The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser arrives with significant expectations, carrying the weight of its legendary heritage as Toyota’s flagship SUV in the US market. While the Japanese automaker boasts about objective improvements across the board, this new iteration, aimed at a broader audience, might leave enthusiasts feeling underwhelmed. Despite its undeniably striking retro exterior, the question lingers: does the 2024 Land Cruiser truly live up to its iconic name, or is it just another mainstream SUV capitalizing on past glory?
To be fair, the previous generation Land Cruiser, priced near $90,000, offered a surprisingly basic interior reminiscent of a more affordable Toyota 4Runner. For that price, it was arguably overpriced. However, its legendary durability and go-anywhere capability were undeniable. In scenarios demanding ultimate reliability, like traversing the Sahara Desert, the old Land Cruiser was in its element. With this context, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser aims to improve upon a vehicle that, while robust, was far from perfect in terms of value and modern features.
Forget everything you knew about the old model, because the 2024 Land Cruiser shares little more than a name with its predecessor. This new model is actually based on the Land Cruiser Prado, a platform historically sold in global markets and related to the smaller 4Runner. The 2024 Land Cruiser adopts a more compact footprint, swaps the traditional V8 engine for a contemporary turbocharged four-cylinder with hybrid assistance, and wraps it all in eye-catching neo-vintage styling. And indeed, the exterior design is arguably the strongest aspect of this new Toyota SUV, successfully capturing the spirit of classic Land Cruisers.
However, the initial allure of the retro design fades upon closer inspection. Despite the online buzz surrounding the vehicle, real-world experience reveals some significant shortcomings. While equipped with an array of advanced off-road technologies and selectable terrain modes, the reality is that most 2024 Toyota Land Cruisers will spend their lives on paved roads. A key disappointment lies in the hybrid powertrain. Despite the industry trend towards downsizing for efficiency, this turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine delivered surprisingly poor fuel economy, averaging under 18 MPG in mixed daily driving conditions. This is particularly concerning when the EPA combined estimate is 25 MPG, a figure seemingly unattainable in real-world use. To highlight this inefficiency, a larger Toyota Sequoia SUV, powered by a significantly bigger twin-turbo V6 hybrid, achieved the same fuel economy in comparable testing.
Performance-wise, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, despite boasting a combined 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, feels far from quick. A 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds is adequate but doesn’t inspire confidence, especially considering the “i-FORCE MAX” badge. While outright speed isn’t the Land Cruiser’s primary mission, more responsiveness in passing situations would be appreciated. Around town and in normal driving scenarios, the engine is perfectly adequate, as expected from any modern vehicle. While the engine is generally refined compared to older Toyota four-cylinders, the hybrid system’s poor fuel economy significantly undermines its purpose. Furthermore, the engine exhibits noticeable noise at idle, with clicks and clacks that sound uncharacteristic of 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. Soft-touch materials on the doors and seats, finished in an attractive brown hue, create an initial impression of quality. However, the seats themselves are quite flat and lack support for longer journeys. Numerous cheap-feeling and awkwardly placed controls detract from the overall experience. The air conditioning button cluster, for example, exhibits noticeable creaking and flex. The volume knob’s placement is particularly perplexing, positioned out of easy reach for the passenger and even partially obscured from the driver’s view by the steering wheel – an apparent afterthought in design. Contrary to the robust build quality historically associated with Land Cruisers, the doors lack the solid, bank-vault-like closure of previous generations, sounding thin and tinny, indicative of cost-saving measures. The hybrid battery placement also compromises cargo space, raising the load floor and limiting overall storage capacity. While road noise is well-suppressed, wind noise is noticeable, particularly from the large side mirrors, especially at highway speeds. Driving with the windows down is also compromised by excessive wind buffeting from these mirrors, even at moderate speeds.
Adding to the interior disappointments, the air conditioning system proved surprisingly weak for a brand-new vehicle, struggling to cool the cabin even on moderately warm evenings. The front seat heaters were virtually imperceptible. In multiple instances, even on the highest setting, occupants struggled to feel any warmth emanating from the seat heaters. This weak climate control performance is a recurring issue observed in some newer Toyota models.
Further shortcomings include a gauge cluster that is virtually invisible to front passengers in daylight, as if fitted with a privacy screen. The cluster itself is cluttered with excessive icons and features Toyota’s characteristically convoluted menu system, making adjustments to settings, particularly safety features, cumbersome. The test vehicle also exhibited a malfunction with the automatic day/night mode for the main infotainment screen. Despite being enabled and correctly configured, the screen remained in bright white day mode even at night, causing significant glare and requiring manual switching to dark mode – a basic function that failed to operate as intended.
Surprisingly, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser redeems itself somewhat in driving dynamics. The steering is precise and makes maneuvering this boxy SUV easy, even in urban environments. Handling is also unexpectedly competent for its class, exhibiting a degree of balance in cornering. While tire grip is limited, the new Land Cruiser demonstrates superior handling compared to previous 4Runner and Land Cruiser models. Ride quality is also well-tuned, effectively absorbing various road imperfections without the overly stiff or jiggly ride often associated with Toyota SUVs and trucks of the past.
Off-road enthusiasts might be disappointed to learn that the 2024 Land Cruiser’s ground clearance is only 8.7 inches. This is less than the current Toyota 4Runner, significantly less than a Tacoma TRD Off-Road pickup, and only marginally better than a family-oriented Highlander. Without modifications like a lift kit and larger tires, the 2024 Land Cruiser requires careful navigation off-road to avoid scraping or bottoming out. While advanced off-road technologies and suspension articulation are present, the limited ground clearance raises questions about their practical effectiveness in challenging terrain. For a vehicle marketed to the Overlanding community, the stock 2024 Land Cruiser may fall short of expectations in terms of pure off-road capability. More dedicated off-roaders might find better value and capability in a 4Runner TRD Pro for less money. While the Land Cruiser is undoubtedly capable off-road, its capabilities are unlikely to surpass those of less expensive SUVs, even within Toyota’s own lineup. Its off-road prowess is likely to be delivered with a degree of comfort and electronic assistance, rather than through superior inherent design.
Ultimately, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is a visually appealing vehicle that draws attention and positive comments with its retro styling. However, the underwhelming engine performance and fuel economy, coupled with an interior that doesn’t fully justify its price tag, and compromised off-road ground clearance, lead to a sense of disappointment. It appears to prioritize style over substance, potentially becoming more of a fashion statement than a truly capable and versatile SUV. For buyers prioritizing aesthetics, the 2024 Land Cruiser might suffice. However, those seeking genuine Land Cruiser heritage and capability might find themselves wanting more. By aiming for mainstream appeal, the 2024 Land Cruiser may have lost some of the unique desirability that defined its predecessors. The previous Land Cruiser, with its rarity and exclusivity, held a certain special appeal, whereas this new model risks becoming just another Toyota SUV in a crowded market.
For a more authentic “Land Cruiser” experience, consider the Lexus GX 550. Sharing a similar design language, the GX 550 offers a more luxurious interior and replaces the four-cylinder engine with a more refined and powerful twin-turbo V6. Early reviews suggest the Lexus GX 550 addresses many of the shortcomings of the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, presenting a compelling alternative for those seeking both luxury and capability.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
As-tested price: $70,029
Pros: Striking retro exterior styling; Advanced electronic off-road aids.
Cons: Disappointing fuel economy from the four-cylinder hybrid engine; Expensive price point; Limited ground clearance for serious off-roading.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser review and photos by Mitchell Weitzman and The Road Beat.
