2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review
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Let me take you through the five key areas that make this model the true soul of Land Cruiser. We re-assessed every past aspect of Land Cruiser for its relevance and redesigned it ground-up to embody Land Cruiser values for the modern day. Land Cruiser has special meaning for our Chairman Akio Toyoda, whose grandfather first introduced the vehicle. If a Land Cruiser breaks down, it is not just a matter of inconvenience...It can become a threat to life itself.
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The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but not as wide or firm as the outgoing Land Cruiser’s top-notch thrones. Base 1958 models sport cloth upholstery that has a tweed-like look and feel right out of an ‘80s J60 Land Cruiser. Hard plastic fills the interior from the door panels to the dashboard making wipedown and cleanup easier, but it looks, and feels, cheap in a vehicle that costs $57,345 including the $1,395 destination charge. The mid-spec Land Cruiser grade costs $63,445 and swaps the hard plastics for soft-touch materials on the front door uppers and dashboard, though it’s porous and I imagine it’ll be a pain to wipe down. The mid-level trim also ditches the rad tweed-like cloth upholstery for leather-trimmed seats that doesn’t feel as high in quality as the hides found in the outgoing Land Cruiser. Of course, it differs from the 300 Series in powertrain, with the U.S.-spec Land Cruiser powered by the i-Force Max Hybrid across all trims.
Various powertrains to achieve powerful driving performance and environmental performance worthy of a Land Cruiser
Comparatively speaking, at $57,345 the new Land Cruiser is a downright bargain, if it’s style alone on the docket. But given its downscaled ambition, it’s a lot of coin for an 8.0-inch touchscreen, cloth seats, and all-season tires. The mid-spec Land Cruiser grade costs $63,445 while the first models off the boat, the 5,000 limited-edition First Edition Land Cruisers will cost an unreasonable $76,445. It’s now 4.4 inches narrower and 1.2 inches shorter than the outgoing 200 Series, which gives this SUV a narrow, brick-like appearance. Base 1958 and top-spec First Edition models sport round headlights as a nod to the 1960s 40 Series models.
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The GX isn’t that much more powerful than the Land Cruiser, so I’d say that even though the four-cylinder produces quite a bit of uncouth buzz, the LC’s fuel economy advantage would still outweigh the GX’s performance one. Every Land Cruiser now taps a 2.4-liter turbo-4, with a 48-hp electric motor sandwiched in its 8-speed automatic transmission. That’s 55 hp less, but 64 lb-ft more torque, than the outgoing Land Cruiser’s 5.7-liter V-8. Production of the first generation of the Land Cruiser began in 1951.[3][4][5] The Land Cruiser has been produced in convertible, hardtop, station wagon and cab chassis body styles. Inside the upright dashboard is like the GX and Mercedes-Benz G-Class; it’s not deep and is mounted close to the windshield.
Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Speaking of a third-row seat, though, the Land Cruiser does not offer one, at least in this market. But because it does in other places and, again, shares so much with the GX, there are still air vents, armrests, USB ports and cupholders in the cargo area along with grab handles to help hoist you out of a third row that doesn’t exist.
Rear and Center Locking Differentials
The frame itself was redesigned to reduce weight and increase rigidity. Various steps were taken, such as the reduction of the total weight of the vehicle (by 200 kg) including the frame and the body, lowered center of gravity, weight distribution, and improved suspension structure. Every Land Cruiser gets the same “i-Force Max” hybrid powertrain combination of 2.4-liter turbo inline-four, eight-speed automatic and electric motor that produces 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. My quick, grade-heavy jaunt did it no favors, but this performance-oriented hybrid seems abundantly up to the task of moving a little over 5,000 pounds of Land Cruiser. That’s about 800 less than the old version, which had a 5.7-liter V8 with a few more horses, a lot less torque and 2,100 more pounds of towing capacity. The new one gets 23 mpg combined, which also blows away the turbo V6 in the Lexus GX (effectively the Land Cruiser’s fancy twin) that gets 17 mpg combined.
