Toyota’s Land Cruiser was long considered to be the best off-roader in Toyota’s arsenal. While the company did make a brief detour with the equally brief revival of the retro-inspired FJ Cruiser, the Land Cruiser was ultimately the model of choice for trail-seeking power warriors. However, by the time the outgoing Land Cruiser appeared on the scene, it seemed the company lost touch with customers. It was big, bloated, dated, and outrageously expensive by the time slumping sales prompted the company to pull the plug sparking considerable outrage from loyalists.
However, it turned out this retirement would be short-lived with the company bringing the Land Cruiser back for the 2024 model year. Can a smaller package help the 2025 Land Cruiser resonate well with SUV buyers and has its move away from a big V8 and some of its large size compromised capability in any discernable way?
Diverse trim ladder for any budget
Our time with the Land Cruiser focused on the 1958 model which is the new base model in the lineup. The 1958 was designed to be a purely functional SUV and as a result, the styling here is an uppercut of retro cues with the front end getting rounded headlights and a simple front grille with the Toyota script firmly centered. Black cladding is also present in many areas and the rear styling is very boxy with LED taillights finding their way to the back of the SUV. The core shape is shared with the Lexus GX but the Toyota is clearly attempting to go for a more heritage-inspired versus the brawnier Lexus.
A slick set of 18-inch wheels helps add depth to the profile and drives home the point that the Land Cruiser 1958 is a simple no-nonsense package. Buyers that want frills will have to go up to the formal Land Cruiser model which is also the range-topper in the two-tier trim ladder (for now.) These models get a squared-off look with the front ends of both of these Land Cruisers supposedly paying homage to various old-school LC models. You also get more equipment too, but if we had our say, we would skip the “Land Cruiser” model outright and instead go for the base 1958 model since the rounded look of the headlights is more visually appealing.
Trail-ready Land Cruiser interior is ready for anything
Slip inside the Land Cruiser and the biggest difference between the two models becomes readily apparent. Unlike its more upmarket partner in crime, the 1958 doesn’t get frills like leather seats or most luxury features. Instead, the occupants are treated to deceptively comfortable grey cloth seats with the cloth material being specially designed to repel stains.
The controls are a welcome trip to the past with the interior getting a healthy mixture of real-sized buttons, switches, dials, and levers. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is also along for the ride but the novel screen is the only sign of modern amenities inside this simple layout and we suspect most Land Cruiser buyers will not only be pleased with the simplified surroundings but also by just how comfortable the cloth seats are which will also undoubtedly create debate over whether to go for the next rung up and the leather seating.
The second-row seats also offer generous amounts of comfort for taller passengers but fold them down and the Land Cruiser is capable of swallowing an impressive amount of cargo with our tester not only fitting large loads of groceries, but also several large and bulky Facebook Marketplace finds which it picked up during its visit with us. The only problem is that the floor is not flat and the lumpy space that is created can make placing some items back there pretty difficult. One notable exception is the flip-up rear window an old-school touch that allows the Land Cruiser to haul long planks of wood but it comes at the cost of the split rear tailgate which was axed this time around. The stereo here sounds a bit tinny at times, but it should do the job nicely for most folks.
Land Cruiser embraces the hybrid revolution
Toyota has made it clear that it sees hybrids as the future of long-term green motoring and that means even the Land Cruiser has to conform with this new reality with our tester being powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that’s paired with a hybrid system to produce 326 horsepower and 426 lb-ft of torque. While some will miss the displacement and rugged soundtrack provided by the old V8, the four-cylinder is more than enough for most buyers with our tester doing a good job of remaining composed out on the road. Toyota added the hybrid system to improve fuel economy and while it’s an improvement over the outgoing model, the boxy shape makes sure the Land Cruiser is far from a Prius with the EPA saying the Land Cruiser is capable of achieving 22/25 mpg in city/freeway driving with our numbers being slightly lower than that at 18 to 19 mpg in real-world driving. An eight-speed automatic is the lone transmission with a full-time AWD system helping the Land Cruiser stay confident out on the trail.
The Land Cruiser is a trail-built machine and that’s evident in its handling with the steering being far too light for most urban driving though this changes when you give the SUV the opportunity to go through the muck on a formal trail which we did at a MAMA Rally event last year in a separate Land Cruiser. The hybrid engine has a good amount of low-end torque which is great for freeway passing and the turbo also does a good job regulating boost. Braking in our tester is strong with the pedal doing a good job delivering good bite and feedback.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the Toyota Land Cruiser reflects its simplified trim ladder with a base 1958 model starting at $56,700. Our tester arrived with a light sprinkling of options which caused the final sticker to ring in at just under $60,000. Buyers that move up to the better equipped “Land Cruiser” trim will be greeted with a base price of $61,470 and an optional $4,600 Premium package that adds goodies like a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, wireless phone charging, and more.
This pricing and the premium package in particular shines a light on a statement we mentioned earlier about pricing and why the 1958 model will be a better fit for most buyers since we feel the Premium Package and the “Land Cruiser” model loses sight of what’s really important in the Land Cruiser which is capability and a simplified personality. This simple formula allows the SUV to fully embrace its unique personality and put its trail-ready capability on full display.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.