The new Toyota Land Cruiser is very close to hitting our streets. We haven't been able to test drive it yet, but we did have a first static look at it, admiring its exterior and getting inside, allowing us to gather some basic initial impressions.
We should remember that it's one of the world's most remarkable pure off-road vehicles, having been on the market for over 70 years. Since 2000, 72.500 units have been sold in Spain , which, incidentally, is also the country with the highest Land Cruiser sales in all of Europe. With all that said, what's the new Toyota Land Cruiser 250 like?
The Toyota Land Cruiser is designed not to break, and with neo-retro style
The Japanese brand has given its SUV a significant aesthetic overhaul. It now boasts a design that could be considered neo-retro , maintaining the robust shapes and straight lines that characterize the model, but combining them with a multitude of modern details, such as full LED lighting and an interior multimedia system that is completely different from the outgoing model.
By the way, the exterior dimensions of the new Toyota Land Cruiser are 4,92 meters long , 1,98 meters wide, and 1,92 meters high (without roof rails). Toyota Spain has decided not to include roof rails as standard equipment to avoid problems accessing certain parking garages, but they are available as an option . The wheelbase is 2,85 meters , which is 6 centimeters longer than the previous model.
In the most important aspect, which is the architecture, they haven't taken the slightest risk. The aim is to maintain maximum reliability in each and every component of the vehicle, as well as the best possible off-road capabilities, while also offering a pleasant driving experience on asphalt.
Ladder chassis and a robust diesel engine
This is why a ladder frame chassis , whose platform is known as TNGA-F , is still used . Furthermore, the rigidity of the chassis and body has been reinforced by 30% thanks to more welding points and a greater quantity of structural adhesives.
As for the engine, the 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel produces 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque, and is also compatible with biodiesel. A mild-hybrid variant of this engine will arrive in 2025, at which point it will be eligible for the DGT's Eco environmental label.
The gearbox is a torque converter type , now with eight preset ratios. First gear has been shortened by 12%, while the increased number of ratios allows for better engine performance in any situation, as the rev gap between gears is smaller. And no, there will be no manual versions.
Electric steering, good quality and technology to make 4×4 tasks even easier
On the other hand, there are changes to the power steering, which has been switched from hydraulic to electric . Toyota has told us that they have now found that electric power steering can perfectly withstand the most demanding use under any circumstances, conditions, and temperatures, which is the main reason for making the switch. Furthermore, this allows them to offer more comprehensive and effective driver assistance systems.
The interior is a significant improvement over the previous model. It gives the impression of offering more space for occupants, while also raising the build quality, yet it still feels like a robust cabin, capable of withstanding the harshest conditions: mud, cold, humidity, or extreme temperatures.
In the center console area, we find the Multiterrain selector , which now includes an automatic mode, the gear selector, the center and rear differential locks , the front stabilizer bar disconnect switch (available on First Edition models but not sold in Spain), and, of course, the low- range transfer case . There's also a button to activate or deactivate Hill Descent Control ( DAC Crawl ).
Everything has a price, and the Toyota Land Cruiser is becoming less and less accessible
Toyota opened reservations for the First Edition in December, with 250 units available for only 7 hours. Orders are now open for those 250 First Edition units in the VX trim level. In July, the 2025 Eco-labeled variants will be available in all three trims: GX, VX, and VXL.
The first deliveries will be in September and will correspond to the First Edition, while the VX trim units will arrive the following month. The rest of the range will begin arriving to customers in the first quarter of 2025.
If we talk about prices, the First Edition has a price of no less than 85.950 euros, which is said to be early. For its part, the Toyota Land Cruiser VX starts at 76.450 euros.
