The Toyota Land Cruiser is without a doubt sitting comfortably in the Pantheon of 4x4s. They have been around forever; they run forever and hopefully will be made forever. The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser J300 is still a mystery in many ways, but one thing that will shake up the next-gen Landy is that Toyota is killing the V8 to make room for a V6.

Will America get the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser?

The answer has changed so much that keeping up with it has become tiresome. As Gear Patrol notes, Toyota said that America would not be getting the next-gen Land Cruiser. Seem clear enough. Wrong.

Toyota then said Americans might get the Lexus version in 2023 but as a 2022 model. Maybe there is a cheaper version of the Landy coming our way? Frankly, it’s messy and annoying. 

What we do know is that the legendary V8 Toyota 4×4 is going to forego its legendary V8 for a newer, more reasonable V6 powerplant. 

What engine does the 2022 Land Cruiser have? 

The Toyota 5.7-liter V8 is getting pulled from the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser’s production line for what will likely be the Lexus LS’s twin-turbocharged V6. This is a major development for anyone following the last decade of Toyota 4×4. 

We love Toyota around here. Yes, they can be a bit expensive and old-timey in many ways, but as far a 4x4s go, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything as tough and reliable as a Toyota 4Runner or Toyota Tundra – and the Land Cruiser, of course.

The problem is, the price has been hard to justify because these models have not seen significant changes in a long time. Low and behold, the biggest and more dinosaurish one of all – the Toyota Land Cruiser –  just launched into the 21st century with this news. 

If that wasn’t enough good news already, the twin-turbo V6 might also be offered in a hybrid version. For 4×4 lovers who also like the planet, this is excellent news. This shift comes as one of a few things that Toyota has been doing lately to show that it is serious about revamping its outdated 4×4 lineup. Like the new TNGA truck platform that will live beneath the next Toyota Tundra, 4Runner, and the 2022 Land Cruiser. 

The times are changing and the Land Cruiser along with it 

Gear Patrol also mentions that the new Landy will be offered in more trim levels. Toyota has disclosed that the J300 will be offered in a sporty “GR Sport” trim. The idea will supposedly be closer to the TRD Camry and Avalon in that it will likely not offer more power but better handling and a body kit. 

Unfortunately and expectedly, the J300 won’t be getting all this cool new stuff for free. The J300 Landy is expected to be on the receiving end of a price increase. The current model sits around the $85,000 mark, while the new one is expected to be north of $90,000. 

There are still plenty of things we don’t know about the 2022 Land Cruiser. We at least know a few things; it’s going to be cool, expensive, and likely better than ever.