2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, the 1958 and the more upscale Land Cruiser model. The 1958 trim, named after the year the model was first sold in the US, featured a retro design with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, offering a nostalgic nod to its origins. Despite its lower price, the 1958 trim lacked the modern amenities and off-roading capabilities found in the Land Cruiser model. The latter boasted a more contemporary and luxurious appearance, with a wider range of color options, a refined interior, and advanced off-roading hardware. The Premium Package further enhanced the Land Cruiser with leather upholstery, larger screens, and additional tech features, making it a more appealing choice for those seeking a blend of tradition and modernity.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized functionality, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized off-road clearances and interior space. Its utilitarian interior was significantly upgraded from the 1958 trim, featuring dual 12.3-inch digital screens and Java-colored leather that added a touch of sophistication. The SUV's intuitive steering-wheel controls were a notable improvement over those in the Lexus RX, enhancing the driving experience. Despite its utilitarian roots, the Land Cruiser managed to offer a technologically advanced and comfortable cabin, making it a compelling option for those who valued both off-road capability and interior refinement.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe was offered in multiple trim levels, including SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy, with prices ranging from $36,650 to $49,400. The XRT trim, which we tested, featured a rugged and trendy blacked-out appearance, appealing to those who favored a more adventurous look. While the Santa Fe's design was polarizing, it aimed to maximize practicality with a boxy back end and a third-row seat, catering to families in need of extra space. The XRT trim's all-terrain tires and raised suspension contributed to its off-road capabilities, although its lack of contrast in darker colors was less appealing.

Inside, the Santa Fe XRT offered a high-tech display and quality materials, with ample storage space for everyday needs. The gloss-black angled control panel, while stylish, was prone to collecting dust. Despite missing some features available in other trims, such as a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats, the XRT provided a comfortable and practical interior. Entry and exit were effortless, and the third-row seat, though best reserved for occasional use, was more accommodating than expected. Thoughtful touches, such as dual wireless charging pads and hidden storage, added to the Santa Fe's practicality, making it a versatile choice for families and adventurers alike.

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, providing robust performance for both daily driving and off-road adventures. The full-time four-wheel-drive system, with electronic locking rear and center differentials, enabled a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Off-road enthusiasts appreciated features like Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select modes, which enhanced the Land Cruiser's capability on challenging terrains.

Despite its impressive power, the Land Cruiser's fuel efficiency was less than stellar, with real-world testing yielding only 15.7 mpg compared to the EPA's optimistic 23 mpg combined rating. The SUV excelled in urban and suburban environments, offering a smooth ride and excellent visibility. However, its handling on twisty roads was less agile, with noticeable body lean and suspension tuning that favored comfort over sportiness. Off-road, the Land Cruiser shone, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views providing confidence on rugged trails. Overall, the Land Cruiser was a powerful and capable vehicle, ideal for those who prioritized off-road performance and versatility.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The switch to a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter resulted in a smoother driving experience compared to the previous dual-clutch setup. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional on most trims and standard on the XRT. The XRT's raised suspension and all-terrain tires enhanced its off-road capabilities, although it wasn't as aerodynamic as other trims, resulting in a lower EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg combined.

During testing, the Santa Fe XRT achieved 21.7 mpg on a flat fuel-economy loop and 18.6 mpg on a mountainous route. While not as capable off-road as some competitors, the XRT's lifted suspension and off-road drive modes allowed it to handle moderately challenging trails with confidence. However, the lack of a front-view and surround-view camera system was a drawback for tighter trail work. On-road, the Santa Fe offered effortless acceleration and a smooth ride, with the new automatic transmission providing a more refined experience. The XRT's towing capacity increased to 4,500 pounds, making it a practical choice for those who needed both on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a more refined interior compared to the 1958 trim, with SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof, enhancing the cabin's comfort and luxury. While the front seats provided excellent support, the second-row seats were less comfortable, lacking thigh support and offering an awkward backrest angle. The high load floor height in the cargo area required some effort when loading heavy items, but the Land Cruiser offered a generous 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian yet technologically advanced, with dual 12.3-inch digital screens and intuitive controls. However, the rear window design was less practical, as it didn't power down into the tailgate like in the 4Runner. The center console's cool box, part of the Premium Package, seemed unnecessary and reduced storage space. Despite these drawbacks, the Land Cruiser's interior was well-suited for both daily driving and off-road adventures, offering a blend of comfort and functionality.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized practicality and utility, with a spacious and comfortable interior. However, the XRT trim lacked some features available in other trims, such as a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats. The all-black interior absorbed heat, making it less ideal for warm climates. Entry and exit were effortless, and the third-row seat, while best for occasional use, was more accommodating than expected. Thoughtful touches, such as dual wireless charging pads and hidden storage, added to the Santa Fe's practicality.

Cargo space was limited to 14.6 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, but folding it flat expanded the space to 40.5 cubic feet, and further to 79.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The power hands-free liftgate was a convenient feature, automatically opening when it detected the keyfob nearby. Overall, the Santa Fe offered a versatile and family-friendly interior, with ample storage and thoughtful design elements that enhanced its practicality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured advanced technology, with dual 12.3-inch displays replacing the smaller screens in the 1958 trim. The Toyota Audio Multimedia 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 Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect. The latter provided a cloud-based navigation system 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. These features enhanced the Land Cruiser's technological appeal, making it a well-equipped and modern SUV.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a dual-screen panel, with SE, SEL, and XRT models featuring digital gauges with a 4.2-inch center panel. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system was canted towards the driver for easier access, offering a graphically pleasing interface with simple layout and menu structures. Standard tech highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluelink+ connected services.

Optional features included a native navigation system, dynamic voice recognition, and Hyundai Pay technology. The Bluelink+ service was complimentary for original owners, providing safety-related features such as automatic collision notification and remote engine starting. The Santa Fe's technology package was comprehensive and user-friendly, offering a range of features that enhanced convenience and safety.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included 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, although performance varied depending on conditions.

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 five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including a junction turning detection system, front and rear parking sensors, and a safe-exit assist system. Higher trim levels, including the XRT, featured adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist as part of the Highway Driving Assist system. This system required a light touch on the steering wheel and included a driver-attention monitor for added safety.

Optional features included navigation-based speed and curve control for the adaptive cruise control system, although this feature slowed the Santa Fe too much in some situations. The Santa Fe received impressive safety ratings, earning a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).