There are few nameplates quite as legendary in the off-road world as the Toyota Land Cruiser. It's remained a favorite for crossing the world's toughest terrain for decades, but in recent years the company has made more of an effort to bring it more upmarket so that its interior and features match its lofty price tag. However, in doing so, Toyota has brought the Land Cruiser much closer in spec to its Lexus-branded sibling, the LX 570.
Both SUVs sat in the same price range and both featured similar layouts and features, meaning sales of the LX 570 probably cannibalized sales of the Land Cruiser and vice versa. Toyota seems to have realized this, and for 2022 has replaced the LX 570 with a new generation called the LX 600 and discontinued the Land Cruiser in the US altogether. So, 2021 was the last year that either the LX 570 or the Land Cruiser were available, but anyone looking for a year-old used bargain has a tough choice to make. Which Japanese luxury SUV is better? Let's take a closer look at each car and find out.
8 Performance And Handling
Both cars use the same engine and share most of the same components, so it's no surprise that they're both very similar to drive. Both US-spec cars come with a 5.7L V8, with 381 hp on tap in the Land Cruiser and a marginal increase of 383 hp available with the LX 570.
Neither SUV is fast, nor do they feel very athletic to drive. The Toyota suffers from considerably more body roll than the Lexus, but the Lexus is a bit finicky to drive on the highway, with Car and Driver reporting that constant small adjustments need to be made to keep the vehicle in a straight line.
7 Interior
Step inside the Land Cruiser and drivers are greeted with a cabin that's nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing as some of its rivals but is brimming with high-quality materials. The fit and finish are excellent, and most surfaces manage to feel both hard-wearing and premium.
The Lexus is a little more of a traditional luxury SUV, but it too feels very well-finished and carefully designed. The instrument panel's unsightly cluster of buttons could be improved, but overall the LX 570 feels much closer to what buyers of a typical luxury SUV have come to expect.
6 Infotainment
The Land Cruiser's infotainment system might not be quite as appealing to operate, but it's the easier to use of the two. The Lexus uses a controller located by the gear shifter that's annoying and tricky to use while driving, whereas the Land Cruiser's setup is much more conventional.
Both are similarly specced when it comes to tech and convenience features, although the LX 570 has a slightly better selection of optional extras. Strangely enough, despite their high price tags and plentiful features, neither come with Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto standard.
5 Economy
Make no mistake: both the Toyota and the Lexus are rugged, reliable, and spacious, but they're certainly not economical. The 5.7L V8 drinks fuel like it's going out of fashion, with the Land Cruiser scoring official EPA ratings of just 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway.
The Lexus is only marginally better, scoring 18 mpg on the highway, although drivers are unlikely to notice the difference at the fuel pump. With gas prices seemingly on a one-way trend upwards, expect running costs to only increase in the future.
4 Cargo Capacity and Towing
Every 2021 Land Cruiser comes with three rows of seats, and although there is plenty of space in the first two rows, the third row won't be suitable for adults on longer journeys. The LX 570 is available in either two-row or three-row form, but it's the three-row that's probably the better option.
Both SUVs have plenty of cargo space, but anyone looking for the maximum room should probably opt for a Lincoln Navigator, which leads the class in that regard. When it comes to towing, the Land Cruiser is the clear winner, with an 8,100-lb maximum capacity as opposed to the LX 570's 7,000 lbs.
3 Warranty
Both Toyota and Lexus are consistently ranked among the most reliable brands on the market, but even so, a good warranty is key for a buyer's peace of mind. The Toyota offers an industry-standard warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles limited warranty and 5 years or 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. It also comes with 2 years or 25,000 miles of complimentary service.
The Lexus offers an even better package, with 4 years or 50,000 miles given for the limited warranty and 6 years or 70,000 miles given for the powertrain. It's not entirely clear why the two cars are different, especially since they both use identical powertrains and many of the same components. Complimentary maintenance for the Lexus isn't quite as extensive, at just 1 year or 10,000 miles.
2 Price
Pricing is perhaps where both of these SUVs begin to slip up against their competition, as both come with steep asking prices considering what else is on offer. The Toyota is the slightly cheaper of the two, with a base price of roughly $87,000 in 2021, increasing to $89,000 for the plusher Heritage Edition.
Meanwhile, the two-row LX 570 starts at roughly $89,000, with the three-row costing the most at $93,000. Add in a few options and both of these SUVs will come close to pushing the $100,000 mark, putting them on par with a base-spec Range Rover or mid-spec Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
1 Verdict
Both cars come with their own merits, and either one makes for an appealing option for a luxury SUV. The Lexus is more of a traditional luxury SUV in terms of its appearance, especially inside, although it's not without its faults, and it's far from the best value on the market.
The Land Cruiser will always remain the tougher, more rugged option of the pair, unbeaten in terms of all-terrain capability. But, in terms of luxury, features, and warranty, it's the Lexus that narrowly beats the Land Cruiser, which perhaps explains why the Lexus was continued for 2022 while the Land Cruiser was axed.