Hitting showrooms now is the all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser for North America which is being relaunched as a smaller, simpler and more accessible model compared to the last generation. It arrives with a decidedly retro inspired character inside and out, a more efficient hybrid powertrain, but all of the off-road prowess it needs to live up to its legendary heritage.
Now exactly the same size and mechanically identical to the just unveiled Toyota 4Runner, the new 2024 Land Cruiser is a true mid-size SUV, based on the TNGA-F body-on-frame chassis platform.
Though it’s identical under the skin to the Toyota 4Runner it will be positioned as a more premium product in the lineup with a higher level of standard equipment and a different collection of trim-grades.
For its first year, Land Cruiser will be available in three trim grades starting with the basic and ruggedly styled Land Cruiser 1958 we’re looking at here. It looks basic and traditional for sure with old school round headlights modernized with LED signature rings. They book-end a TOYOTA big-letter grille. Standard are fog lamps down below.
The Land Cruiser 1958 will start at a base price of $55,950 which will be a considerable step up from the 2025 4Runner which is expected to begin in the low $40,000’s. For your frugality here it’s only available in three colors, black, white and charcoal.
Next up the ladder is the well loaded one, simply called Land Cruiser which has a starting MSRP of $61,950. Styling takes a more modern approach with rectangular LED headlights, RIGID LED fog lights, a more premium looking presentation and a wider variety of colors including some slick two-tone combinations.
Top line is the first year only Land Cruiser First Edition limited to 5,000 units which gets the retro round headlights of the 1858, but is well loaded beyond that with more premium features inside and out, mechanically along with mostly two-tone paint combos. It will cost you though with a base price of $74,950.
All three get get a purpose spec 18-inch wheel and tire combo. They all get a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link floating solid axle rear suspension. Modern electric power steering is there too along with a disconnecting front sway-bar on the top trim grades identical to the 4Runner.
Standard on the Land Cruiser however is the upgraded 2.4-liter turbocharged four and hybrid 8-speed automatic transmission with an integrated 48 horsepower electric motor that only comes on top grade 4Runners. It’s good for 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque and a 6,000 pound towing capacity. According to the EPA, expected fuel economy is a commendable 22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway 23 mpg combined.
Power gets to the ground via full-time four-wheel drive featuring a two-speed transfer case and center locking differential. Base models come with an automatic limited-slip rear differential, an electronic locker on top grade Land Cruiser. With its short overhangs, it has a maximum approach angle of 31.0 degrees, maximum departure of 22.0 degrees and it’s best break-over angle is 25.0 degrees with a ground clearance up to 8.7 inches.
The cabin is the one place I have to point out I have some concerns based on what Toyota has shown us so far. Looking at the base grade Land Cruiser 1958 cabin it certainly looks base grade with its cloth seats, base instrument cluster and base 8-inch infotainment system. That’s all fine as buyers have been asking for this, though at this price point I wonder why they didn’t step it up a bit more.
Where my eyes are particularly focused are on what looks to be a collection of cheap and austere trims and materials that are no where close to the level of quality and appeal that previous generation Land Cruisers have been known for. There is no leather, no wood, not really any metal trims. It all appears to be Corolla grade black plastic.
Obviously when you step up the trim-grade ladder there’s more with heated and ventilated SofTex vinyl on the mid-grade Land Cruiser seating with a choice of black or tan as well as an available 14-speaker JBL sound system and larger screen. Leather-trimmed seats are available as an option but only on upper trims.
We’ll simply have to wait and see on how this interior stacks up against early concerns when we get to test drive one. It’s arriving at US dealerships now and we hope to get behind the wheel soon so stay tuned!
