The return of the Toyota Land Cruiser !

When we waved good-bye to the Toyota Land Cruiser back in 2021, we had no idea if, or when, it would be back. Slow sales and a high price tag just didn’t make it feasible to keep the Land Cruiser around. As it turned out, we didn’t have to wait long – as for 2024, the Land Cruiser is back.

The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser is quite a bit different from the previous one. While the previous-generation Land Cruiser was a full-size SUV, this time around it’s been shrunk down to a mid-size SUV, to go toe-to-toe with other mainstream off-roaders such as the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler. And instead of being powered by an old-fashion V8 engine, the new Land Cruiser makes its power the more modern way – with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. In the Toyota truck-based SUV lineup, the five-seater Land Cruiser now sits between the 4Runner and larger three-row Sequoia.

As the new Land Cruiser has come down in size, it has also come down in price. The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser starts at $57,345. In comparison, in 2021, the Land Cruiser started at $85,665. I last reviewed the Land Cruiser in 2020, and that one had an MSRP of $89,239. The 2024 tester has an MSRP of $76,825.

Sharing the same platform as the Tundra, Tacoma, Sequoia and new 4Runner, the all-new Land Cruiser takes on a much boxier body style with edgy looks. The front end looks great with square LED headlights and running lights, and square fog lights down low. A flashback to the past is the heritage TOYOTA name emblazoned on the grill. Looking at the side, the Land Cruiser has an attractive and unique look that keeps reminding me of a previous Toyota off-roader – the FJ Cruiser.

Inside, the Land Cruiser isn’t as plush as it once was, but it’s still awfully nice. Most importantly, all of the controls, including climate controls, are placed in a logical fashion and easy to reach from the driver’s seat. For backseat passengers, there is plenty of headroom, but legroom is in short supply. As mentioned, the new Land Cruiser only seats five – so there is no third-row seating.

As we are witnessing throughout the Toyota lineup, the V8 with its five-speed automatic transmission is nowhere to be found in the new Land Cruiser. The turbo four-cylinder, which is also available in the Toyota Tacoma, makes 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. An electric motor complements the engine by providing immediate torque right from a stop, making the entire powertrain feel responsive, even down low in the rev range. It’s also much more refined while vastly improving fuel economy, going from the V8’s EPA-estimated 14 mpg in combined driving all the way up to 23 mpg for 2024 model.

Continuing with its heritage and reputation, when it’s time to hit the trail, the Land Cruiser has the equipment to tackle the rough stuff. Like before, all Land Cruisers are equipped with a full-time four-wheel drive system with low-range gearing and locking differentials. There is also a crawl control system, and hill descent control.

The new Land Cruiser is available in three trim levels. Base is the 1958, named for the year the Land Cruiser was first imported to the U.S. The 1958 is easily spotted by its round headlights rather than the rectangular lamps, and throwback grille. It gets smaller screens, manually adjustable cloth seats, and no fancy electronic off-road assists. Even the tires are meant for street instead of off-road use. But it does come with the essentials like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, a half-dozen USB-C ports, and a 2,400-watt AC inverter and three-prong power outlet.

The Land Cruiser trim level is the mid-level model and gets a different grille, synthetic leather interior, power driver’s seat, full digital instrument panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The First Edition, which is how the tester arrived, adds to the Land Cruiser rock panels, upgraded skid plates and a roof rack.

Driving the new Land Cruiser, it still has that truck “feel” to it thanks to is body-on-frame construction. The ride is nice and the truck feels sturdy enough you could go barreling down a dirt road or driving through downtown Dallas. Weighing 800 pounds less than the previous Land Cruiser and blessed with that on-demand torque, the new Land Cruiser feels considerably quicker.

The new Land Cruiser has some good utility in that there is 37.5 cubic feet of room behind the back seat, although the high cargo floor makes loading it up a little tricky. One interesting thing I noticed when I was checking out the cargo area – there are cupholders, air vents, even USB ports back there. Further research discovered that this new version of the Land Cruiser is available in other countries with a third-row seat. So, it could be possible that we eventually see a third-row version available. For towing, the new Land Cruiser is able to tow 6,000 pounds.

Longtime Land Cruiser fans who have been priced out of the market should feel happy about this new Land Cruiser, even if it’s technically a different vehicle. The new Land Cruiser is still expensive, but not as much as before – and you are getting a much more modern vehicle. It should be interesting to see how Toyota sells two legendary SUVs (the Land Cruiser and the 4Runner) that share the same platform and are very similar in size. Nonetheless, the Land Cruise has always been a Toyota icon and we are so glad it is back – and hasn’t lost any of its mojo.
— Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Edition

Base Price: $74,950.00
Price as Tested: $75,825.00
Layout: front-engine / full-time four-wheel drive
Engine: 2.4 liter four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Horsepower: 326 hp
Torque: 465 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 22 city / 25 highway mpg

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