2026 Buick Enclave 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 U.S. market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Priced at $58,195, it was a more economical choice, but the Land Cruiser model, priced at $62,965, offered a more modern and upscale look. This version came with additional color options, a nicer interior with larger screens, and essential off-roading hardware and software. The Premium Package added leather and more tech, enhancing the vehicle's appeal. The 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, including the destination charge. The Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances and room for passengers and cargo, with a utilitarian interior featuring traditional switchgear and dual 12.3-inch digital screens. The Java-colored leather added a desirable contrast, and the steering-wheel controls were notably intuitive.

The 2026 Buick Enclave shared its underpinnings with other General Motors vehicles but had a distinct personality with graceful exterior lines and an inviting cabin. The Enclave's design featured a swooping hood, narrow accent lights, and an oversized grille, tying it to its smaller siblings. The Sport Touring trim had a glossy black grille, while other trims featured a silvery metallic finish. The Enclave's exterior styling was likened to a well-fitting gray suit, favoring quiet refinement over excitement. Inside, the Enclave boasted a classy horizontal dashboard with a modern curved digital display. The materials were of higher quality than the Traverse, with fewer hard plastics and more soft-touch surfaces. However, some driver ergonomics were off, with the dashboard mounted low, giving the impression of sitting too high. The Enclave's cabin was as appealing as the Acura MDX, surpassing the Lexus TX, and offered a similarly upscale experience to non-luxury SUVs like the Toyota Grand Highlander, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride. The top Avenir trim added premium leather upholstery and upgraded ambient lighting, giving it a slight advantage in its class.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by 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 rear and center differentials, allowing for a maximum 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, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. The EPA rated the Land Cruiser at 23 mpg combined, but real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. Despite its fuel consumption, the Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The SUV handled speed bumps and rough city streets with ease, offering a high driving position and excellent visibility. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, along with 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Land Cruiser felt powerful and responsive, thanks to the electric assist motor and turbocharged torque, but acceleration and braking revealed its limitations.

The 2026 Buick Enclave was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive. The test vehicle featured the optional all-wheel drive system. The Enclave accelerated to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds, but the transmission response and engine noise made it feel slower. The brakes were predictable and easy to modulate, while the suspension prioritized ride quality over handling. The Enclave smoothed over road bumps well, though some rivals were more composed in curves. The top Avenir trim offered adaptive dampers for improved handling and comfort. Manual shifting of the automatic gearbox was useful on mountain journeys, though activating the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles required an extra step. At highway speeds, the cabin remained quiet, with only minor road noise on coarser surfaces. The Enclave's power and handling were adequate, with a focus on comfort. It offered a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity with an optional trailering package.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to SofTex artificial leather, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, but 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 was deemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the back seat folded was 82.1 cubic feet.

The 2026 Buick Enclave came standard with second-row captain's chairs, limiting passenger capacity to seven but providing a central pathway to the third row. The Power package included one-touch folding operation for the captain's chairs. The middle-row seats offered ample space for taller passengers, with raised seat cushions for a better view. The third-row seats accommodated adults up to five-foot-ten-inches comfortably, though thigh support was limited. The panoramic sunroof helped alleviate the closed-in feeling. Cargo capacity was 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, with a large bin under the floor for additional storage. The Power package added power-folding third-row seatbacks, expanding cargo space to 57.1 cubic feet, and the second row could be stowed for a maximum of 97.5 cubic feet. The Enclave featured a hands-free power liftgate and ample storage for smaller items in the front seats.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 7-inch digital driver display and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, upgraded to two 12.3-inch displays in the Land Cruiser model. The Toyota Audio Multimedia 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, with Drive Connect offering 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 Enclave showcased a 30-inch curved digital display for the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen, running on a Google Built-in operating system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard features included a wireless charging pad, WiFi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was praised for its graphics and quick response, with physical buttons for climate controls. The Power package added a head-up display, and voice commands were handled by an Amazon Alexa system. The Bose audio system lacked some bass but had decent clarity. The top Avenir trim offered a 16-speaker system for improved audio quality.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist, along with adaptive cruise control and a semi-autonomous highway driving aid. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. 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 and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Buick Enclave had not been fully crash-tested by the NHTSA, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ for 2025. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Power package added a digital rearview mirror and head-up display, along with GM's SuperCruise for hands-free highway driving. SuperCruise allowed for automated driving on select roads, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.