2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review: Brief taste shows promise, but 1958 questionable

Table Of Content

• Successive models
• What are the Land Cruiser safety ratings and driver assistance features?
• The Power of Choice
• An off-road test drive reveals Toyota's new Cruiser is capable of tackling trails too tough for a crossover SUV.
• Various powertrains to achieve powerful driving performance and environmental performance worthy of a Land Cruiser
• Cars for sale

Fast forward to last August and an all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser makes its world debut. Jump ahead another 9 months — as in this week — and the new Toyota Land Cruiser is available for testing. We’ve driven it, and can confirm it’s not your grandfather’s, father’s, or even older brother’s Land Cruiser. After a 3-year hiatus this 66-year-old nameplate emerges with all-new hardware, advanced tech, and a return to its old-school charm. 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.

Successive models

Review: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser pivots to retro charm - Motor Authority

Review: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser pivots to retro charm.

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:49:00 GMT [source]

The Hybrid EV Land Cruiser is one of the many ways we drive toward our Beyond Zero vision. Equipped with versatile features, Land Cruiser makes sure you can always be on the move. With a tremendous towing capacity of 6,000 lbs., you’ll be able to tackle the trails with whatever you need to take your trek to the next level. Please click the link or contact a dealer to learn about offers in your area. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or aspiring explorer, Land Cruiser invites you to join the journey.

What are the Land Cruiser safety ratings and driver assistance features?

Drivers can choose from five Crawl Control speed settings, and it helps by allowing you to focus on safely and successfully steering the Land Cruiser around and over obstacles without worrying about pedal modulation. I tested the Cruiser's Crawl Control, which operates quieter and smoother than before. However, I did not need the Off-Road Turn Assist feature, which helps the SUV to crawl around tight kinks in a trail while reducing the vehicle's turning radius to just 20 feet.

The Power of Choice

The fabric looks good and feels durable enough to withstand severe abuse. That trim level meant my Land Cruiser 1958 Edition lacked Toyota's Multi-Terrain Select driving modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor cameras, and a stabilizer bar disconnect system. But it had enough off-roading hardware to confirm it is capable right off the assembly line and likely serves as an excellent foundation for building an overlanding rig of your own. In 1958, Toyota introduced the United States to the original Land Cruiser, a rugged and basic off-roader that became the automaker's bestselling model in the early 1960s. By 1968, the automaker offered a family-friendly four-door version with added refinement.

The car that symbolizes Toyota's history of delivering safety and security to people for over 70 years

Based on some whispers, nudges and winks at the first drive event, don’t be surprised if demand results in a headlight option of some sort once the First Edition is sunset. The multi-terrain monitor utilizes exterior cameras to provide a clear picture of your surroundings and information about your vehicle pitch and angle. It’s great for giving you a better sense of your surroundings, but it’s only available on the Land Cruiser trim and higher. The 2024 Land Cruiser features seating for five, a 6,000-lb towing capacity, and plenty of space for your goodies in the back thanks to its 37.5 cubic feet of storage space. Thus began the tradition of, "Striving to deliver safety and security to all customers as well as others involved with this vehicle." This tradition would continue for 70 years and can be considered the foundation of a mobility company.

The range of detectable accidents has been expanded even further, enabling enjoyable driving with peace of mind. There are two distinct versions of the 100-series, the 100 and the 105. The two versions look very similar, but there are significant differences under the bodywork. Despite these differences and official model names, both the 100 and 105 are collectively known as the 100 series. Land Cruiser’s available Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) helps you navigate varying landscapes with improved traction at different speeds. Crawl Control (CRAWL) helps take on difficult terrain by automatically modulating the throttle and brakes, so you can focus on steering.

