Toyota Land Cruiser | Back to basics for a legend

At Toyota, the Land Cruiser is among the untouchables as its notoriety gained on the most inhospitable roads in the world is great. It still remained absent from the Canadian lineup since 1996, an omission that will be corrected next spring with the debut of a new generation that marks a real return to basics for this pure 4×4.

As a premise, the SUV is adorned with an all-new body that stands out enormously from the generation it replaces (200 Series) which was offered until 2020 in the United States. Toyota’s Californian design center drew on its archives to create a design inspired by its illustrious ancestors.

Extremely rare these days, this new Land Cruiser is also smaller than the previous model, cutting 11 cm in width and 3 cm in length. This is intended to promote ease on narrower trails. With an approach angle of 31 degrees, a departure angle of 22 degrees and a ground clearance of 22 cm, however, it displays less capacity on paper compared to the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.

The hybrid, for modernity

For frugality, the 2024 Land Cruiser will be offered only with hybrid mechanics. It’s a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder that produces 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, figures also supported by a 48-hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission. We do not know for the moment what will be the consumption of this mechanism which can tow up to 2721 kg (6000 lb).

An all-wheel-drive system is additionally bolted to its TNGA-F coded ladder frame. Able to operate in all-wheel mode continuously, it is composed of a two-speed transfer case as well as an electronically locking rear differential.

The price range of this Land Cruiser has not been revealed, but Toyota specifies that it will be more affordable than its predecessor.