The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser arrives with significant expectations, carrying the legacy of Toyota’s esteemed flagship SUV in the US market. While Japan’s Century remains the true pinnacle of Toyota luxury, the Land Cruiser has long held a special place in American hearts. However, this new iteration of the Land Cruiser shifts its focus, aiming for a broader appeal, potentially diluting what made it special in the first place. Despite its visually striking retro-inspired exterior, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser struggles to deliver a truly exceptional experience.
Historically, the outgoing Land Cruiser, even at a steep price of nearly $90,000, presented a paradox. Its interior was surprisingly basic, reminiscent of a more rugged 4Runner, which felt underwhelming for its price tag. Yet, it possessed an almost mythical reputation for durability and reliability. Stories of Land Cruisers conquering the harshest terrains, from the Sahara Desert to remote trails, cemented its image as an unyielding machine. Beyond its toughness, however, the previous Land Cruiser was arguably overpriced. Therefore, the 2024 model had a significant opportunity to improve upon its predecessor.
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser marks a significant departure from its predecessors, sharing little beyond the name. Instead of evolving the previous model, this new Land Cruiser draws inspiration from the Land Cruiser Prado, a model traditionally sold in markets outside the US. The Prado, in turn, is built upon the foundation of the smaller Toyota 4Runner platform. This shift results in a more compact footprint, replacing the robust V8 engine with a modern, turbocharged four-cylinder engine enhanced by a hybrid system. Coupled with neo-vintage styling, the 2024 Land Cruiser emerges as a vehicle that undeniably captures attention with its design. The retro aesthetics are arguably one of the strongest aspects of the new Land Cruiser.
However, the initial allure of the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser’s styling fades when delving deeper into the overall driving experience. Despite the online buzz and anticipation, this reviewer found the vehicle to be somewhat underwhelming. While equipped with a suite of advanced off-road technologies and driving modes designed for various terrains, the reality is that most Land Cruisers will spend the majority of their lives on paved roads, perhaps venturing onto gravel driveways at most. A key area of concern is the touted hybrid powertrain. Downsizing engines is a prevalent trend, often presented as a step towards improved fuel efficiency. Yet, the 2024 Land Cruiser’s turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid surprisingly underperformed in real-world fuel economy tests, averaging under 18 MPG during a week of mixed driving conditions. This figure is particularly disappointing considering the EPA’s combined estimate of 25 MPG, a number that proved unrealistic in practice. To put this into perspective, a larger SUV like the Toyota Sequoia, equipped with a significantly bigger twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine, achieved the same average fuel economy in similar testing.
In terms of performance, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser feels adequate but not particularly spirited, despite its combined output of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds is respectable but not indicative of brisk performance. While Land Cruisers are not traditionally about outright speed, the “i-FORCE MAX” engine badge raises expectations for more robust passing power. Around town and in typical driving scenarios, the engine performs acceptably, mirroring the performance of many new vehicles in recent years. The engine itself is reasonably refined, avoiding the harshness often associated with older Toyota four-cylinder engines. However, the hybrid system’s poor fuel economy overshadows any performance benefits. The purpose of a hybrid four-cylinder setup becomes questionable when it consumes fuel at this rate. Furthermore, the engine exhibits noticeable noise at idle, with clicks and clacks that might be mistaken for exhaust leaks or noisy lifters in a new vehicle.
The interior of this mid-range 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser trim is decent for a Toyota, but it falls short of expectations for a vehicle in the $70,000 price range. While soft-touch materials on the doors and seats, finished in a rich brown, create an initial impression of quality, the seats themselves are rather flat and lack support for longer journeys. The cabin also incorporates numerous cheap-feeling and awkwardly positioned controls. The air conditioning button panel, for instance, exhibits creaking and noticeable flex under pressure. The volume knob’s placement is particularly inconvenient, positioned out of reach for the passenger and partially obscured from the driver’s view by the steering wheel – an apparent design oversight. Contrary to the robust build quality typically associated with Land Cruisers, the doors lack the solid, bank-vault-like closure of previous generations, sounding tinny and hollow, suggesting cost-conscious construction. The hybrid battery placement impacts cargo space, raising the cargo floor and reducing overall volume and storage capacity. While road noise from below is well-suppressed, wind noise is noticeable, particularly around the large side mirrors, contributing to wind rush around the boxy windshield and side windows. Driving with the windows down at speeds above 40 mph becomes uncomfortable due to excessive wind turbulence generated by the mirrors.
