Toyota will no longer sell the Land Cruiser model in America after 2021. The new J300 is still available in Lexus. Like many others, we had a soft corner for this big, friendly SUV. No one bought it. The Land Cruiser is too big and inefficient. At nearly $90,000.000 it’s too expensive for Toyota SUV fans.
Toyota has not said that they are abandoning the Land Cruiser brand name. In their initial statement, Toyota said that they would “explore new products that celebrate Land Cruiser’s rich history of off-road driving” and encouraged enthusiasts to “stay tuned for future developments.” These future developments could happen faster than expected — possibly as early as the model year 2024. Here’s everything you need to be aware of.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
Toyota hasn’t announced yet that the Land Cruiser will return to America. They aren’t ruling it out, but they haven’t announced anything yet. Jack Hollis told Motortrend that it was “likely”, the Land Cruiser would be back at some point, though nothing had been announced yet.
You may be surprised to learn that it is sooner than you think. TFL reported, citing Toyota sources, that the Land Cruiser brand will return to America in 2024. It’s not the J300. It’s the new, smaller Land Cruiser Prado that is sold in America under the Lexus GX.
Engine
Creative Trends suggests that the Land Cruiser will get a modified version of the TNGA F body-on-frame platform. This platform will be lighter and more rigid than that of the Lexus GX. TFL reported, as was expected for the GX, that the new Land Cruiser will get the same 2.4-liter Hybrid Max engine used in other Toyota Crown models. This powertrain would produce around 340-350 horsepower and 400-lb.-ft. of torque. (Not that far from the 381-hp and 401-lb.-ft. of torque) that the 2021 Land Cruiser with its 5.7-liter V8 had.
Dimensions & Platform
In September 2009, the fourth-generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was released. Since then, it has received two major facelifts. The Prado hybrid model may be launched well after the regular gasoline versions of the Land Cruiser. According to the Mag-X report, the new Land Cruiser 250 will measure 4,935 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,840 mm high. The current model (5-door version) measures 4,825 mm in length, 1,885mm in width, and 1,835 mm/1,850 mm high. We hope that the 110 mm extra length will allow for a spacious third row!
The Toyota Prado will retain its legacy as a body-on-frame SUV. It would however move to the TNGA platform which is the basis for most new Toyota models. Toyota has developed a new version of the TNGA-F platform for large pickups and SUVs. Toyota used the F-version first for the Land Cruiser 300 and then the Toyota Tundra, which both have hybrid powertrains.
Toyota has reduced weight by 200 kg (441 pounds) on the Land Cruiser. Toyota will take every possible step to make the Prado lighter. The next-generation Land Cruiser Prado may have aluminum body panels. Aluminum could be used for the hood, doors mudguards roof, and tailgate, just like on the flagship SUV. These modifications can also increase stability at high speeds and improve weight distribution. The company may reduce the size of the fuel tank to improve fuel efficiency and increase range.
Features
Toyota could offer several new features from the Land Cruiser to the smaller off-road vehicle. The next-generation Land Cruiser Prado could include features such as sequential turn indicators, gesture tailgates, a 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android Auto, a 3D Multi-Terrain Monitor, and Panoramic View Monitor, and Toyota Safety Sense. The all-new Prado could also offer greater convenience, with wireless charging and USB-C ports for smartphones.
Best Car, a report released in June of 2021, states that the next-generation Toyota Prado is expected to come in a GR Sport version like the Land Cruiser. The GR Sport trim could have a more rugged, modified exterior. Expect exclusive wheels, a unique radiator grille, and bumpers. Also, expect wheel arch molding and rocker moldings. The GR Sport may have a unique color scheme, a start-up screen with special infotainment, or GR branding. The Land Cruiser Prado GR Sport is not just about cosmetic changes. It also features a suspension system with thicker tires that allows for greater off-road capabilities.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Price & Release Date
This new Land Cruiser will not be the flagship model. It would be positioned below the new Sequoia, and above the 4Runner. Starting in the $50,000s is the perfect price for the GX. Lexus sells 30,000 GX models per year, even though it was last redesigned in 2009. The Land Cruiser would be a more off-road vehicle (hopefully, with a better angle of approach than the GX), allowing the Lexus GX a more luxurious and Lexus-like feel.
The 4Runner is likely to be positioned below the Land Cruiser, with a 2.4-liter gas engine that produces 275 horsepower as the base powertrain. If Toyota has top-secret plans to bring back the Land Cruiser, this would explain why it appears that the new 4Runner is so delayed.