Test Driving The All-New 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser - Forbes
Test Driving The All-New 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT [source]
The square rear window electronically pops open independent of the tailgate for easy access into the cargo area when it’s full, but it’s a high reach over the tailgate into the rear end this way. The tailgate is tall thanks to the fact it runs down into the bumper and the Land Cruiser checks in at 76.1-inches high overall. While the base 1958 model doesn’t really have a solution since it has a manual tailgate, the mid-spec Land Cruiser trim has a power-operated tailgate that you can program to not go all the way up.
I never struggled to steer the beast, but its turn radius wasn’t as tight as the specs let on. It’s been one of Toyota’s preeminent badges for seven decades, worn by its most capable off-roaders around the globe. And, yet, the latest 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser warrants a reintroduction because the SUV took a brief hiatus from the U.S. market in 2021 only to return this year in the wake of the massive popularity of the off-road segment. Please click the link below or contact a dealer to learn more about offers in your area.
Every aspect of the design is based on the premise that beauty comes from functionality. Here we sought the expertise of Dakar Rally champion Akira Miura, no stranger to driving under pressure in extreme environments. Vehicle control is fundamental to building trust between driver and machine. It was an extremely difficult task, but has allowed customers, in all corners of the world the chance to participate in the journey toward carbon neutrality. This tried-and-tested technology increases fuel efficiency, as well as performance, with no comprise on durability.
The soft damping tune that pays dividends off-road while crawling over undulating rocks turns into a ride that’s not quite settled on the pavement. I felt vibrations and constant small movements that the Land Cruiser’s chassis and dampers simply didn’t know what to do with. Vision to the front and sides is terrific thanks to the tall upright glass and a mostly flat hood. This doesn’t have a short windshield or puffed-up hood for a macho feel like other Toyota trucks and SUVs. That hood does have power bulges on each side, but they almost act like markers that help place the wheels while off-road. No, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser that returned to American shores is not the one that said farewell.
Three distinct drive modes let you instantly tailor your drive with the touch of a button. Sport Mode indulges your spirited side with the feeling of sharper acceleration, while Eco Mode adjusts throttle input to help maximize your efficiency. Additionally, Toyota is also looking "Beyond Zero" to create and provide greater value by continuing to diligently seek ways to improve lives and society for the future. As a mobility company, we believe that freedom in motion is a universal right. But the objective approach to design and functionality is not the whole story... The low belt line, narrow A pillars and angular structure are designed for visibility and easy, accurate orientation.
As a result, it’s no longer the towing expert it once was, but off-road talent has endured. Land Cruiser, Toyota set its sights on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Ford Bronco. It’s also less powerful, though it weighs less, but in sum it’s also less capable at some of the things Land Cruiser shoppers have always wanted. Toyota’s new off-road SUV clambered up and over without breaking a sweat, goading me to go faster than I should have. The hills and berms were so inviting I found myself overshooting and having to reverse on the trail once, though Toyota claims that Turn Assist gives the truck a turning radius of 20 feet.
The rear seat back comes up high enough that it covers the lower third of the rear glass, which inherently shortens the outward visibility. Toyota strives to build vehicles to match customer interest and thus they typically are built with popular options and option packages. Not all options/packages are available separately and some may not be available in all regions of the country. If you would prefer a vehicle with no or different options, contact your dealer to check for current availability or the possibility of placing a special order. Those traits also happen to be characteristics of the Lexus GX, a perennial fan favorite. The new Lexus GX 550 is essentially the same vehicle as this Land Cruiser albeit with an added emphasis on luxury.
Autoblog accepts vehicle loans from auto manufacturers with a tank of gas and sometimes insurance for the purpose of evaluation and editorial content. Like most of the auto news industry, we also sometimes accept travel, lodging and event access for vehicle drive and news coverage opportunities. Our opinions and criticism remain our own — we do not accept sponsored editorial. Rearward vision suffers more than expected, despite the large square rear glass.
The outgoing Land Cruiser’s KDSS (hydraulically controlled disconnecting sway bar system) isn’t even an option. The low-speed trail stitched together segments of rock crawling and water fording with ruts and big whoops to test the Land Cruiser's articulation. There were more steep hills to climb and descents over rock gardens where Toyota suggested we use the off-roading functions that come standard on all trims, such as Downhill Assist and Crawl Control. While Land Cruiser’s frame provides stability to support your everyday drives, sometimes off-road excursions require something different.
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