Adding to the interior disappointments, the air conditioning system proved surprisingly weak for a new vehicle, struggling to cool the cabin even during a 30-minute nighttime drive with comfortable ambient temperatures in the 80s. The front seat heaters were practically ineffective. On cooler evenings, the highest seat heater setting barely produced any discernible warmth. In a separate test, a passenger remained unaware that the seat heater had been activated, highlighting its minimal output. This weak air conditioning performance echoes observations in other recent Toyota models, and the seat heaters are among the least effective encountered.
Further shortcomings include the gauge cluster’s limited visibility for passengers during daylight, as if fitted with a privacy filter. The cluster design follows the trend of cluttered new Toyota displays, with excessive icons and convoluted menus that are difficult to navigate. Notably, safety settings adjustments are confined to this cluster and cannot be accessed through the main center display – an unintuitive design choice. The test vehicle also exhibited a malfunction with the automatic day/night mode for the main infotainment screen. This feature, standard in modern vehicles and devices, is intended to switch from a bright day mode to a darker night mode automatically based on sunset. Despite being enabled with correct time zone settings, the automatic dark mode failed to activate, resulting in a blindingly bright white screen at night. While older Toyotas might exhibit a momentary white flash before switching to dark mode, this system completely failed to function as intended, necessitating manual switching to permanent dark mode.
Despite these criticisms, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser demonstrates surprisingly pleasant driving dynamics, exceeding initial expectations. The steering is precise and responsive, making maneuvering this boxy SUV effortless on paved roads. Handling is also reasonably competent for its class, exhibiting a degree of balance when cornering. While tire grip is limited, the 2024 Land Cruiser demonstrates improved cornering capability compared to previous 4Runner and Land Cruiser models. Ride quality is well-tuned across diverse road surfaces, avoiding the overly firm and jarring ride often found in past Toyota SUVs and trucks.
Off-road testing was not conducted to evaluate departure angles and suspension articulation. However, despite the advanced off-road technology and terrain management systems, the 2024 Land Cruiser’s ground clearance of only 8.7 inches is a limiting factor. This is less than the current 4Runner, significantly less than a Tacoma TRD Off-Road, and only marginally greater than a Highlander. Without modifications like a lift kit and larger tires, careful off-road driving is essential to avoid scraping or bottoming out. In practical off-road scenarios, limited ground clearance can negate the benefits of sophisticated articulation and technology, hindering its ability to clear obstacles. For a vehicle often associated with overlanding and off-road prowess, the 2024 Land Cruiser’s ground clearance might disappoint those seeking serious off-road capability straight from the factory. While the 2024 Land Cruiser will undoubtedly perform adequately off-road, its capabilities may not surpass, and could even fall short of, less expensive SUVs. Its off-road advantage might lie in providing a degree of comfort and electronic assistance through its various controls.
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser’s visual appeal is undeniable, attracting attention and garnering positive feedback on its styling. However, the engine performance is lacking, the interior quality could be improved, and its off-road capabilities are not demonstrably superior to, and in some respects inferior to, other current Toyota models at lower price points. Ultimately, the 2024 Land Cruiser emerges primarily as a fashion-forward vehicle, with its aesthetics likely driving purchase decisions for many buyers, similar to how many Mercedes G-Wagons rarely encounter off-road conditions. The disappointment stems not from disliking the Land Cruiser, but from unmet expectations. Hopes were high, fueled by online hype, but the reality falls short. By aiming for mainstream appeal and approachability, the 2024 Land Cruiser has arguably diminished its unique desirability. The previous Land Cruiser, with its limited production and exclusivity, possessed a certain specialness that this new iteration, now feeling like just another Toyota in the lineup, seems to have lost.
For those seeking a more authentic “Land Cruiser” experience, the Lexus GX presents itself as a compelling alternative. Sharing visual similarities, the GX boasts a more luxurious interior and replaces the four-cylinder engine with a superior twin-turbo V6. A separate review of the Lexus GX 550 highlights its improvements over the Toyota version in nearly every aspect. The twin-turbo V6 delivers enhanced power and refinement without sacrificing fuel economy, achieving comparable MPG figures. The interior is notably more upscale, and surprisingly, comparable GX trims are only approximately $2,000 more expensive, making it a worthwhile upgrade. For most buyers, the Lexus GX 550 is likely to offer a more satisfying ownership experience.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
As-tested price: $70,029
Pros: Striking exterior design; Advanced electronic off-road aids
Cons: Thirsty four-cylinder engine; High price; Limited ground clearance
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser review and photos by Mitchell Weitzman and The Road Beat.
