Toyota said it best to the media at the introduction of the 2024 Land Cruiser: “Legends never die. Toyota’s off-road icon and longest-running nameplate is making a triumphant comeback to North America for the 2024 model year, returning to its rugged origin. Since its introduction in the U.S. market in 1958, the Land Cruiser evolved over the years from the legendary two-door models like the 40 Series with its fold-down front windshield, white roof, and rear jump seats to the capable yet fully loaded 200 Series, which was the last generation to be sold in the States and combined Land Cruiser’s unbreakable strength with premium luxury features. Now, Land Cruiser stays true to its heritage, returning as a high-quality off-roader at a more accessible price point that will take a wider range of customers on numerous backcountry adventures across the globe.”
The coolest things about the new model are the retro looks and aggressive price point compared to the last generation model that became a bit too much like a Lexus. In fact, it was basically the same as the Lexus LX570. Now, Toyota has brought it back and is mimicking something closer to a loaded Bronco versus a plush Lexus.
The Looks of Yesterday, The Tech of Today
If you are a traditionalist and fancy the retro looks of the original Land Cruiser, this revamp will be right up your alley. The all-new Land Cruiser is a nod to models of the past. Early Land Cruisers featured a boxy look with a flat roof, short overhangs, and “TOYOTA” grilles. My First Edition tester used the iconic round LED headlights and the heritage grille. The square body profile resembles Land Cruisers from the past but more importantly every other super-trendy SUV on the market right now, including the Ford Bronco, Mercedes G-Wagon, Jeep Wrangler, and even the Hyundai Santa Fe. The designers made sure to fit modern features into the design, such as LED lighting and available 20” wheels, silhouette-shaped roof rack, and color-selectable Rigid fog lights.
Kevin Hunter of Toyota Design notes, “Land Cruiser is a global icon with a proven track record of conquering some of the harshest conditions, and it was the global design team’s vision to bring that to life in this modern era. The result is a refreshed balance of modern heritage that draws from Land Cruisers of old and takes the vehicle back to its roots.” Moreover, it was fun to be rocking one of the firsts on the road. My First Edition tester featured the logo embossed on the door panels. It also came equipped with off-road must-haves like a roof rack, rock rails, and a front skid plate.
Toyota Land Cruiser Turbo and Battery Power
Toyota took a page from the reliability of the Prius and designed the i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain for the Land Cruiser. The powertrain is coupled to an eight-speed transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system. Toyota rates the output at 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque when the turbo and battery are giving it their all. The electric motor is located in the bell housing between the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission. Although not an economy car, the Land Cruiser is given an EPA-estimated 23 MPG combined rating, which is a higher combined MPG rating than any previous iteration.
Going Off-Road
Toyota wanted to pour off-road prowess into the Land Cruiser. The engineers built in center and rear-locking differentials as standard. The electronic locking rear differential can help split the power 50/50 to the rear wheels for improved traction and reduced wheel spin on rough terrain. Just like the industry-standard off-roader Bronco, the Land Cruiser has an available front stabilizer bar disconnect mechanism (SDM), which increases suspension flex with the push of a button. With the front stabilizer bar disconnected, articulation increases significantly, helping the front tires to stay in contact with the ground.
Toyota also offers Multi-Terrain Select, which is now functional in both 4WD High and 4WD Low, offering adjustable settings to help control wheel spin on a variety of terrains, such as Mud, Dirt, and Sand. For technical trails, the Multi-Terrain Monitor system built into the infotainment screen can act like a spotter by leveraging cameras to display the environment around the vehicle. The 12.3-inch center gauge cluster features four different styles, and customizable widgets are available so you can view what you like. Options include tire pressure or off-road angles.
Multimedia and Energy Trick
The big 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen is easy to use. We have seen it before in the Tundra and Sequoia. The native Toyota infotainment works great, but you can also link up Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The premium 14-speaker JBL audio system works well, and there is plenty of room in the trunk if you want to add an additional subwoofer. For delivering power to devices off the beaten path, there is a large wireless charging pad in the center console. Dual USB-C charging ports are included in the front row and two for second-row passengers. There are two more USB-Cs available and a standard 2400-watt AC inverter house type plug (120V) in the cargo area. I loved the “Cool Box” integrated refrigerator stored in the center console. It has its own switch if you want to conserve power.
So, it looks great and has serious off-road chops. The Land Cruiser starts at around $55K, and my First Edition tester came in at $76K. Of course, the popularity and unique look mean dealer markups in the first months of sale. But sometimes you gotta be first!
