Compare the2022 Ford ExpeditionVS 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Expedition are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Expedition offers optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Expedition and the Land Cruiser have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

The Expedition has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 401) than the Land Cruiser’s 5.7 DOHC V8. The Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 19 more horsepower (400 vs. 381) and 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 401) than the Land Cruiser’s 5.7 DOHC V8. The Expedition Timberline/Stealth’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 59 more horsepower (440 vs. 381) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 401) than the Land Cruiser’s 5.7 DOHC V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (base engine) is faster than the Toyota Land Cruiser:

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition gets better mileage than the Land Cruiser:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Expedition’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Expedition has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Expedition higher (5 out of 10) than the Toyota Land Cruiser (3). This means the Expedition produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Land Cruiser every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Land Cruiser.

The Expedition’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Land Cruiser’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Land Cruiser’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Ford Expedition’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Land Cruiser only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Expedition has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Toyota Land Cruiser has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Expedition offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Land Cruiser’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Expedition offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 10.3 inches longer than on the Land Cruiser (122.5 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Expedition is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Land Cruiser.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Land Cruiser pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Land Cruiser (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Land Cruiser (9.8 vs. 8.9 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Land Cruiser (10.6 vs. 8.9 inches).

The Ford Expedition may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 400 pounds less than the Toyota Land Cruiser.

The front grille of the Expedition uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Expedition Timberline/Limited/King Ranch/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Expedition has 28.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Land Cruiser (171.9 vs. 143.4).

The Expedition’s cargo area provides more volume than the Land Cruiser.

The Expedition’s cargo area provides more volume than the Land Cruiser Heritage Edition.

The Expedition’s cargo area is larger than the Land Cruiser’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Expedition’s optional second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Expedition’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Expedition’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Land Cruiser’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Expedition Timberline/Limited/King Ranch/Platinum’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Land Cruiser is limited to 8100 pounds. The Expedition offers up to a 9300 lbs. towing capacity.

The Expedition has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Land Cruiser doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Expedition offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Expedition’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Land Cruiser has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Expedition and the Land Cruiser have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Expedition is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Land Cruiser prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Expedition’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Land Cruiser’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Expedition’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Land Cruiser’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

The Expedition Platinum has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Land Cruiser.

The Expedition (except STX/XLT)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Expedition is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Land Cruiser doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Expedition owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Expedition will cost $5835 to $6585 less than the Land Cruiser over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Expedition will be $8192 to $25991 less than for the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Expedition and the Toyota Land Cruiser, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Expedition/Expedition Max outsold the Toyota Land Cruiser by almost 18 to one during the 2021 model year.