Here’s the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser pictured in its natural habitat - and happy as a pig in the proverbial.
Having been dropped from UK markets in 2021, the Land Cruiser is making a triumphant comeback with this, a ‘strong, purposeful’ rejuvenation of the Japanese firm’s legendary SUV.
Full details of UK spec and pricing are due to be announced shortly and it’ll go toe-to-toe with the Land Rover Defender, as well as the Jeep Wrangler.
Until then, Toyota has shared new snaps of its mud runner doing what it does best - launching head-first into some proper off-roading.
The look of the new Land Cruiser speaks for itself, being much boxier than the more curvaceous model of old.
Toyota says the design is a ‘fusion of heritage and modernity’, with a style that harks back to the original Land Cruiser that first appeared 40 years ago.
As before you’ll be able to lease the Toyota Land Cruiser with either five or seven seats.
The interior has been built with functionality and durability in mind, with physical toggles and switches preferred over haptic touch buttons and you’ll also find knee pads and padded door shoulders for when the going gets really tough.
There are still modern creature comforts, though, including a 9-inch digital instrument display and high-def infotainment touchscreen, that measures at least 8 inches, and which comes with a ‘Hey Toyota’ voice assistant.
Powering the new Land Cruiser is a 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine with power of 201 bhp and 500 Nm of torque. You can expect it to tow loads of up to 3,500kg.
Eight-speed automatic transmission is standard fit and which Toyota says has been engineered to offer a ‘smooth acceleration feel’, whether you’re on or off road.
A mild-hybrid Land Cruiser will also arrive in 2025, complete with a 48V electric motor-generator, a compact 48V lithium-ion battery and a stop-start system for improved fuel economy and added power.
One of the Land Cruiser’s big selling points is its permanent all-wheel drive system. There’s a central Torsen differential as standard and a rear diff as an option.
The transfer unit has also been updated for improved durability while a new toggle switch for selecting the H4 or L4 ranges, and new diff lock switches, are located on the centre console, next to the shift lever.
As part of the Cruiser’s development, Toyota pointed it at the ‘daunting’ off-road test track at the Shibetsu proving ground in Japan.
A Toyota spokesperson tells us: “The course’s design includes slopes, muddy tracks, rocky roads and mogul landscapes, each placing different demands on the vehicle. Using this facility not only helped confirm and enhance the new Land Cruiser’s off-road performance, ‘one step above’ the current model, it also helped refine its suitability for everyday use and its functionality.”
The old hydraulic power steering system has been jettisoned for a new electric power steering system (EPS) instead, which is said to reduce the amount of ‘kickback’ that you might get when riding over really rough surfaces while providing ‘more direct steering and easier manoeuvrability at all speeds’.
The Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) adjusts the vehicle’s steering, drive force and hydraulic brake control depending on different off-road driving scenarios (think mud, sand, snow and boulders).
There’s also a full suite of driver safety and assistance features, including Intersection Collision Avoidance Support, Acceleration Suppression, which reacts to sudden use of the throttle in low-speed driving, and Emergency Steering Assist.
We’ll bring you leasing prices as and when they arrive.
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