If you’ve been dreaming about a real off-road SUV that feels just as good crawling through dirt as it does pulling into a fancy dinner, 2025 is shaping up to be your year.
Toyota is bringing back the legendary Land Cruiser. Lexus is rolling out a fully redesigned GX. Both are tougher, smarter, and more stylish than ever. And both are designed to survive the trail and still feel perfectly at home in modern city life.
But they take different approaches to the same idea. One stays rugged and simple. The other layers are a real luxury. Here’s how the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and the 2025 Lexus GX compare — and which one might fit your life better.
A Quick Look at Their Histories
The Toyota Land Cruiser name is famous for good reason.
It was originally built in the 1950s as a Japanese military vehicle but quickly earned a reputation for reliability and toughness. Land Cruisers have climbed the world’s roughest mountains, crossed deserts, and survived brutal conditions that would leave other vehicles stranded.
Over time, the Land Cruiser got bigger, more luxurious, and more expensive — to the point that it started competing with true luxury SUVs instead of just rough-country 4x4s.
The Lexus GX shares some of that DNA but took a different route.
Introduced in the early 2000s, the GX was based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (a slightly smaller Land Cruiser sold overseas) but was wrapped in Lexus luxury. It was tough enough to handle serious off-roading but polished enough to appeal to wealthy families who needed an SUV that could haul kids during the week and haul gear into the mountains on weekends.
Both vehicles built loyal followings, and in 2025, both are returning sharper than ever.
Design: Rugged vs Rugged-Luxury
One look at the 2025 Land Cruiser, and it’s clear: Toyota is going back to basics.
It’s boxy, squared-off, and almost industrial. Round headlights, squared wheel arches, and minimal ornamentation make it feel ready for the trail. It looks like it could survive a zombie apocalypse without breaking a sweat.
The 2025 Lexus GX looks tough too, but it’s cleaner and more sculpted.
The GX still rides tall and wide, but it has sharper LED lights, a massive Lexus grille, and smoother lines. It looks powerful but sophisticated, more like something you’d see parked outside a ski resort lodge.
Both are imposing. The Land Cruiser looks more purposeful. The GX looks more polished.
Off-Road Capability: Both Are Serious
Underneath, both SUVs are extremely capable.
The Land Cruiser comes standard with full-time four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case, and a locking center differential. Higher trims add a locking rear differential, multi-terrain modes, skid plates, and Toyota’s updated Crawl Control system that helps you tackle tough trails by automatically adjusting throttle and brakes.
With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and good approach and departure angles, the new Land Cruiser is built to handle real off-roading, not just gravel roads.
The Lexus GX rides on the same platform and has many of the same features.
It also offers full-time four-wheel drive, a locking center differential, available crawl control, and multiple off-road modes. Where the GX steps it up is with an optional E-KDSS suspension system that can disconnect the sway bars for better wheel articulation over rocks.
It’s built to handle serious trails while still feeling smooth and stable on-road.
Both vehicles could easily handle overland adventures, deep snow, muddy tracks, and desert trails.
But the Land Cruiser feels slightly more old-school tough, while the GX delivers that capability with more comfort.
Interior Comfort and Features: Practical vs Plush
Inside, the difference gets even bigger.
The Land Cruiser’s cabin is designed to be practical, durable, and easy to live with. You get comfortable seats, good materials, a straightforward layout, and either an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen depending on the trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistance suite are all standard.
It feels modern and well-built, but the priority is still utility. Big knobs you can use with gloves. Surfaces that are easy to clean after a day on the trails.
The GX feels like stepping into a luxury SUV.
It features real wood trim, soft leather, a huge 14-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, and all the modern tech you could want. Optional features include ventilated front seats, a premium Mark Levinson sound system, and even a massage function.
The GX also offers an optional third row of seats, making it more flexible for families. The Land Cruiser, depending on the model, may offer a small third row overseas but not in the U.S. version.
If you want simple, rugged comfort, the Land Cruiser delivers. If you want plush, high-end comfort that just happens to come with serious 4×4 skills, the GX wins.
Performance: Hybrid vs Twin-Turbo
Both the Land Cruiser and the GX are ditching V8 engines in favor of smarter powertrains.
The 2025 Land Cruiser comes with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system — a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an electric motor. It makes 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This setup offers strong low-end torque for off-roading and towing while dramatically improving fuel economy compared to old-school V8s.
The Lexus GX uses a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 making 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It’s not a hybrid yet, but a hybrid GX model is expected later. For now, the V6 delivers smooth, strong power with a satisfying surge when you hit the gas.
Both SUVs should tow between 6,000 and 7,000 pounds properly equipped.
The Land Cruiser will likely be a little more efficient, but the GX will feel faster when accelerating.
Real-World Use: Adventure, Towing, and City Life
The Land Cruiser feels like it’s built for people who really use their SUVs.
It’s perfect for buyers who tow boats, drive up muddy mountain roads, or take long overland trips where durability matters more than luxury.
The GX can do all of that too but is better suited for someone who also spends a lot of time commuting, driving kids to school, or showing up at nice restaurants. It’s more comfortable around town, quieter at highway speeds, and a little easier to live with every day.
If you plan to spend most of your time off-road, the Land Cruiser makes more sense.
If you split your time between the trails and the city, the GX strikes a better balance.
Ownership, Reliability, and Service
Both Toyota and Lexus have stellar reputations for reliability.
Land Cruisers are legendary for lasting forever with basic maintenance. It’s not unusual to see old models with 300,000 miles still running strong.
Lexus adds another layer of ownership experience — premium service at the dealership, longer standard warranties, and concierge services that make maintenance easier.
Service costs will be a little lower for the Land Cruiser, simply because it’s more rugged and has fewer luxury features to worry about over time.
But either way, you’re buying one of the most reliable vehicles you can get.
Price and Value
The 2025 Land Cruiser is expected to start around $55,000 for the base 1958 trim and climb to about $70,000 for the loaded First Edition. That’s strong value for a capable, reliable off-roader.
The 2025 Lexus GX starts closer to $65,000 and stretches over $75,000 fully loaded. You’re paying for the luxury upgrades, the Lexus badge, and the extra tech.
Both are good value for what you get, but they serve slightly different buyers.
Final Verdict
Both the Land Cruiser and the GX are serious off-roaders. Both can take you to places most luxury SUVs would never dream of going. Both are built on Toyota’s newest platform for strength, safety, and durability.
The Land Cruiser is perfect if you value durability, straightforward strength, and adventure-ready design. It’s the modern version of an old-school icon. Tough, trustworthy, and capable.
The Lexus GX is perfect if you want real off-road ability but refuse to give up luxury, comfort, and high-end technology. It’s the best of both worlds — rugged underneath, refined on the surface.
Personally, if I were planning a life full of camping trips, mountain adventures, and rugged travel, I’d grab the Land Cruiser. Simple, reliable, built to go anywhere.
But if my life balanced city commutes, road trips, and a few rugged weekends a year, I’d be heading straight for the GX. It’s just too good at blending adventure with comfort.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll be getting a true legend — ready to take you wherever you want to go, on-road or off.
