2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to its debut year in the US. This version featured a retro aesthetic with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, offered 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 design, a wider color palette, and a more luxurious interior with larger screens. It also included essential off-roading features and offered a Premium Package with leather 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.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized functionality, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized off-road capabilities, visibility, and interior space. Its utilitarian interior featured traditional switchgear, and the Java-colored leather added a touch of elegance. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens enhanced its technological appeal. Compared to a Lexus RX, the Land Cruiser's steering-wheel controls were notably more intuitive. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Land Cruiser's interior was significantly more refined than the 1958 model, justifying its higher price point.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport exuded an American-inspired design with its high-sided body panels, large wheels, and a fascia reminiscent of a pickup truck. The front fascia mirrored that of the larger Atlas, featuring a wide, dark grille with a honeycomb texture, chrome trim, and sleek, stacked headlights. The light bar with the illuminated VW logo added a touch of flair. The Atlas Cross Sport's design was clean and uncluttered, with U-shaped fenders, 20-inch two-tone wheels, and a gently sloping roof. The rear lighting, though a bit busy, maintained a crisp and clean appearance. However, the thick chrome bar below the taillight strip and chrome bumper trim pieces gave it a slightly dated look.

The interior of the Atlas Cross Sport was smartly designed with high-quality materials. It featured a single touchscreen within the center stack, double-stacked air vents, and convincing aluminum-look trim. The seats boasted an upscale look with diamond-contrast stitch inserts and carbon twill fabric on the bolsters. The Dark Beige and Black upholstery added a touch of sophistication, and the interior was filled with soft touchpoints. Despite its limited color choices, the Atlas Cross Sport's interior was one of the most expensive-looking in its class.

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, transferred through a full-time four-wheel-drive system with electronic locking rear and center differentials. It boasted a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, while the higher-priced 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 revealed a disappointing 15.7 mpg. However, the Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, with impressive suspension tuning that absorbed rough terrain and city streets alike. Its high seating position provided excellent visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver on trails. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor. While powerful and responsive in daily driving, the Land Cruiser's performance was somewhat illusory, with modest acceleration and noticeable body lean during hard braking and cornering.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on the SE and SE with Technology trims, while all-wheel drive was optional on those trims and standard on the SEL, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line. Fuel economy was competitive, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined for FWD, and 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined for AWD.

At low speeds, the engine exhibited a raspy sound, but it calmed down at higher speeds. However, the engine struggled to provide sufficient power for highway acceleration, especially with a full load. The Atlas Cross Sport lacked sporty performance, with light and lifeless steering, though it tracked straight and felt solid. The transmission shifted smoothly, and braking was a strong point with solid pedal feel. The ride was rough, but body motion was well-controlled, and the seats offered more comfort than expected.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to Toyota's SofTex artificial leather, 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 running boards, though helpful for roof access, could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, as it didn't power down into the tailgate like the 4Runner. 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, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport provided ample headroom and legroom, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a midsize crossover. The back seat was spacious and supportive, with good sightlines despite the lowered roof. The infotainment interface was generally user-friendly, though the lack of customization options for the color theme was a drawback. The climate controls were fully digital, causing a delay when starting the vehicle. Heated and ventilated front seats were standard, with power adjustment available on higher trims. The SEL Premium R-Line added lumbar support, massagers, and heated second-row seats. The Atlas Cross Sport had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and offered 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 77.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console provided ample storage, and the LED map lights were bright and useful.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured two 12.3-inch displays, upgrading from the 1958 model's smaller screens. 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, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect. Drive Connect offered cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant for voice commands. 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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the lack of navigation on lower trims was frustrating, as the infotainment system displayed icons for features not included. The SE with Technology trim added adaptive front headlights, illuminated VW emblems, a hands-free power tailgate, trailer hitch, 115-volt power outlet, garage door opener, parking sensors, and remote start. The climate controls offered presets for quick adjustments, and the proximity key worked at all four doors. The Atlas Cross Sport also featured four USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and remote connectivity with the myVW+ app.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It 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 semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. 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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for frontal crashes and rollover resistance. It earned a five-star side-impact rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a 2026 Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in crash tests and an Acceptable rating in forward emergency-braking tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control, and an exit warning system. The Travel Assist highway-driving aid and Emergency Assist, which could pull the vehicle off the road if the driver became unresponsive, were also standard. The Atlas Cross Sport featured automatic post-collision braking and the Intelligent Crash Response System, which shut off the fuel pump, unlocked the doors, and activated the hazards after certain collisions.