Toyota first debuted the Land Cruiser all the way back in 1951 — since which time it has taken many forms, from station wagons to convertibles to pickups. Over the years, the Land Cruiser has also gained a reputation as an incredibly rugged sport utility vehicle that’s capable of remaining on the road for decades and easily racking up several hundred thousand miles in the process, all without needing any major repairs during that time — a fact owed to the model’s use of thicker metals and overall more robust chassis and suspension setups compared to other SUVs. And after a three-year hiatus, this legendary nameplate has now been revived with the completely-redesigned 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser — a modernized take on the SUV that maintains its predecessors’ hardwearing, built-to-last, utilitarian, and off-road-ready nature.
Built on the TNGA-F global truck platform, the all-new Land Cruiser is exclusively available with Toyota’s range-topping i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. Good for 326hp and 465ft-lbs of torque, this power plant consists of a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder mill helped along by a 48-hp electric motor that’s been paired with a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack. Mated to an automatic eight-speed transmission, this powertrain also benefits from a full-time four-wheel drive system with a center locking differential and an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range, as well as vehicle stability control, and an automatic limited-slip differential — all standard amenities on the new Land Cruiser.
Like its earlier generations, the latest Land Cruiser comes straight from the factory with some impressive off-roading chops, with approach, break-over, and departure angles of 31°, 25°, and 22°, respectively, plus 8.7” of ground clearance. The vehicle also comes loaded with Multi-Terrain Select including a dedicated CRAWL Control Function and a special Multi-Terrain Monitor that shows obstacles low on the trail directly in front of the vehicle. Inside, the Land Cruiser has a well-appointed cabin, but nothing too plush or luxury grade while the exterior of the new generation SUV features styling that clearly draws visual inspiration from prior gens. In addition to producing a limited run of just 5,000 First Edition variants, Toyota is also offering more than 100 available accessories and add-ons for the new Land Cruiser including rock rails, full coverage high-strength steel skid plates, and color-selectable RIGID fog lamps, just to name a few.
Built at the motor corp’s Tahara and Hino plants in Japan, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is slated to hit North American dealerships in the Spring of next year. Exact pricing has yet to be revealed, though Toyota has stated that the new SUV will be priced starting in the mid-$50,000 range.
