The new car market has shifted slightly upmarket, and new car buyers tend to have slightly more refined, not to mention larger, tastes. Likely, that's why the fastest-selling new car in the US is currently the Toyota Land Cruiser. According to numerous sources, the fabled nameplate has taken the US new car market by storm, and dealers are struggling to keep up with demand. Why? And, most importantly, why the Land Cruiser? Dealers Can't Keep Up Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetThe issue of current short supply is a two-pronged problem, with the main upset being simply an overwhelming amount of customer demand. As it stands now, the Land Cruiser isn't nearly as mass-market as, say, the RAV4. Toyota simply doesn't make as many of them, with rough annual production estimations sitting around 30,000 to 45,000 units. To put the issue of short supply into perspective, Toyota managed to sell about 43,946 examples here in the States, meaning sales virtually matched the high-end of estimated production output.Carbuzz With a near-one-to-one sales to production ratio, it's no wonder that dealers can't even keep them on their lots long. According to CarEdge.com, the average brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser spends just nine days on dealership lots. For contrast, the average amount of time the average new car spends on the lot before it's sold is anywhere between 50 and 60 days. That means the Land Cruiser is selling 82 to 85 percent faster than average, no doubt a major strain on the supply chain.!!!MODEL TAG!!! Listing Carousel Land Cruiser/cars/toyota/land-cruiser/The other issue facing the Land Cruiser's fast-selling nature is material shortages. At press time, the Land Cruiser's production is severely hampered due to things like aluminum and resin shortages. Considering the Land Cruiser sports a mostly-aluminum body and an aluminum-dominated drivetrain, not having enough raw material is a major setback. In addition, the scourge of semiconductor chip shortages still plagues certain aspects of the automotive industry, the Land Cruiser's production included.Carbuzz It's worth noting that, most of the time, Land Cruisers arrive on dealer lots already sold. Many customers will put down a deposit on a Land Cruiser that's in transit to the destination dealer. Once it arrives, it's already sold. The average wait time for a new Land Cruiser in the US currently sits between three and nine months. Why Do People Want One So Badly? Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet We can boil down the reason behind the Land Cruiser's extreme popularity to a few key points, the first of which is price. Historically, Land Cruisers were Toyota products with Lexus prices, meaning they were priced out of many folks' range. However, with this newest J250 Series, its pricing has been drastically reduced. A base 2026 model-year iteration starts at about $57,200 before destination fees or other taxes are factored in. For contrast, a 2021 J200 Series model cost $85,655 before any fees. So, the new iteration is five years newer, and manages to cost over $28,000 less than the previous-gen version.Not only is the new Land Cruiser far more accessible, it also showcases Toyota's near-peerless reputation for producing well-built vehicles. It's built on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, which is shared with models like the Toyota Tundra and the Lexus LX. Because it takes advantage of a purpose-built pickup truck frame, it's chunky. In other words, off-road obstacles like ruts and large rocks are easily dealt with.Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet Of course, you also have to credit its looks to its popularity. It's been designed to hearken back to the old days, when the Land Cruiser was an extremely simple-looking — and simply-made — piece of equipment. However, at the same time, Toyota's designers have managed to combine the old-school look with a lot of new-school touches without it looking too much like one or the other. The result is a vehicle that manages to look distinctive, and broadly appealing. Under The Hood ToyotaAnother aspect of the Land Cruiser's popularity lies with its engine. It's a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with a hybrid system. The engine itself carries the designation "T24A-FTS i-FORCE MAX" and belongs to Toyota's Dynamic Force Engine family. The engine has proven itself to be quite reliable, as we've reported, and is also known for its diverse range of applications, including the Land Cruiser, the Tacoma pickup, and the Crown.Backing the formidable powerplant is an eight-speed automatic transmission. Sandwiched between the gearbox and the 2.4-liter engine is an electric motor, which acts as a sort of torque converter, helping to provide extra power. The Land Cruiser's suspension is partially independent, as the front end is supported by a double-wishbone setup. The rear end takes advantage of a solid axle, a sturdy and simple configuration. The Land Cruiser utilizes a body-on-frame chassis.*Specs courtesy of Toyota & Car and Driver testingA Strong Nameplate Outside The USWhile most consumers have heard of the Toyota Land Cruiser, considering it's one of the most venerable off-roaders ever conceived, it hasn't exactly been a sales phenomenon in the US. The model has been sold here virtually since its inception in 1958, with one brief hiatus spanning the years between 2021 and 2024. However, throughout the vast majority of time it's been offered here in the States, the Land Cruiser was never much of a smash-hit regarding sales figures. Although, it did experience a hot streak between 1961 and 1965, during which time the Land Cruiser FJ40 model was Toyota's best-selling vehicle in the US.However, outside the confines of the States, the Land Cruiser nameplate carries much more weight. For example, Australia is frequently cited as the strongest market for the big Toyota, and has been for decades. Toyota even held its celebration for producing the 10 millionth Land Cruiser in the Land Down Under. The Middle Eastern and African markets have also been consistently strong, along with Russia, although sales there have been halted due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Toyota's Iconic Off-Roader Conquers The US Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetIt's been over 60 years since the Land Cruiser has made such a gigantic impact on the American automotive market. However, it's not all that surprising when you think of why. It's tough, and its old-school, new-school-blended appearance makes it look great — considerably better than most other new SUVs on the market, in this author's opinion. Not to mention, its significant price reduction is a sure-fire way to draw buyers into showrooms, especially since the Land Cruiser name carries considerable weight with many consumers.However, it's likely that within the next decade or so, the Land Cruiser will go from a niche enthusiast favorite to a household name. Of course, that depends on it sticking to its current formula. Consistently strong sales are a reliable indicator of a standout product, and Toyota should recognize it has one here.
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