The redesigned Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is expected in 2024 with body-on-frame underpinnings, and it may also be offered in the U.S. and Canada
This story includes speculative renders made by Thanos Pappas for Carscoops that are not related to or endorsed by Toyota
The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the world’s most iconic off-roaders but the nameplate is absent from the North American market since 2021. Thankfully for Land Cruiser fans and prospective buyers, Toyota is reportedly planning a return of the SUV to the U.S., albeit with a slight twist. Instead of the full-fledged Land Cruiser 300 series that was introduced in 2021, Toyota is exploring the possibility of bringing the Land Cruiser Prado, the next generation of which is set to arrive next year.
The current Land Cruiser Prado (J150) has been around largely unchanged since 2009 despite receiving two facelifts and numerous model year updates. Americans got their hands on the closely-related Lexus GX, which just went through its first full redesign in nearly 14 years, with the Toyota twin expected to follow suit in the near future. The Japanese automaker remains coy on details but we gathered all the available information about the upcoming Land Cruiser, together with a set of speculative renderings based on the 2024 Lexus GX.
More: Box-tastic 2024 Lexus GX Proves You Can Have Both Style And Substance
Illustrations Thanos Pappas for Carscoops
Historically, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Lexus GX have maintained close ties, not only in terms of their shared foundations but also in their exterior and interior designs. This has resulted in a case of extended rebadging, where the main differences were primarily limited to unique front ends and badges, while the body panels on the profile and most of the tail remained the same across previous generations.
However, the fact that both the new models will be available in the U.S. market suggests the potential for greater styling differentiation. This indicates that we may see more distinct design elements that set them apart from each other in the upcoming models.
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Our renderings were based on the 2024 Lexus GX, tweaking bits and pieces to make it look more like a Toyota. The grille and bumper intakes are inspired by the Land Cruiser J300 which has proven to be quite popular all over the world. For the headlights we used slimmer and sharper units, similar to other Toyota SUVs. On the profile, we added a more generous dose of plastic cladding around the boxy wheel arches, with the rest of the bodywork unchanged. Finally, the rear end was upgraded with J300-ispired taillights and a redesigned tailgate proudly exhibiting the Land Cruiser lettering.
Autonews reports that the new generation might drop the Prado moniker altogether, marketed simply as the Land Cruiser. This makes sense in markets like the U.S. where the Land Cruiser J300 is not available.
The interior will represent a significant step up compared to its predecessor which has started showing its age. Toyota designers will add the latest bits of available technology including a fancy digital cockpit with a large infotainment display, while improving the quality of the materials. The SUV won’t come short of practicality either, offering a spacious cabin and a large boot, perfect for adventure-seekers.
Electrified body-on-frame underpinnings
The successor to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will utilize the TNGA-F body-on-frame architecture, which also serves as the foundation for the Toyota Sequoia, Tundra, and Land Cruiser Series 300, as well as the new Lexus GX and LX. In terms of size, there’s a possibility Toyota makes the new Prado slightly shorter than the 197.04-inch (5,005 mm) long Lexus GX, in order to avoid creating the paradox of being larger than the 196.3-inch (4,985 mm) long Land Cruiser J300. In any case, it will still be considerably shorter than the Toyota Sequoia, which retains its status as the largest SUV offering from the brand, measuring 208.1 inches (5,286 mm) in length.
It is highly probable that the powertrain options for the upcoming successor to the Land Cruiser Prado will include a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 engine. In the Lexus GX, this unit delivers 349 hp (260 kW / 354 PS) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque. Another potential choice could be the hybrid variant of the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6, which incorporates an electric motor. In the Toyota Sequoia i-Force Max, this hybrid powertrain generates a combined output of 437 hp (326 kW / 443 PS) and 583 lb-ft (790 Nm) of torque.
While it remains uncertain whether Toyota will offer the new Land Cruiser with a diesel engine in overseas markets, similar to the J300 model, the specifics are yet to be confirmed. What we do know for certain is that power in all variants will be routed to all four wheels via a standard 10-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system.
When will it arrive?
Initial rumors surrounding the successor of the Land Cruiser Prado indicated a potential debut in summer 2023. However, the latest reports suggest that the market launch has been postponed to 2024. If these reports hold true, we can expect our spy photographers to begin capturing images of camouflaged prototypes in the coming months providing us with more insights about the shape and size of the highly-anticipated SUV.