Facts about the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota chose not to import the new J300 model to the United States, hence the Toyota Land Cruiser was retired there in 2021.  Like many others, we had a soft spot for the big friendly SUV. The problem was that no one here believed it. The Land Cruiser was excessively large and inefficient, and at over $90,000, it priced out Toyota SUV fans — yet it didn’t have a nice enough emblem for those who paid that much for an SUV.

Toyota, on the other hand, did not declare they were discontinuing the Land Cruiser moniker entirely. In their original statement, they stated that they will “explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history” and encouraged fans to “stay tuned for future developments.”

These future changes might occur sooner than expected, possibly as early as the 2024 model year. Here’s what you should know.

1. Here’s our first look at Toyota’s new Land Cruiser.

Toyota provided us with our first (and best) look at the new Land Cruiser. Though the brand appears to be officially referring to it as “the All-New Toyota Rugged SUV” for the time being.

With the darker silhouette, Toyota did not show too much detail. However, the picture depicts a grille inspired by the FJ40. It appears to be based on the 2024 Lexus GX and is significantly smaller than the worldwide J300 variant.

2. When can we expect the new Toyota Land Cruiser?

Several sources indicate that a Land Cruiser revival is imminent. The Land Cruiser nameplate will return to America for the 2024 model year, according to TFL, citing a Toyota source. According to Automotive News, the car might be available as early as 2024.

If the car is scheduled to arrive in 2024, we may see it as early as late 2023. Toyota promoting the vehicle’s comeback in June might point to an earlier release date.

3. The Land Cruiser nameplate will most likely not be the J300 Land Cruiser.

The next American Land Cruiser will be based on Toyota’s smaller, less costly Land Cruiser, the Prado, according to Automotive News and TFL. Toyota would most likely abandon the “Prado” moniker for the American market. According to Japanese rumors, Toyota may just name it the Land Cruiser 250 in Japan.

Traditionally, the Lexus GX was a Land Cruiser Prado twin.

4. The next Land Cruiser might receive a vintage makeover.

According to Drive in Australia, the American Land Cruiser may look different from the Land Cruiser Prado marketed elsewhere. According to the rumor, the American Land Cruiser would sport retro style with characteristics like circular headlights reminiscent of old Land Cruisers like the FJ40 (the offered teaser backs up that assertion). It might have the same side panels as the international Prado but a different front fascia.

5. What engine will power the new Land Cruiser?

The Lexus GX debuted with a 3.4-liter V6 combustion engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Lexus says a hybrid engine is on the way. And that hybrid engine might be the one that powers the new Land Cruiser.

TFL reports that, like with the GX, the new Land Cruiser will be powered by the 2.4-liter inline-four “Hybrid Max” powerplant seen in the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Crown, and Lexus TX. In Tacoma, that engine produces 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.

6. Will the new Land Cruiser be available in TRD Pro trim?

Toyota has yet to confirm the existence of a TRD Pro Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser, however, will feature a “flagship, hardcore off-road variant in the same vein as the TRD Pro versions” of Toyota’s American pickup series, according to Drive.

7. Is it logical to bring back the Land Cruiser?

We’ll see what happens. Toyota has much too much brand equity in the name “Land Cruiser” to not use it. The J200 model had flaws, such as a bloated body and a high price tag, that rendered it unsuitable for the American enthusiast market. A lighter, more off-road focused, and less priced “Land Cruiser” may be significantly superior.

The big concern is how a redesigned 4Runner will fit beside the new Land Cruiser. The next Land Cruiser, according to Drive, will be a more niche off-road vehicle than the 4Runner. It might start in the $50,000 to $60,000 level to compete with the 4Runner.