By Sue Mead
The Land Cruiser Heritage Museum, in Salt Lake City, Utah, was the ideal location to stage the return of Toyota’s longest-running nameplate for close to 150 members of the automotive press and Toyota executives. The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser comes back to the North American market after a three-year hiatus, bringing some big changes, while keeping its heritage as a significant ingredient at the same time.
The new ‘Cruiser is smaller, narrower, and likely nimbler. Plus, Toyota promises a host of new features that will play well both on the highway and on back country trails.
Some of the top news, however, is a starting price that will begin in the mid $50,000s range; the previous-gen Land Cruiser was priced starting in the $85,000 range
The all-new Land Cruiser will be offered in three models when it goes on sale in the spring: a First Edition grade limited to 5,000 units for North America equipped with round heritage headlamps, two-tone paint, roof rack, rock rails, and an exclusive exterior design; the 1958 grade that will feature the classic round headlamps and a Toyota heritage grill, and black fabric seats; while standard grades will be crafted with slim rectangular headlights reminiscent of the classic FJ 62 off-roader.
“This icon belongs in our lineup,” says Toyota group vice president and general manager, Dave Christ. “For 2024 Land Cruiser returns to its origin with a heritage-inspired design paired with the legendary capability and durability Land Cruiser is known for, and it will take even more customers on adventures across the globe as it has done for generations.”
The new Land Cruisers will be constructed on Toyota’s TNGA-F global truck platform that boasts a fully-boxed framed and laser welds. This same basic architecture is found under the newly redesign Lexus GX.
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Power will come exclusively from the brand’s 2.4-liter i-FORCE MAX 4-cylinder engine. The turbocharged hybrid powerplant is rated at 365 horsepower, and should help the new Land Cruise deliver significantly better fuel economy than its predecessor.
Predictably, all Land Cruiser variants will come standard with AWD and a 2-speed transfer case. A tow hitch will also be standard. Toyota says the new Land Cruiser can tow up to 6000 pounds. Off-road enthusiasts will enjoy the 8.7 inches of ground clearance, standard tow hooks, automatic limited-slip differential, center and rear locking differentials, and vehicle stability control system.
A new double-wishbone front suspension with twin tube shocks is paired with a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs.
Off road by the numbers: the new Land Cruiser features a maximum approach angle of 31 degrees, max departure angle of 22 degrees, and a breakover of 25 degrees. An available in-cabin front-stabilizer-bar disconnect will improve steering angles in the rough stuff, and optional rock rails and full-coverage skid plates add additional off-road protection.
Other notable features include an available 12.3-inch touchscreen that displays the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system and a Multi Terrain Monitor. Toyota’s comprehensive Safety Sense 3.0 suite is standard on all models.
The 2024 Land Cruiser will be offered in seven exterior color choices: Ice Cap, Wind Chill Pearl, Underground, Black, Meteor Shower, Trail Dust, and Heritage Blue. The two-tone Trail Dust and Heritage Blue exterior colors feature a Grayscape roof.
The 2024 Land Cruiser will be built in Toyota Motor Corporation’s Tahara and Hino plants in Japan.
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2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Gallery
(Click below for enlarged images)
