Toyota is best known for making the Camry and Prius, but they’re an enthusiast brand. While you might scoff at that idea, the company offers two sports cars, a hot hatch, an overlanding-focused pickup, and body-on-frame SUVs with legitimate off-road capability.
However, one model has been notably absent in America and that’s the Land Cruiser. Originally offered stateside in 1958, the SUV quickly established itself as one of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles.
The Land Cruiser grew and evolved over the decades, eventually transforming into a large and luxurious SUV that cost $85,515. This put it uncomfortably close to the Lexus LX and the model was eventually phased out in 2021 following years of modest sales.
After a careful rethink, the Land Cruiser is returning for 2024 with a base price in the “mid-$50,000 range.” That’s roughly $30,000 less than its predecessor, but we’re getting the smaller Prado / 250 variant rather than the larger Land Cruiser 300 that was introduced a little over two years ago.
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A Modern Design That Looks To The Past
Pictures: Michael Gauthier / CarScoops
Designers can pat themselves on the back as the model clearly echoes the Land Cruisers of old, while still looking modern and rugged. The resulting design looks good, although some elements are shared with the Lexus GX.
That being said, the Land Cruiser comes in two unique flavors as well as a special launch edition. The entry-level Land Cruiser 1958 wears circular headlights, black cladding, and 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
The Land Cruiser trim has a similar look, but it’s distinguished by rectangular LED headlights that are designed to recall those used on the FJ62 from the 1980’s. They’re joined by color changing fog lights, additional body-color components, and wider tires.
More: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Returns To America With Hybrid Power And Huge Price Cut
We’ll learn more details closer to launch, but the model makes a good first impression thanks to purposeful lines and a rugged appearance. As an added bonus, customers can get a dose of nostalgia thanks to a Heritage Blue body that contrasts with an available Grayscape roof.
While the exterior design is pretty self explanatory, there are a couple of things worth mentioning including the flip-up rear glass on the liftgate. That’s something you rarely see these days and owners can easily access the cargo area by hitting a discrete button on the lower left side. The feature will undoubtedly prove popular with dog owners, especially those who like to take their four legged friends on adventures.
The Land Cruiser is also notable for having a high step-in height, especially if you’re used to crossovers. This shouldn’t be too surprising given the off-road focus and 8.7 inches (221 mm) of ground clearance, which is more than you’ll find on the standard four-door Bronco. That being said, the step-in height isn’t too bad and the optional side steps improve matters significantly.
An Odd Interior That Feels A Bit Cheap
Pictures: Michael Gauthier / CarScoops
While the exterior has a retro vibe, the cabin is thoroughly modern as it sports a digital instrument cluster and an 8- or 12.3-inch infotainment system. We didn’t get a chance to play with either, but the smaller display has plastic ‘fillers’ on the ends and this gives the cabin a cheap feel.
Speaking of which, the interior leaves a lot to be desired as it’s plasticky and boring. A few gloss black accents and metallic flourishes try to brighten things up, but the cabin feels cheap and that’s not something you want to hear when prices start north of fifty grand. It’s also worth noting the similarly priced Land Rover Defender has a rugged interior as well, but it looks and feels far more substantial.
On the bright side, controls are logically laid out and placed within easy reach. There are also some nice touches including turbine-style air vents and a stylish transfer case switch.
Toyota hasn’t released full equipment details, but the Land Cruiser 1958 has cloth seats with heating up front. Buyers will also find a six-speaker audio system, a wireless smartphone charger, and a 2400W AC outlet in the cargo compartment.
The Land Cruiser trim is far more luxurious as it has heated and ventilated SofTex front seats, a ten-speaker audio system, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system. The Premium Package adds leather, a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a moonroof. They’re joined by a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror.
Putting equipment aside, the front seats are heavily bolstered and a little stiff. That being said, they seem comfortable enough and there’s plenty of room.
The second-row offers good head- and legroom, although it’s easy to get your foot caught on the front seat brackets when entering. That isn’t the only issue as second-row toe room is limited, especially at the sides.
While the Land Cruiser is offered with a third-row in international markets, the US-spec model is a strict five-seater. This is largely due to the 1.87 kWh NiMH battery pack, which resides behind the second-row and takes up a considerable amount of space.
Seven-Seat Euro-Spec Land Cruiser vs Five-Seat US-Spec Land Cruiser
The difference is easy to see in side-by-side photos as the rear load floor appears to be a few inches taller than in non-hybrid variants. While the battery prevents Toyota from offering an extra row, the model has third-row cup holders. That’s likely a cost saving measure, but at least they’re functional and can be used while camping or tailgating.
Those aren’t the only quirks as the second-row seats fold and tumble to provide access to the non-existent third-row. While there could be some benefits to this setup, the second-row seats don’t fold flat and that’s always disappointing.
A Standard Hybrid Powertrain With 326 HP
Pictures: Michael Gauthier / CarScoops
The Land Cruiser borrows heavily from the redesigned Tacoma as both models ride on the same body-on-frame platform and have an i-Force Max hybrid powertrain. The latter comes standard on the SUV and it consists of a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the aforementioned battery, and an eight-speed automatic transmission with an integrated electric motor.
While hybrids are often viewed as boring and slow, that likely won’t apply to the Land Cruiser as it packs 326 hp (243 kW / 331 PS) and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque. More importantly, Toyota has suggested the model could have a combined fuel economy rating of 27 mpg.
Those are impressive numbers as the Defender 110 comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping out 296 hp (221 kW / 300 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. Furthermore, the luxury SUV has a far less impressive fuel economy rating of 17 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. That being said, it’s important to note the Land Cruiser’s rating isn’t official at this point.
More: See How The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Compares To The Ford Bronco And Jeep Wrangler
Besides the hybrid powertrain, the Land Cruiser has a full-time four-wheel drive system, a center locking differential, and an electronic locking rear differential. Higher-end trims build on that with a front stabilizer bar disconnect system, a Multi-Terrain Select system, and a Multi-Terrain Monitor.
As mentioned above, the Land Cruiser rides on the body-on-frame TNGA-F platform which is shared with an assortment of other models including the full-size Land Cruiser 300 sold overseas. This promises plenty of rugged capability as well as the ability to tow up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg).
The Land Cruiser is slated to arrive in the United States next spring and we’re looking forward to its return as the model will be far more affordable than its predecessor. It also looks pretty capable on paper and will undoubtedly be more efficient. However, there’s no shortage of competition and we’re curious to see how the Land Cruiser stacks up to the Defender as well as the redesigned Lexus GX.
