The Toyota Land Cruiser arrived in the late 1950s as a competitor to established 4X4s such as the rudimentary Willys (Jeep) CJ-2A as well as the International Scout. But in the decades since, the Land Cruiser has evolved into a four-door, four-wheel-drive wagon — ratcheting up the luxury and off-road capability with each new generation. The last version of the legendary Land Cruiser nameplate ended production in 2021. It was a premium machine with many unique mechanical components, and it cost close to $100,000.
The all-new 2024 Land Cruiser cuts that price by at least a third, making it much more appealing to four-wheel-drive enthusiasts and regular families shopping for a new adventure vehicle. Buyers with a preference for luxury in a similar package can opt for the Lexus GX 550. It shares much with the new Land Cruiser but offers more power and more towing capability.
The modern Land Cruiser is smaller than the old model (there's no optional third-row seat), and is built with a personality that’s far less posh. It rides on the same chassis system as the recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma and Toyota 4Runner. As before, it uses a truck-like body-on-frame design with an independent front suspension and coil-sprung solid axle in the rear. The new Land Cruiser is a smooth-riding and well-mannered SUV, whether it’s traveling around town or along a dusty dirt road.
On the inside, the Land Cruiser is a comfy place to spend time. The cabin of our $76,825 First Edition had padding in all the right places. Unlike many modern SUVs, Toyota did an excellent job of configuring controls. Everything you need to drive the Land Cruiser on- or off-road is located within a few inches of your right fingers.
Every model of the Land Cruiser has a standard locking rear differential to help maximize traction in the dirt, and some models offer a disconnecting front sway bar to help free up some wheel travel for better traction and more comfort when driving off-road. The Land Cruiser has a much quieter and faster-acting version of Toyota’s Crawl Control system, which delivers a cruise control experience while driving off-road. And when you disconnect that sway bar and shift into low range, this Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities are very impressive and on par or perhaps better than the outgoing model.
Toyota ditched the old, thirsty V8 for a four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with slightly less horsepower but even more torque. Toyota says the new Land Cruiser will deliver 23 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That’s almost 10 mpg better than the old model. In our own testing, however, we saw a real-world 17.5 mpg, which isn’t quite as dramatic.
The Land Cruiser may have a modern powertrain and chassis, but the design harks back to the boxy Land Cruisers of old, drawing particular inspiration from the popular FJ60 wagons. The modern twist should appeal to many loyalists as well as new customers looking for an SUV that exudes off-road authenticity like the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, and Ford Bronco — all of which offer serious trail capability.
The Land Cruiser, however, is one of the most well-behaved on paved roads, where most of these SUVs will spend their time. Just don’t expect the Land Cruiser to be as well-mannered as the more carlike and less off-road-capable crossover SUVs.
The Land Cruiser is a promising comeback for the iconic model.
