Toyota Land Cruiser (2025) - King Legendary SUV

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2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive: Is the Smaller, Cheaper Off-Road SUV Better?

What Else Is New?

To be fair, the new, smaller size isn’t the only change to consider. This new Land Cruiser is also a hybrid. The old V-8 and ancient five-speed automatic are long gone, hardly a surprise these days, and in their place sits a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid that makes 55 fewer horsepower but 64 more pound-feet of torque for a total of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft, along with a modern eight-speed automatic. The same I-4 is in the Tacoma pickup, and the hybrid component is simple, with a 48-hp electric motor crammed between the engine and transmission fed by a small battery under the rear seats.

The automatic’s ratios and programming feel right for a truck, and it shifts far smoother than that five-speed ever did. It’s backed by a proper two-speed transfer case and retains a full-time four-wheel-drive system, and there are locking center and rear differentials. Toyota has shelved the KDSS automatic front and rear anti-roll bar disconnect system with a simpler manual disconnect system on the front axle only. KDSS and e-KDSS are now exclusive to Lexus, so check out the new GX if you don’t want to have to push a button to decouple the front anti-roll bar.
Windows Down and Cruise

It may be new, but the Land Cruiser certainly still feels like a body-on-frame truck from behind the wheel. The steering is light and devoid of feel, with only engine vibrations traveling up the steering column. Those shimmies and shudders you’re used to still make their way through to the cabin; the ride is quite nice otherwise, though, and the truck feels sturdy enough you could go barreling down a dirt road without fear of breaking anything or rattling something loose.

There’s a bit of squirm in the upper trims’ chunky all-terrain tires when you turn the wheel, but more than anything you’ll notice all the body roll, pitch, and dive you’d expect from a tall, trucky SUV. Both the grip and precision are higher than the body movements lead you to expect, which makes it surprisingly fun to drive on the road. All that body motion really makes you feel like you’re hustling it around a corner even at the speed limit, something you won't experience in your average two-row SUV.

Unsurprisingly, a tall, boxy SUV with all-terrain tires isn’t the quietest inside. There’s always a thrum from the rubber as you’re driving, and at freeway speeds it’s joined by wind noise from the blocky door mirrors and upright windshield. On a calm day, the interior noise is tolerable at 80 mph, but if there’s even a bit of wind, you’ll need to speak very loudly to be heard by the front-seat passenger.

At least the cabin’s a nice place to be. It looks nothing like the old 200 Series, which is fine, nor does it resemble the newest 4Runner or Tacoma, which is even better. There are still physical controls for nearly everything, and you can decide whether you want to pay for big screens or not as they’re part of a package. All of the screen options run Toyota’s latest software, which renders the driver’s display too complicated and the center touchscreen a smidge too simplistic.

Retaining its “golden ratio” 112.2-inch wheelbase—Toyota's idealized balance of the wheelbase and other dimensions for off-road performance and on-road tolerability—the Land Cruiser’s interior is just about as roomy as the old 200 Series despite being smaller on the outside. The higher roof, in particular, helps impart an airy feeling. No third row will be offered in the U.S., either, so the cavernous cargo area also lends an impression of excess space. Curiously, there are still cupholders molded into the cargo area for the third row sold in other markets. They might be useful if you plan to sleep in the back of your Land Cruiser.

[lakeeconcepcion]

if i won a lottery, this beast is first on the list...land cruiser u gotta love it!

[kabuljan]

This is my next car in July 2025. I heard it has only 5 seats, but now I see it has a 3rd row

[mountainous_port]

Beautiful front and side designs. But why the back looks like a common ice cream van?

[wwfgumby]

So the third row seats don't fold all the way forward ? Can they be easily removed ? Most people don't need them.

[MrBongsky]

Wish for bigger foglights..its what foglights are for..and its part of what you paid for..

[밀양땅박사김병일채널]

정말 경이롭기까지 하군요, , 그 어떤suv차량이 비교될까싶네요, , 한국에서도 볼수있기를 고대합니다, , , , 굿..

[hyejack]

What do you guys think of reliability and maintenance cost long term? I’m considering one now.

[UntilThenn]

13-14 miles per gallon tho on highways

[UA-zrbt]

Король бездоріжжя це можливо вранглер джип, а прадо король надійності.