the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid offered improved cargo space and a larger gas tank, making it a more practical choice for long journeys.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with 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. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time four-wheel-drive system and electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an 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 a high seating position and excellent visibility. However, it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning and tires. Off-road, it proved capable with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, offering 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter Boxer H4 engine paired with a 118-hp traction motor, producing a total system output of 194 horsepower. This made it the fastest Crosstrek to date, with smoother acceleration than the gas-only version. The hybrid system utilized two motor-generators, one for engine start/stop and battery charging, and the other as a drive motor and for regenerative braking. During testing, the Crosstrek Hybrid achieved 31 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 36 mpg estimate, partly due to dirt road driving. Subaru's AWD system, with a mechanical connection, offered better terrain capability than electric AWD systems. The X-Mode traction management system provided specific settings for different conditions, enhancing off-road performance. The Crosstrek's steering was light but precise, thanks to a revised dual-pinion steering rack, and it exhibited less body lean than previous models, though the Wilderness trim introduced additional roll due to its off-road suspension setup.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth to SofTex artificial leather upholstery, with 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 running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort to load heavy items.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved on previous iterations by offering more horsepower and cargo space. It featured 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats, expanding to 50.6 cubic feet with the rear row folded. The gas tank remained a generous 16.6 gallons, allowing for long-distance travel without frequent refueling. The Crosstrek Hybrid offered ample rear-seat space with 36.7 inches of legroom, surpassing competitors like the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Up front, storage was limited, with a small tray housing a wireless charging pad and two cupholders. Deep door pockets and a standard-size glove compartment provided additional storage options.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured upgraded 12.3-inch digital driver and infotainment displays, with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system offering 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 Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, though its software was slow and prone to lag. The display was a fingerprint magnet, and many controls were touchscreen-based, which could be frustrating. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with physical buttons for volume, tuning, and HVAC controls. The Limited Hybrid trim featured a Harman Kardon stereo and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which could display navigation maps, though not Google Maps from phone projections.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring 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 semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid had not yet been rated by IIHS or NHTSA for 2026, but the 2025 model received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Subaru's EyeSight ADAS included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision braking, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. However, it lacked a semi-autonomous driving system comparable to those from other manufacturers.