2026 Buick Envista vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was offered in two trim levels, the 1958 and the Land Cruiser. The 1958 model, named after the year the Land Cruiser was first sold in the US, featured a retro design with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. It was priced at $58,195, offering a nostalgic appeal but lacking the modern amenities found in the more expensive Land Cruiser model. The Land Cruiser, priced at $62,965, boasted a modern, upscale look with more color options, a refined interior with larger screens, and essential off-roading hardware. The Premium Package added leather, more tech, and a host of other upgrades, bringing the price to $71,004. Despite its utilitarian interior, the Land Cruiser offered a technologically advanced cabin with dual 12.3-inch screens and intuitive steering-wheel controls, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a blend of tradition and modernity.

The 2026 Buick Envista was available in Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir trim levels, with prices ranging from $26,495 to $31,295. Our test vehicle, the Envista Sport Touring Studio Series, had an MSRP of $31,855. The Envista's design was striking, with a trendy Ceramic paint option, though the interior revealed its affordability with plastic materials, fake leather, and hard seats. The vehicle's cheapness was evident in the noises from the center armrest, turn signal stalk, and transmission shifter. Despite these drawbacks, the Envista's exterior design was appealing, and its interior, though lacking refinement, was functional for an entry-level model.

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 4WD system and electronic locking differentials, allowing for a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, while the Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes 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, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning. Its high seating position provided excellent visibility, and off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views. The Land Cruiser felt powerful and responsive, but its handling was best suited for slow and steady driving.

The 2026 Buick Envista featured a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. With a base curb weight of 3,137 pounds, the Envista was slow and not particularly fuel-efficient, averaging 28.1 mpg over 300 miles, below the EPA rating of 30 mpg combined. Turbo lag was noticeable, making it challenging to navigate traffic smoothly. The six-speed automatic transmission was a positive aspect, preventing the droning often associated with CVTs. The Sport Touring Studio Series model's 19-inch wheels and tires provided good cornering grip, but steering and braking lacked precision. The ride quality was unsettled, especially with four passengers, and the cabin was not as quiet as expected, with road and environmental noise seeping in.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in the upgraded model. 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 high load floor made loading heavy items challenging, but the cargo space was generous, with 46.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary.

The 2026 Buick Envista's higher seating position made entry and exit easy, though rear-seat passengers needed to be cautious of the sloping roofline. The single-zone automatic climate control was basic but effective, and heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were available on higher trims. The front seats were hard and flat but supportive for short drives, with power adjustment for the driver. Storage space was decent, though unlined surfaces caused items to rattle. Rear-seat passengers found the space accommodating, with generous legroom and a comfortable backrest angle. Cargo space was modest, with 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 42 cubic feet with the seats folded. The power rear liftgate was part of the Studio Series upgrade, but the unfinished area under the load floor limited storage options.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured dual 12.3-inch 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 Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Buick Envista had an 8-inch digital driver display and an 11-inch touchscreen within a single glass surface. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Studio Series upgrade added wireless smartphone charging, though it was slow. OnStar Basics connected services were free for eight years, offering crash response and remote vehicle access. The six-speaker audio system was adequate, with convenient stereo controls on the steering wheel, though the volume knob was difficult to use.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving, though performance varied. 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 the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Buick Envista offered basic driver-assistance tech, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, and high-beam assist. The Studio Series Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control was smooth, but lane-keep assist was less effective on winding roads. The Envista received a Poor rating from the IIHS for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and a Marginal headlight rating. The NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the Envista at the time of writing.