2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Review: Thoroughly Modernized Icon

MotorTrend

Blocky and off-roading SUVs are in vogue right now

Transcript

00:00Fear of missing out, FOMO, is something we all experience from time to time, even a big company like Toyota.

00:07So there's the Rivian R1S, the Ford Bronco, the Land Rover Defender.

00:11So, of course, the off-roady, blocky Land Cruiser had to make a comeback.

00:16And you're looking at it. This is the new Toyota Land Cruiser in all its retro-modern glory.

00:21Here's something fun. Your headlight design changes depending on which Land Cruiser trim you get.

00:34So this one here is your mid-tier Land Cruiser, and you get the rectangular headlights.

00:38However, if you opt for the 1958 or the first edition, which is made in limited numbers, you get round headlights.

00:44Overall, though, everything makes it look like a big FJ Cruiser.

00:48Also, another feature to note, this back window opens, which is a great feature, and all SUVs should have it.

00:55Touchscreens are good, but it seems like the general consensus is the fewer, the better.

01:01The good news from in here is most things still use physical buttons.

01:05So your climate, your drive mode, your off-road stuff, all physical buttons.

01:09That being said, a few convenience features that come standard include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,

01:15as well as this conveniently located charging pad.

01:21So despite the Land Cruiser having a very roomy second row and trunk, it doesn't come with a third row of seats.

01:29Sorry.

01:31All Land Cruisers are hybrids now, but don't let that turn you off, because this ain't no Prius.

01:37At the heart of these SUVs is the i-Force Maxx powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine,

01:43plus an electric motor integrated between that engine and 8-speed transmission that's powered by a little battery beneath the back seats.

01:50Horsepower is rated at 326 and there's 465 pound-feet of torque.

01:55Four-wheel drive is standard.

01:57You are correct in assuming this means the end of the V8 Land Cruisers.

02:02However, seeing as the old Land Cruiser got like 17 miles to the gallon on the highway and this new one gets 25, I doubt many will complain.

02:09It's still not amazing, let me be clear, but at least it's improved.

02:19With all of the off-road talents the Land Cruiser has, naturally we would wonder how it is on-road.

02:28The answer is very pleasant.

02:30The ride is nice.

02:32These are curvy roads and this is no sports car, but it handles decently.

02:38You have to plan ahead a little more.

02:40There is more body roll and lean than in a non-off-roady SUV, but once you get that under your belt,

02:48I mean, it's pretty pleasant to huck around these corners.

02:52It kind of comes alive and this powertrain really adds to it.

02:56It's crisp, it's fresh, and there's plenty of low-end power, so this thing gets moving very easily.

03:01I'm sure the V8 was charismatic and charming all in its own way, but man, this one just feels suitable for the modern ages.

03:08The brakes, too, grab very well.

03:10There's always kind of that weird trade-off that some hybrids have.

03:14That is not the case here, and if anyone's going to smooth out the hybrid experience, it's Toyota.

03:19They've been at it for like decades.

03:23The in-cabin noise is a little louder.

03:26I mean, that's just what you get with a big upright windshield, these big mirrors, and the all-terrain tires.

03:32It's going to be a little louder in here.

03:34It's not going to be whisper silent.

03:36That being said, with all these things working against it, it's not terrible.

03:44In practice, this cabin layout is great.

03:49The visibility, too, is also nice.

03:51I mean, this is a big vehicle.

03:53However, the hood kind of tapers down a little bit, so you can see over it more easily.

03:57And the really upright windshield means that you can see out the front very, very well.

04:03Plus, the belt lines are low, and the windows are big.

04:06So, side visibility is good as well, and you get to rest your elbow on a sill when you want to relax a little bit.

04:13We've gone over some pretty biblical potholes up here also.

04:16But the big sidewalls and the cushy suspension soaks it all up.

04:21It gives you a sense of invincibility, actually, because if you're driving a sports car, you're like,

04:25I don't want to go over that. I'm going to straddle this one or that one.

04:28This one, you just go over it, and it's totally fine.

04:31There's a freedom in that that I am enjoying immensely.

04:37I think the biggest mark against the Land Cruiser is the steering.

04:42Obviously, big vehicle, you want all of the information that you can get when you're driving it.

04:48However, the steering is kind of floaty and vague.

04:52So, you go like this, and not a whole lot happens when I sort of want something to happen.

04:57So, it's just a little more planning to get yourself used to it.

05:05As an off-roader, the Land Cruiser is quite good,

05:08especially for something with slightly lower ground clearance and more pedestrian-looking tires.

05:13The new hybrid engine's added torque and generous torque curve come in especially handy,

05:17but again, that's at the expense of fuel economy.

05:20But things out on the trails are smooth, despite regenerative braking.

05:25The traction control system works exceptionally well.

05:28Even without its locker engaged, the Land Cruiser can get itself efficiently through some pretty tough obstacles.

05:34The suspension felt the most comfortable at a jogging pace on decently rough trails.

05:39Against stuff like Wranglers and Broncos, the Toyota can definitely hold its own.

05:45Pricing for the new Land Cruiser is what you'd expect from a rugged midsize SUV carrying an iconic nameplate.

05:51The Land Cruiser 1958 starts at around $57,000,

05:55the Land Cruiser at around $63,000,

05:58and the first edition at around $76,000.

06:01So, not the most affordable midsize SUV out there,

06:04though this is likely still more expensive than the new 4Runner and a few thousand dollars cheaper than the related Lexus GX.

06:11All three SUVs do essentially the same thing,

06:14so choosing one that's best for you comes down to personal preference and budget.

06:22There are more midsize SUVs than we can count on the market today,

06:25but the new Land Cruiser stands apart, and not just because it is one of Toyota's most iconic models.

06:31Today's Land Cruiser is more comfortable and modern than any that has come before it,

06:35but it doesn't lose that truckie magic that made it so beloved in the first place.

06:40You still get that sense of adventuring go-anywhere-ness,

06:43and you can get it dirty as hell and not even worry about it.

06:45And it looks great, too.

06:47So, to find out more about the new Toyota Land Cruiser, head over to MotorTrend.com.

06:52Thank you so much for watching, and see you next time.

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