2025 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

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 US market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, all wrapped in one of 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, offered a contemporary look with additional color options, a refined interior, and essential off-roading features. The Premium Package further enhanced this model with leather upholstery and advanced technology, pushing the price to $71,004. The Land Cruiser's design emphasized utility, with a traditional two-box SUV shape, dark gray cladding, and an optional roof rack to maximize its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Land Cruiser's utilitarian design was evident, with traditional switchgear and a more upscale interior compared to the 1958 model. The Java-colored leather added a touch of elegance, while dual 12.3-inch digital screens provided a modern technological edge. The steering-wheel controls were notably intuitive, especially when compared to those in a Lexus RX. The Land Cruiser's interior was practical, with a focus on functionality, although the limited color options for the exterior paint were somewhat disappointing. Overall, the Land Cruiser offered a blend of classic design and modern amenities, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a capable off-road vehicle with a touch of nostalgia.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid was offered in four trim levels: SEL, SEL Premium, Limited, and Calligraphy. Each trim level exuded style and presence, with the base SEL trim featuring 18-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille framed by LED projector headlights. The Palisade's profile was enhanced by body-color, heated side mirrors, with the SEL Premium adding power-folding and auto-dimming features. The Limited and Calligraphy trims included acoustic side glass for a quieter ride. The rear of the Palisade was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name and LED taillights wrapping around the corners. The exhaust was discreetly tucked away, emphasizing the Palisade's focus on efficient and peaceful driving.

Inside, the Palisade Hybrid impressed with its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. The SEL trim came standard with H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and three-stage heating elements for the front seats. Higher trims offered additional features like Nappa leather upholstery and integrated driver's seat memory settings. The Palisade's interior was filled with organic shapes and well-considered storage solutions, providing a richer feel compared to other non-luxury crossovers. The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable and spacious, with three-zone climate control and multiple USB-C power outlets. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a well-rounded package of style, comfort, and practicality.

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 power distributed through a full-time four-wheel-drive system. The Land Cruiser boasted a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive Land Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg, partly due to challenging conditions.

The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, with a high seating position and excellent visibility. Its suspension soaked up rough terrain, making it easy to navigate urban and suburban environments. Off-road, the Land Cruiser's capabilities were enhanced by features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor. However, its handling on twisty roads was less impressive, with noticeable body roll and a tendency to lean in corners. The Land Cruiser's power and responsiveness were somewhat deceptive, relying on the electric assist motor and turbocharged torque. Overall, the Land Cruiser was best suited for slow and steady driving, with its off-road prowess shining through.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of sluggish hybrids, offering a fun-to-drive experience for families. Its powertrain combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery, producing a total of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. This setup ensured the Palisade Hybrid never lagged, whether in town or on the highway. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and propulsion systems contributed to its impressive performance, with the hybrid system optimizing power distribution for improved handling.

The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was remarkably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass. While engine noise was noticeable under hard acceleration, the overall driving experience was peaceful. The steering was sharp and responsive, with minimal play off-center, while the pedals felt slightly squishy. Despite this, the Palisade Hybrid offered a cohesive driving experience, with its quick steering and soft pedal feel complementing each other. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid delivered a balanced blend of power, efficiency, and comfort, making it an appealing choice for families seeking a versatile and enjoyable vehicle.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered a comfortable interior 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. 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 were helpful for roof access but could be cumbersome for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical, as it required flipping up rather than powering down into the tailgate. The center console's cool box was an unnecessary addition, taking up valuable storage space.

The Land Cruiser's cargo space was generous, with 46.2 cubic feet available behind the rear seats and a maximum of 82.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded. However, the high load floor height required some effort when loading heavy items. Overall, the Land Cruiser's interior was functional and comfortable, with a focus on practicality and utility.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 86.7 cubic feet of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90. The battery's position under the front passenger seat slightly reduced second-row legroom, but the Palisade still provided ample space for passengers. The third row offered 32.1 inches of legroom, with the Calligraphy trim increasing it to 33.6 inches. Headroom in the third row was competitive, although slightly less than some rivals.

The Palisade Hybrid's cabin was comfortable and well-equipped, with three-zone climate control and multiple USB-C power outlets. The standard seating configuration accommodated seven passengers, with an optional second-row bench increasing capacity to eight. The Palisade's interior featured numerous storage solutions, including a center console with a rubberized cargo space and a small shelf ahead of the front-passenger seat. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid provided a spacious and practical interior, ideal for families and long journeys.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a sophisticated infotainment system with dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system offered five connected service plans, including cloud-based navigation and a conversational 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 Land Cruiser's technology package was comprehensive, providing a modern and connected driving experience.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, offering a balanced and user-friendly interface. The infotainment system supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Palisade Hybrid also featured a Passenger Talk intercom system for easy communication between rows. Higher trims included a 14-speaker Bose stereo and a built-in dashcam, while a wireless charging pad was standard. The Palisade Hybrid introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the use of climate control and infotainment while the engine was off. Overall, the Palisade Hybrid's technology offerings were extensive and well-integrated, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 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 semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of ADAS, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. The blind-view monitor was standard on the SEL Premium trim and above, while the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. The Palisade's ADAS performed reliably during testing, with no false alerts. At the time of writing, the Palisade Hybrid had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Overall, the Palisade Hybrid offered a robust set of safety features, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers.