While everyone expected a 2022 Land Cruiser by the end of 2021, Toyota discontinued the legendary off-roader in the United States. In the real sense, Toyota didn’t drop the Land Cruiser – it instead took it for a calory-burning exercise. Three years later, the Land Cruiser would return with smaller and narrower looks, and more endurance level to stand up to the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler on challenging terrains.
This post briefly highlights the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and what has changed from the 2021 model.
We All Wanted This
Let’s be honest, Toyota’s decision to reimagine the Land Cruiser was a smart move. Before the reintroduction, the SUV was losing its touch and purpose in the auto market. Particularly, the 2021 Land Cruiser, the last model before it was discontinued, came across to many as a luxurious option for those who didn’t want a Sienna rather than the adventurous off-roading beast it should be. While that was not too much of a turnoff, there was a critical price situation that gave everyone a second thought.
As a rule of thumb, dedicated off-roaders should not have exorbitant MSRPs and maintenance costs. Why? Because if you are not underusing your workhorse, you cannot avoid damage and dirt. And you want to avoid paying thousands of dollars for repair every weekend. The last time Toyota released a Land Cruiser in the U.S., it had an MSRP of about $87,000, which made people with intense off-roading needs consider the 50% cheaper 4Runner TRD. The Lexus GX was the popular choice amongst people who wanted Toyota reliability and a more luxurious feel in 2021. But for those who did not want to shell out for a Lexus, the Sequoia offered almost the same level of luxury as the Land Cruiser. (For $20,000 less, that is.)
Realistically, off-roading and luxury may never intersect in the auto world, and an attempt to step into both worlds with a car is likely to create a vehicle that excels at none, like the 2021 Land Cruiser.
It’s Cheaper and More Focused
Toyota announced a 2024 Land Cruiser return with an MSRP of about $50,000. That ticks one of the boxes required of every off-roader –affordability. Also, it packs lots of modern off-roading features to improve the Land Cruiser’s iconic profile as one of the best off-roaders ever, from which recent Land Cruisers deviated. The features include the all-new front stabilizer bar disconnect, the CRAWL Control function for offroad cruise control, Downhill Assist Control, Multi-Terrain Select, Multi-Terrain Monitor, etc.
The 2024 Land Cruiser will not just do what an LC should do but is returning to its roots to look like what an LC should look like. It is 4.4 inches narrower and 1.2 inches shorter compared to the last model and has a boxier look. The new LC will have three trims: Land Cruiser 1958, Land Cruiser, and the limited Land Cruiser First Edition. Of all three, the Land Cruiser 1958 trim looks closest to the LC history with the storied round LED headlights and “TOYOTA” heritage grille. All trims sit on the new TNGA-F body-on-frame platform, allowing for the use of high-strength steel, ultimately achieving more ruggedness.
Hybrid Power, Connected Suite
The engine at the heart of the new Land Cruiser may not be as daring as the 5.7-liter V-8 powering the last model, but it is up to the task. In the 2024 Land Cruiser, a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine pairs with a 48-hp electric motor, sending juice to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid system generates 326 hp and 465 lb. ft of torque.
Toyota has promised “the opportunity to access a wide range of enhanced connectivity and convenience features.” But the entry trim may not hold much wonder. The Land Cruiser trim, however, will have heated and ventilated seats, 4G connectivity to make your car an AT&T hotspot, and optional leather-trimmed seats.
Clearly, Toyota has learned its lesson that true off-roading enthusiasts and soccer moms alike would rather have a reliable SUV that can perform well than all the luxuries. The new 2024 Land Cruiser will keep that essential charm of the Land Cruiser’s past but also can now keep up with the big boys on the Dunes. We cannot wait to see this transformation bloom!
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to argue (blindly) that SUVs are a part of nature, but he seems to have a point whenever you walk in the snow, through the bone-dry desert, splendid park-like boulevard, plains, and rocky roads. He has over five years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, with quite a number in the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Both activities take him to the same destination: Utopia. He loves SUVs simply because they are all-inclusive, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
