The Land Cruiser will be returning to its utilitarian roots.
Toyota recently confirmed the return of the Land Cruiser to America, and the latest rumors suggest that it will be a retro-styled hardcore off-roader based on the Lexus GX.
Shortly after the GX debuted, rumors started circulating that it might be an easy way for Toyota to bring the Land Cruiser name back to the USA. We thought it was highly unlikely, as Toyota already sells several TNGA-F-based SUVs, covering every possible market segment.
According to Australia's Drive, there is one segment we missed. The publication talked to sources inside Toyota, who said the US would get a Land Cruiser Prado with design cues from earlier LC models.
Like the Jeep Wrangler, the Land Cruiser started life as a military vehicle, later adapted to civilian use. Toyota can tap into the design of the J40, J70, and J80. After the J80 from the 1990s, the design became generic SUV. Toyota will most likely use styling cues inspired by the J70, which is still sold to this day. Perhaps Toyota already teased the design with the FJ EV?
The sources stated that this model would be sold in low numbers and won't be pitched as a high-end luxury vehicle. Basically, the Land Cruiser is returning to its utilitarian roots. The Land Cruiser range split in two in the mid-1980s to satisfy the needs of two customer bases. You can still see the effect of said split these days with the existence of the Land Cruiser 300 and Land Cruiser 70.
While Toyota previously said the 4Runner wouldn't target the Bronco and Wrangler segment, maybe it was preparing for this new Land Cruiser instead.
The design won't just be for show. Per Drive, the upcoming Land Cruiser will be sold in two grades, with the top-spec trim being a TRD Pro, correlating with the all-new Tacoma, which also launched with two high-end trims. The TRD Pro is equipped for hardcore off-roading straight from the factory, while the Trailhunter is explicitly aimed at the overlanding crowd. It would be in Toyota's best interest to introduce any off-road biased model in these exact trims.
Engine-wise, Land Cruiser fans might not be impressed. The report suggests the Land Cruiser will use Toyota's turbocharged 2.4-liter four-pot i-Force Max hybrid producing 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The non-hybrid version of this engine can also be mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which off-roaders will likely appreciate.
The main reason why this might be the powertrain of choice is cost. If this retro-styled Land Cruiser is going downmarket, Toyota needs to save cash somewhere.
All of this might sound familiar because Toyota tried it once before with the FJ Cruiser, which shared various components with the 120 Series Land Cruiser Prado. The FJ was ahead of its time. Sales were strong initially, with over 50,000 units sold in 2006, but dipped to an all-time low of roughly 12,000 units during the Great Recession. The FJ Cruiser never really recovered after that, and Toyota pulled the plug nine years ago.
The FJ Cruiser soldiered on until earlier this year in other parts of the world, and it's actually a highly sought-after commodity in the USA these days.
This tactic might work as the Land Cruiser will effectively be a standalone model competing with the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
Still, our original question remains. Will Land Cruiser loyalists accept this new take on their beloved brand?
Keyword: Toyota Land Cruiser Returning As Retro-Styled Wrangler And Bronco Rival