New Land Cruiser Starts below $60K, Climbs Near $80K

The Land Cruiser is returning to the United States this year, and today Toyota finally announced pricing information for all three trims. The base model, dubbed the Land Cruiser 1958, will start at just $57,445. The middling trim, simply called Land Cruiser, will run you at least $63,445, and the range-topping First Edition will start at $76,445. (All prices reflect the MSRP plus a $1495 destination and handling fee.)

The new Land Cruiser is a noteworthy departure from past generations, which, starting with the 100 Series (which debuted in 1998) and the 200 Series (which debuted in 2008), had grown rather portly. Visually, the 2024 Land Cruiser—Toyota calls it the 250 Series—evokes a pleasant blend of the 60 and the 80 Series, both slimmer and seemingly more focused on capability. Indeed, the new model is 4.4 inches narrower and 1.2 inches shorter tip-to-tail than the 200 Series.

The biggest advancement comes under the hood, where the new Land Cruiser now employs a version of Toyota’s iForce-MAX hybrid system, the same as found in the new Tacoma. The system pairs a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, a 1.87-kWh NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) battery, and an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Total system output is stout: Toyota claims 326 hp and a whopping 465 lb-ft of torque. Relative to the archaic 5.7-liter V-8 that powered the 200 Series, the new powertrain is down 55 horsepower but up 64 lb-ft of torque. More importantly, the new system has received an EPA-estimated rating of 23 mpg combined, besting the older model’s combined rating by nine mpg.

Being a Land Cruiser, off-road capability is paramount. The initial spec sheet looks promising: A full-time four-wheel-drive system is standard across all three trims, as are locking center and rear differentials. New to the Cruiser this year is an electronically disconnecting front swaybar, which should give the independently suspended front wheels extra articulation to help keep tire to turf in otherwise hairy situations.

(Worth noting: The Land Cruiser’s ritzier cousin, the Lexus GX, only gets a rear locker on the Overtrail and Overtrail+ trims; Kudos to Toyota for bringing that equipment to every pricepoint of the Cruiser.)

Now, let’s talk about what your money will get you. Opt for the Land Cruiser 1958, and you’ll get retro-inspired LED headlamps, heated fabric seats, and a throwback T O Y O T A grille emblem. Blessedly, the base model doesn’t feel like a total stripper; you’ll still get standard niceties such as automatic climate control, an 8-inch center touch screen, a 7-inch screen integrated into the instrument cluster, and a powerful 2400-watt AC inverter to power your toys or tools when you reach camp.

Splash an extra $6000, and you’ll reach the middling Land Cruiser trim. Here, the front headlamps revert to rectangular units instead of the roundies in the 1958, and you’ll get color-selectable LED foglights from Rigid Industries. Inside, you’ll get heated and ventilated front seats, a larger 12.3-inch central infotainment screen, a similarly-sized screen for the instrument cluster, and a power liftgate. The audio system is upgraded from a six-speaker system in the 1958 to a 10-speaker system here. Most notably, you’ll have to pick the Land Cruiser grade to get that disconnecting front swaybar. You’ll also have access to Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) and Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) systems, which both help take some of the mystery out of off-roading.

There’s a premium package available for the middling Land Cruiser trim as well, which adds leather-trimmed front seats, a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, a power moonroof, and a few other goodies. No word on what that package will cost yet, but we’ll place an educated guess of around $8000.

Atop the range sits the First Edition, a blatant nod to the Land Cruiser’s most ardent fans, who by now have certainly contacted their dealers for a spot in line. In addition to all of the features from the middling Land Cruiser grade, this one will revert back to those round, throwback LED headlamps. Other touches include trim-specific 18-inch wheels and “First Edition” logos embossed on the door panels. There is some added capability here, too; First Editions get a roof rack, rock rails, and a front skid plate as standard. (If you need underbody armor for a lower trim, sit tight; the aftermarket is probably halfway through prototyping it right now.)

While just shy of $80K might feel plenty steep for a Land Cruiser, keep in mind that figure represents only the tippy-top trim. This much capability and style coming in under $60K is a serious win for Toyota. Give the aftermarket some time to sort out the wheels and tires, and you’re looking at an out-of-the-box rig that will be able to withstand just about anything the adventure-seeking crowd could throw at it. We can’t wait to experience it.

Expect the 2024 Land Cruiser to arrive in dealerships this spring. It will be built at the Tahara and Hino plants in Japan, alongside its Lexus GX cousin. (To check out that plant and the production of the GX, click here.)

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