2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

Engine

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is powered by an all-new turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 supported by a hybrid system. This complex drivetrain delivers the best of Toyota hybrid’s seamless operation with impressive power. The combined output of the hybrid drivetrain is an impressive 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Even more impressive is that full torque is available at only 1700rpm which is perfect for technical off-roading where low-end power is king.

Toyota used its decades of hybrid experience to build a drivetrain that’s both impressive and rugged. Power is stored in a 288V sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery with 1.87 kWh capacity. Although Lithium batteries are all the rage, there’s still a place for the robust Nickel-Metal Hydride battery. All this hybrid tech delivers fairly average fuel economy with 22mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway. You also can tow up to 6,000 lbs.

The hybrid powertrain sends power to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel-drive system. This new 8-speed automatic is a massive upgrade from the 6-speed auto found in prior generation Toyota SUVs and trucks. It’s a quick transmission that perfectly blends with the hybrid system to deliver a smooth seamless driving experience. The hybrid system may sound a little out of place on an off-roader, but we found it to be very predictable in its behavior and it’s hard to argue with all that low-end torque for daily driving.

Capability

The new generation Toyota Land Cruiser is far more off-road focused than the prior generation J200 sold in the United States. the all-new Land Cruiser’s capabilities are far more than skin deep and perfectly match the more rugged exterior.

The Land Cruiser relies on a full-time four-wheel-drive system to put power to the dirt or pavement. This system features a two-speed transfer case and can be influenced by the Land Cruiser’s drive modes.

The Land Cruiser now features impressive features like electronic front sway bar disconnect, electric locking rear differential, and Toyota’s Crawl Control and Hill Descent Assist. The combination of both hardware and software to make the Land Cruiser an unstoppable force is incredibly impressive. The Land Cruiser also offers 7.9 inches of ground clearance and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) with Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Rock, and Deep Snow.

This potent formula of software and hardware makes for a supremely capable off-roader right off the dealership lot and a far more focused vehicle than prior Land Cruiser generations.

Interior

Although the Land Cruiser’s capability is impressive, it’s on the interior that the new truck really shines. The fit and finish of the interior space are miles ahead of prior-generation Toyota SUVs. In addition to the improved materials and exciting design, Toyota has finally added technology to their trucks and SUVs. The new Land Cruiser’s use of technology may take a minute for perennial customers to acclimate, however, Toyota has done a nice job managing both physical and digital controls.

Toyota may have added technology, but they have not forgotten about the benefit of hard controls like buttons and knobs. Sure touch displays offer flexibility and beauty but there’s nothing more intuitive to use while driving than buttons for common controls. The management and deployment of tech is one of the biggest challenges for modern automakers and we are happy to report that Toyota has nailed the interior controls new Land Cruiser.

Digital displays like this do bring up the challenges of longevity, however, it’s clear that the tech being used in the Land Cruiser is not the most cutting-edge. That may be a detriment for some, but others may see this as leveraging proven technology in the name of reliability, a Land Cruiser calling card.

Exterior

Take a look at the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and it’s hard to find the resemblance to the prior generation. Toyota themselves state that the new truck is inspired by the legendary FJ Cruiser that helped put Toyota's reliability on the map. The modern retro design may take inspiration from the FJ, but it makes its own path to becoming a future off-road icon. The boxy-looking exterior looks at home on the toughest trails or busiest school drop-off lines. As the competition for off-road capable SUVs grows, it's great to see Toyota make a serious effort with the new Land Cruiser.

The footprint of the new Land Cruiser is far more friendly for off-road trails offering a truck that’s smaller in every possible dimension compared to the J200. The side mirrors are smaller to improve trail clearance for example and plastic cladding is added to high-traffic areas to help negate the small chips and damage associated with off-roading.

Conclusion

As an off-road-focused SUV, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser has a lot to offer. It’s a fantastic daily driver with plenty of comfort and tech to keep occupants comfortable and happy. Couple that with genuine off-road capability and you’re left with a complete package that’s hard to beat. With all of these changes comes a cost. The new additions to the Land Cruiser are unproven which means their reliability cannot be proven, which is a shift from the appeal of the prior generation Land Cruiser. As time goes on this perspective will of course change, but for the time being we can confidently state that the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is a fantastic SUV worth a test drive.