That's $30,000 cheaper than the last Land Cruiser, and while a substantially different vehicle with a lot less standard equipment, it's still the lowest-priced Land Cruiser in 20 years. As mentioned above, interior quality differs wildly between the 1958 and upper “Land Cruiser” trim (the First Edition is the same as the latter). The 1958’s cloth is quite nice with a certain retro quality to its look and feel, but all the hard plastic is rough – literally and figuratively. You also get an 8-inch touchscreen and a much smaller instrument display than the vibrant, multi-view 12.3-inch unit in the other trims.

Various powertrains to achieve powerful driving performance and environmental performance worthy of a Land Cruiser

The high-mounted headlights are designed to rise above debris - and long savanna grass. Vehicle control is fundamental to building trust between driver and machine. Even after the 250 Series is released, the Land Cruiser will continue to evolve, while meeting a range of social needs, as a trustworthy, reliable, and practical choice for customers worldwide.

Still, I liked the 1958 Edition's plain and simple interior, which complements the SUV's underlying utilitarian purpose. The Toyota Land Cruiser inspires confidence off-road, but you'll want to upgrade the tires at a minimum. If you're planning to travel deep into parts unknown, choosing a more expensive version of the SUV is advisable for the added off-roading technology. It retained its legendary off-roading capability, but by 2020, a Land Cruiser was more expensive than its off-roading competitors. Here are the aforementioned vintage-style round headlamps that are available on the 1958 and First Edition trims, as well as on the Land Cruiser trim with the Premium Package. Big windows offer great visibility from every seat of the Land Cruiser.

Beige or black leather upholstery is standard along with a 14 speaker JBL sound system. The only wheel choice is 18 in (460 mm) allowing a lot of sidewall so the vehicle can be driven off-road without modification though a more aggressive tread pattern is advised for deep mud. There are two trim levels, or “grades” in Toyota parlance, plus a loaded First Edition for early adopters. The 1958 acknowledges when the Land Cruiser first arrived in the United States and serves as the base model, complete with appropriately retro – the circular headlights give it away – front-end styling.

Land Cruiser's new powertrain combines hybrid tech with an impressive turbo 4-cylinder hybrid engine to generate an electrifying 326 net combined horsepower with 465 lb.-ft. You'll also find more confidence to cover even more ground with its EPA-estimated 23 combined mpg rating. For details on vehicle specifications, standard features and available equipment in your area, contact your Toyota dealer. A vehicle with particular equipment may not be available at the dealership. In 2000, Toyota celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Land Cruiser with commemorative models offered in several countries. In 1936, the Imperial Japanese Army introduced the Kurogane Type 95 four wheel drive reconnaissance car.

Heated and ventilated front seats are standard no matter the trim, though. Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. 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. Toyota Safety Sense, the latest active safety package with advanced and improved functions, is standard on all new Land Cruiser grades.

With the same GA-F platform as the 300 Series, the new 250 Series has dramatically improved off-road performance. As a reliable and practical choice for customers, it has improved ease of handling and comfort for on-road driving as well. In 2002, a five-year development plan on a successor to the 100-series platform commenced under Sadayoshi Koyari and Tetsuya Tada. By 2004, ten years after the design selection of its predecessor in 1994, a final production design was settled on for the 2008 J200. Prototype related tests were conducted for over two years between 2004 and early 2007.

However, it also limited the vehicle's off-road capability and durability; hence, the decision to offer the solid-axle 105 models alongside the IFS 100 models in some markets was made. The table below identifies the range of 100 and 105 models and their worldwide availability. 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.

Based on my limited experience with the SUV, I like the latest Cruiser. The all-season tires, unimpressive ground clearance, and relatively shallow departure angle, however, suggest room in the lineup for a future TRD Pro or Trailhunter variant. The Land Cruiser's standard front skid plate protects the engine, transmission, and transfer case in preparation for off-roading. However, my 1958 Edition wore 245/70R-18 Yokohama Geolander X-CV all-season tires. I drove the 2024 Land Cruiser in the mountains east of San Diego, California. That said, my drive was limited to a top speed of 20 mph on a moderately technical trail.