The Toyota Land Cruiser Is Being Relaunched, Not Revived
The discontinuation of the Toyota Land Cruiser full-size SUV was a huge surprise for thousands of Toyota fans in America. The Land Cruiser is part of a bygone era that represents a time when the Japanese brand was still making its bones internationally. The Toyota Land Cruiser is an off-roading icon and a fan-favorite SUV. News of its revival may be misleading.
Is the Toyota Land Cruiser coming back?
A new version of the Land Cruiser is coming, but it may not be what you think. News of a possible Land Cruiser return has the internet in an uproar, but is the legendary SUV nameplate actually coming back? Well, yes and no.
Toyota is rolling out a new Land Cruiser SUV. It just isn’t the full-size rugged behemoth that gearheads know and love. This version of the Land Cruiser will be smaller, changing things for consumers.
A new Land Cruiser will likely be much more affordable due to its smaller size. That being said, this huge change takes away some of the excitement of the nameplate’s “return.” Truthfully, the Land Cruiser is being relaunched as a smaller SUV to compete with models like the Ford Bronco (not revived).
The Sequoia and Lexus LX 600 are still the closest things that consumers can get to the OG Land Cruiser that has won the hearts of so many. Before we get into the arrival of the new Land Cruiser, let’s explore why the old one got the boot in the first place.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Land Cruiser for America?
Toyota’s discontinuing the Land Cruiser nameplate following the 2021 model year could confuse some fans, but it isn’t as complicated as you may think. In fact, the last model’s specs are a huge clue as to why the brand no longer makes new Land Cruisers (or at least the Land Cruisers we’re familiar with).
The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser had a starting price of a whopping $85,665. That’s more than the price of a brand-new 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country (72,900). Toyota’s full-size SUV is unreasonably pricey.
The last Land Cruiser model year gets 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 miles per gallon on the highway. Its fuel economy is too poor for many drivers. The reason the Land Cruiser is no longer available is because the demand for the SUV dwindled as the needs of consumers evolved. So, the version of the Land Cruiser that was too expensive and thirsty for most drivers had to die.
What to expect from the new Land Cruiser
Based on the teaser image, the new Land Cruiser’s exterior resembles a Lexus GX 460 more than it does its predecessor. While there’s little to no information available on the upcoming SUV, its name reveals plenty.
The new Land Cruiser will likely be a tough off-road SUV that embodies the spirit of the OG model while bringing new technology to the table featured in other new Toyota off-roading models. So, expect all-terrain tires, a suspension upgrade, and skid plates as available features. A cheaper, smaller Land Cruiser is intriguing, but claiming that the Land Cruiser is returning is a bit of a stretch. According to Toyota, the new Land Cruiser is a “legend reborn,” so expectations are high.
