2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available 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 featured a retro design with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Priced at $58,195, it offered a nostalgic appeal but lacked the modern amenities found in the more expensive Land Cruiser model, which cost $62,965. The latter boasted a contemporary, upscale appearance, a wider color palette, and a more refined interior with larger screens and essential off-roading enhancements. The Premium Package further elevated the experience with leather upholstery and advanced technology.

Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, showcased Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint, 20-inch wheels, and an accessory roof rack, bringing the total price to $71,004, including destination charges. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road capability with a traditional two-box SUV shape, maximizing clearances and visibility. Inside, the utilitarian cabin featured traditional switchgear, dual 12.3-inch digital screens, and Java-colored leather, offering a blend of ruggedness and modern technology. The intuitive steering-wheel controls were a notable improvement over those in the Lexus RX, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a wide range of options, with ten versions available, priced from $63,600 to $134,500, including destination charges. The GLE 350, the least expensive model, featured rear-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the AMG GLE 63 S Coupe, at the higher end, came with standard 4Matic all-wheel drive and a hand-built twin-turbo V8 engine. Our focus was on the standard GLE body style, specifically the GLE 450, which featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology. The GLE 450e, a plug-in hybrid variant, offered an estimated 49 miles of electric-only range.

The GLE 450 came with standard all-wheel drive and was equipped with the Exclusive Package and the new-for-2026 Manufaktur Edition Package, bringing the MSRP to $79,100. The Manufaktur Edition added exclusive paint, 21-inch wheels, a Night Package with blacked-out trim, and a panoramic sunroof, among other features. Despite its egg-on-wheels styling, the GLE Coupe's swoopy roofline improved the design. Inside, the GLE 450 boasted an elegantly detailed cabin with quality materials, matte-finish wood, ambient lighting, and sophisticated digital displays. The steering wheel featured touch-sensing controls, though the touch slider for stereo volume proved challenging, prompting reliance on the center console's volume thumbwheel.

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, channeled through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking rear and center differentials. The Land Cruiser boasted a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and came equipped with standard 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, partly due to the hot Southern California weather and the air conditioning running at full blast. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and weekend adventurer, though it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. It handled urban and suburban driving well, with features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Land Cruiser's high seating position provided excellent visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver on trails.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Power was delivered through a nine-speed automatic transmission, with driving modes including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, and Individual. The GLE 450 had a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, making it competitive with midsize pickup trucks. It also featured Downhill Speed Regulation, an off-road data panel, and a "transparent hood" camera view for improved terrain visibility.

During testing, the GLE 450's standard suspension allowed excessive body motion, making it less enjoyable to drive in various conditions. The steering felt numb and overassisted in Comfort mode, while Dynamic mode offered firmer handling. The sport braking system performed well during spirited driving but felt grabby in typical situations. The automatic engine stop/start system caused delays in acceleration, and the transmission's downshifts were noticeable. Despite these issues, the GLE 450 proved to be a comfortable long-distance cruiser, achieving an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to Toyota's SofTex artificial leather in the Land Cruiser model, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a standard-size power sunroof. While the front seats provided excellent support, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for taller passengers, though they aided in roof rack access.

The rear window design was a missed opportunity, as it didn't power down into the tailgate like the 4Runner's, limiting cabin airflow. The center console's cool box, part of the Premium Package, seemed unnecessary and reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the 60/40-split folding back seat down. However, the high load floor required effort when loading heavy items.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured firm yet comfortable front seats with "energizing seat kinetics" to reduce fatigue on long trips. The Exclusive Package added ventilated front seats and genuine Nappa leather. The back seat was roomy and comfortable, though the low seating position relative to the window sills could make passengers feel shorter. The GLE offered generous headroom, legroom, and foot room, with a properly shaped back seat for support.

A third-row seat was an expensive option, adding two extra chairs with USB-C charging ports and power-adjustable second-row seats. The GLE provided thoughtful storage solutions, including a cover for the wireless charging pad and cupholders. The cargo area offered 33.3 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split back seat folded down. The cargo area included a netted compartment, robust hooks, lighting, and a cargo cover, with additional storage under the load floor.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) 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.

Drive Connect 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.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The setup offered lush graphics and a range of configurations, with minimal reflections. A biometric authentication system loaded saved user profiles, and the digital voice assistant performed well, though it struggled with certain requests.

The Exclusive Package added a Burmester surround-sound audio system, Dolby Atmos technology, and an augmented-reality video function for navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and one year of complimentary access to Mercedes Digital Extras. The Exclusive Package also included Online Music Streaming, with Apple Music integration.

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). TSS 3.0 included 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 lane-centering assist for semi-autonomous highway driving.

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 frontal-impact tests, five stars in side-impact tests, and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE's standard safety tech included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, a safe-exit assist system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Pre-Safe Sound, a unique Mercedes feature, emitted a tone to protect occupants' hearing during a collision. The GLE also featured parking aids, including front and rear sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a semi-automated parking system.

The $1,950 Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and centering assist, evasive steering assist, and front cross-traffic braking assist. Active Emergency Stop Assist, part of the package, automatically stopped the GLE if the driver became unresponsive. The GLE's driver aids worked well overall, though the route-based speed-adjustment feature and automated lane-change assist functioned inconsistently. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the GLE a "Top Safety Pick+" for 2025, but the NHTSA had not yet rated it.