We thought the Land Cruiser was gone forever—mainly because Toyota told us so—but surprise! They were just kidding. The off-road champ is back, baby. It shares a platform with the recently redesigned Lexus GX and wears a similarly boxy look, but the Cruiser is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain making 326 horsepower. (The Lexus employs a 3.4-liter, 349-hp turbo V-6.) While the previous-generation LC was a large-size SUV, this time around it’s been shrunk down to size medium to do battle against other mainstream off-roaders such as the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler. That strategy also leaves the full-size SUV market open for the Toyota Sequoia. Inside, the Land Cruiser offers seating for five across two rows and offers the requisite infotainment technology to keep modern buyers happy. Toyota even equips it with advanced driver-assistance features since, for most Land Cruiser owners, this truck will serve as both a weekend toy and a weekday commuter. When it’s time to hit the trail, the Land Cruiser has the equipment to tackle the rough stuff, including a four-wheel drive system with low-range gearing and a locking differential. Look for the new Land Cruiser to hit dealerships in spring 2024.
The boxy new Land Cruiser is back for the 2024 model year and it rides on an entirely modernized platform. That means hybrid power and a smaller shape, better for challenging off-road rivals from Ford and Jeep.
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