Blocky and off-roading SUVs are in vogue right now
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00Fear of missing out, FOMO, is something we all experience from time to time, even a big company like Toyota.
00:07So there's the Rivian R1S, the Ford Bronco, the Land Rover Defender.
00:11So, of course, the off-roady, blocky Land Cruiser had to make a comeback.
00:16And you're looking at it. This is the new Toyota Land Cruiser in all its retro-modern glory.
00:21Here's something fun. Your headlight design changes depending on which Land Cruiser trim you get.
00:34So this one here is your mid-tier Land Cruiser, and you get the rectangular headlights.
00:38However, if you opt for the 1958 or the first edition, which is made in limited numbers, you get round headlights.
00:44Overall, though, everything makes it look like a big FJ Cruiser.
00:48Also, another feature to note, this back window opens, which is a great feature, and all SUVs should have it.
00:55Touchscreens are good, but it seems like the general consensus is the fewer, the better.
01:01The good news from in here is most things still use physical buttons.
01:05So your climate, your drive mode, your off-road stuff, all physical buttons.
01:09That being said, a few convenience features that come standard include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,
01:15as well as this conveniently located charging pad.
01:21So despite the Land Cruiser having a very roomy second row and trunk, it doesn't come with a third row of seats.
01:29Sorry.
01:31All Land Cruisers are hybrids now, but don't let that turn you off, because this ain't no Prius.
01:37At the heart of these SUVs is the i-Force Maxx powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine,
01:43plus an electric motor integrated between that engine and 8-speed transmission that's powered by a little battery beneath the back seats.
01:50Horsepower is rated at 326 and there's 465 pound-feet of torque.
01:55Four-wheel drive is standard.
01:57You are correct in assuming this means the end of the V8 Land Cruisers.
02:02However, seeing as the old Land Cruiser got like 17 miles to the gallon on the highway and this new one gets 25, I doubt many will complain.
02:09It's still not amazing, let me be clear, but at least it's improved.
02:19With all of the off-road talents the Land Cruiser has, naturally we would wonder how it is on-road.
02:28The answer is very pleasant.
02:30The ride is nice.
02:32These are curvy roads and this is no sports car, but it handles decently.
02:38You have to plan ahead a little more.
02:40There is more body roll and lean than in a non-off-roady SUV, but once you get that under your belt,
02:48I mean, it's pretty pleasant to huck around these corners.
02:52It kind of comes alive and this powertrain really adds to it.
02:56It's crisp, it's fresh, and there's plenty of low-end power, so this thing gets moving very easily.
03:01I'm sure the V8 was charismatic and charming all in its own way, but man, this one just feels suitable for the modern ages.
03:08The brakes, too, grab very well.
03:10There's always kind of that weird trade-off that some hybrids have.
03:14That is not the case here, and if anyone's going to smooth out the hybrid experience, it's Toyota.
03:19They've been at it for like decades.
03:23The in-cabin noise is a little louder.
03:26I mean, that's just what you get with a big upright windshield, these big mirrors, and the all-terrain tires.
03:32It's going to be a little louder in here.
03:34It's not going to be whisper silent.
03:36That being said, with all these things working against it, it's not terrible.
03:44In practice, this cabin layout is great.
03:49The visibility, too, is also nice.
03:51I mean, this is a big vehicle.
03:53However, the hood kind of tapers down a little bit, so you can see over it more easily.
03:57And the really upright windshield means that you can see out the front very, very well.
04:03Plus, the belt lines are low, and the windows are big.
04:06So, side visibility is good as well, and you get to rest your elbow on a sill when you want to relax a little bit.
04:13We've gone over some pretty biblical potholes up here also.
04:16But the big sidewalls and the cushy suspension soaks it all up.
04:21It gives you a sense of invincibility, actually, because if you're driving a sports car, you're like,
04:25I don't want to go over that. I'm going to straddle this one or that one.
04:28This one, you just go over it, and it's totally fine.
04:31There's a freedom in that that I am enjoying immensely.
04:37I think the biggest mark against the Land Cruiser is the steering.
04:42Obviously, big vehicle, you want all of the information that you can get when you're driving it.
04:48However, the steering is kind of floaty and vague.
04:52So, you go like this, and not a whole lot happens when I sort of want something to happen.
04:57So, it's just a little more planning to get yourself used to it.
05:05As an off-roader, the Land Cruiser is quite good,
05:08especially for something with slightly lower ground clearance and more pedestrian-looking tires.
05:13The new hybrid engine's added torque and generous torque curve come in especially handy,
05:17but again, that's at the expense of fuel economy.
05:20But things out on the trails are smooth, despite regenerative braking.
05:25The traction control system works exceptionally well.
05:28Even without its locker engaged, the Land Cruiser can get itself efficiently through some pretty tough obstacles.
05:34The suspension felt the most comfortable at a jogging pace on decently rough trails.
05:39Against stuff like Wranglers and Broncos, the Toyota can definitely hold its own.
05:45Pricing for the new Land Cruiser is what you'd expect from a rugged midsize SUV carrying an iconic nameplate.
05:51The Land Cruiser 1958 starts at around $57,000,
05:55the Land Cruiser at around $63,000,
05:58and the first edition at around $76,000.
06:01So, not the most affordable midsize SUV out there,
06:04though this is likely still more expensive than the new 4Runner and a few thousand dollars cheaper than the related Lexus GX.
06:11All three SUVs do essentially the same thing,
06:14so choosing one that's best for you comes down to personal preference and budget.
06:22There are more midsize SUVs than we can count on the market today,
06:25but the new Land Cruiser stands apart, and not just because it is one of Toyota's most iconic models.
06:31Today's Land Cruiser is more comfortable and modern than any that has come before it,
06:35but it doesn't lose that truckie magic that made it so beloved in the first place.
06:40You still get that sense of adventuring go-anywhere-ness,
06:43and you can get it dirty as hell and not even worry about it.
06:45And it looks great, too.
06:47So, to find out more about the new Toyota Land Cruiser, head over to MotorTrend.com.
06:52Thank you so much for watching, and see you next time.