In constant worldwide production since 1951, the all-wheel drive, front engine SUV known as the Land Cruiser is the longest running series of vehicles in Toyota history. As of 2019, over ten million Land Cruisers have been sold worldwide. The sturdy off-road ready vehicle is known to be extremely tough and reliable, selling in big numbers in places like Africa and Australia. Over the years, it has been produced as a hardtop, a station wagon, and even as a convertible. Since 1990, a smaller light duty version known as the Prado has offered a short-wheelbase three-door version.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
A Legend Returns!
Here in America, the full-size Land Cruiser ceased production in 2021 and has been reimagined here in the exciting new 2024 model that is smaller, less expensive, and available exclusively as a hybrid. Its entry level model is the 1958 (named after its first year of production in the USA.)
Three trim levels all feature a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that offers 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. All versions come with four-wheel drive, locking center and rear differentials, a disconnecting front anti-roll bar and meaty 33-inch Yokohama tires. Being a hybrid, it gets better mileage than its V8 powered predecessors and the EPA rates it at 22 mpg city and 25 mpg on the highway.Â
*All mileage is EPA Estimated.
The idea here was for Toyota to get away from overly pricey soccer mom mobiles and back to the Land Cruiser's original roots as a sturdy off-roader at a mainstream price. These levels start with the entry level 1958, continue with the mid-range Land Cruiser trim, and top off with the First Edition trim. Each trim variant is unique with different headlights, wheel and tires, and off-road accessories.
Trim Levels
For instance, the 1958 model sports round LED headlights and fog lamps, has 18-inch wheels with all-season 245/70 tires. The mid-range Land Cruiser has rectangular LED headlights, fog lamps that switch between white and amber, and wheels with larger 265/70 tires. You can also move up to 20-inch wheels and 265/60 rubber. The First Edition adds a roof rack, a front skid plate, rock rails, a rear door guard, and mud flaps.
Inside, the base model has an eight-inch touchscreen and heated cloth seats, while more upscale trims come with a 12.3-inch screen, faux-leather heated and ventilate power seats. A Premium package gives you real leather and a 14-speaker JBL sound system as well as a sunroof, digital rearview, and head-up display.
While the previous Land Cruiser had a starting price of nearly $90,000, the new version begins at $55,950. The midrange model comes in at $61,950, and the top-of-the-line First Edition model retails for $74,950. The new Cruisers ride on Toyota's TNGA-F truck platform that underpins its Tundra, Sequoia, and Tacoma models. It is a five-passenger set-up, saving money on engineering a third row.
There's plenty of cargo room in the back with 37 cubic feet of space. The vehice's nickel metal hydride hybrid battery pack rests under the cargo area, and this new Land Cruiser will tow 6,000 pounds. There's plenty of knee and head room in the backseat and you have your own climate controls and USB-C and power outlets. When it comes to safety and driver assist features, the new Land Cruiser includes the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite that offers adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning with lane keep assist, all as standard.
On the Road
The new Land Cruiser seen here is only three inches shorter in length than the original Global Land Cruiser 300 and its wheelbase is exactly the same. The look and feel of the new LC also harkens back to its roots as a rugged, go-anywhere vehicle. You'll find a mostly hard plastic interior in the base 1958 trim.
Behind the wheel, all the controls are neatly at hand and very well thought out. Once on the road, you notice that the new hybrid system gives you electric assist in all modes and all settings. You get maximum power all the time in all modes. It doesn't feel like a four-cylinder engine. In fact, the combination of the turbocharger with the instant electric power is impressive.
It feels good to drive this car. It is a comfortable place to be. You sit up high and have excellent visibility. The digital gauges offer three different looks and allow you to toggle between the tach and speedo. The seats are extremely comfortable though if you want power seats, you'll need to go up a level.
You can choose between Sport, Eco, or Normal modes and in Sport mode, the Land Cruiser really picks up and goes! The power is awe-inspiring. Suspension is a bit soft but that's because it has a "one size fits all" suspension that was clearly designed for trails. However, this SUV is great around town and on highways.
Off road, the Land Cruiser drives remarkably smoothly over rough roads and gravel. The soft suspension soaks up any irregularities of the road surface. It is designed to get you in and out of remote areas and handles that with ease. If you are driving on trails through the woods, simply turn off the parking sensor, keep it in High Four, and take your time. The eight inches of ground clearance is ample for most off-road excursions and its turning radius is impressive.
2024 Land Cruiser TSRP
- 1958 - $55,950
- Land Cruiser - $61,950
- First Edition - $74,950
Wrap it Up
The 2024 Land Cruiser has a narrow, upscale body with larger fender and wheel arches for a tough and aggressive stance. It is no hardcore rock crawler, but it isn't meant to be. Rather, it is exactly what lovers of the original Land Cruiser have been asking for. You'll find it in dealers now.
