2025 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER DRIVING REVIEW | EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE, POOR FUEL ECONOMY

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The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser presents a compelling, albeit expensive, package with a strong emphasis on its hybrid powertrain and refined on-road manners. The reviewer highlights the "excellent performance" delivered by the 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system, offering 326 horsepower and instant power delivery, making it "no slouch whatsoever." Ride quality is praised as "a joy to drive," with the suspension effectively soaking up bumps and providing a quiet cabin. Interior comfort, particularly in the front seats, is noted as "phenomenal," and the availability of features like the cool box and a robust 2.4 KW onboard inverter for powering tools are significant positives. However, the "abysmal" fuel economy is a major drawback, with real-world results significantly lagging behind EPA estimates, averaging around 16.8 MPG and rarely exceeding 20 MPG even on the highway. Other minor criticisms include occasional rough shifts from the 8-speed automatic transmission, slightly stiff rear seats, and some quirks with the automatic high beams and HVAC controls. Despite these drawbacks, the Land Cruiser is deemed a "very interesting vehicle" with solid on-road manners and utility, though its hefty price tag of over $70,000 positions it against competitors like the Lexus GX, which offers third-row seating and a V6 engine for a similar cost.