Toyota Land Cruiser Megathread (300, 250, Prado, etc)
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A modern icon true to its roots: the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser
All-new Land Cruiser 250 delivers the model’s traditional strengths of quality, durability and reliabilityEngineered to take the toughest conditions in its stride – the vehicle that will take you anywhere and everywhere, and bring you back, safe and soundStrong, purposeful design that draws on...
Toyota Land Cruiser review | Autocar
Fabled off-roader is rejuvenated with a cool retro design and mechanical updates targeting better on-road manners
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Tragic Bronson
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2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Preview: Pricing, fuel economy and everything else we know - Autoblog
Everything we know about the all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, including its price, fuel economy, hybrid power specs and more.
www.autoblog.com
Toyota Land Cruiser (2024) review: better in every way
Toyota's Land Cruiser 4x4 is back for a new generation, bringing major advancements in terms of design, quality and driving ability. CAR tries it in prototype form
www.carmagazine.co.uk
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review: Brief taste shows promise, but 1958 questionable - Autoblog
Our mostly off-road first drive reveals a well-executed off-roader with cool style and a high-quality interior. Well, not so much the interior in the 1958.
www.autoblog.com
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser: Hybrid power and advanced tech usher in off-road hero’s new era
One of Toyota’s proudest model names returns to compete with off-roaders like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Land Rover Defender 110.
www.freep.com
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Is The Revival Of An Off-Road Icon
For its relaunch, Toyota has made sure the Land Cruiser is more high-quality adventurer than luxury SUV
jalopnik.com
Test Driving The All-New 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
The new Land Cruiser is, thankfully, all about dirt and dust, and that’s what we subjected it to during our “non-paved” road test.
www.forbes.com
Review: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser pivots to retro charm
Toyota’s former SUV leader gives up talent, but hangs on to throwback charm.
5 New Toyota Land Cruiser Features To Be Excited About - SlashGear
Thought to be discontinued, the Toyota Land Cruiser is back in a new hybrid style with a variety of features and perks that will thrill owners.
www.slashgear.com
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review: Winning On and Off Road
Toyota fully redesigned the Land Cruiser for 2024. This rugged SUV is still a champ off-road, while providing better comfort when the going isn't so tough.
www.edmunds.com
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review: Off-Road Cheat Code
The latest Toyota Land Cruiser is a little smaller and a little cheaper than before, but it's every bit as capable on the trail.
https://www.cars.com/amp/articles/2024-toyota-land-cruiser-review-readjust-your-expectations-481195/
The New Toyota Land Cruiser Doesn't Feel As Special Anymore. Here's Why I Still Want One - The Autopian
The Toyota Land Cruiser has for the longest time been a one-of-a kind off-roader unlike anything else in the Toyota Portfolio. For decades, it has offered a bank vault-like cabin filled with luxury, all atop a chassis designed to withstand anything short of a direct hit from a nuclear bomb. The...
www.theautopian.com
First Drive: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Is One for the Die-Hards - Hagerty Media
The Toyota Land Cruiser is back. But how does the new model, vastly different from the last one, stack up in this competitive landscape?
www.hagerty.com
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser's Retro Design Stuns From Every Angle
I never thought I'd describe a boxy design as "luscious," but here we are
jalopnik.com
The new Toyota Land Cruiser has retro box styling and modern off-road tech
The Land Cruiser comes with yesterday's looks and the brand's continuing unstoppable capability
www.newsweek.com
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser First Drive Review: Reborn Retro Off-Roader
The new Land Cruiser is smaller, more efficient, and more affordable than the basically-a-Lexus model we said goodbye to in 2020.That's all good, but with this downsizing, Toyota's icon now sits much closer to the 4Runner than ever before, which will also see a whole new generation later this...
www.autoguide.com
2024 Land Cruiser: It’s Back, As A Hybrid
Toyota is reintroducing Land Cruiser for ’24 as a hybrid-only premium SUV for on-road and off-road.
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Still worked after that 🤣 smashed into the ground again immediately after that jump too
Gecko
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Many of these reviews mention power being "adequate" or "enough" or even a little underwhelming.
I think all of the turbocharged Dynamic Force powerplants have gotten similar feedback, except for maybe the RX/TX 500h with 366hp. I was hoping the truck/SUV tune of the 2.4T + hybrid was going to be more powerful or exciting. GX 550h is likely another 500-600lbs heavier than the Land Cruiser, so this powerplant is going to be even slower in the Lexus.
My guess is that Toyota went more conservative on tuning and power delivery for the DF family because they are a major leap forward in technology and most now incorporate turbocharging, so understressing them would yield better long term predicted reliability. While I know reliability is probably #1 for most Toyota/Lexus buyers, as an enthusiast, I think the DF family has been underwhelming and disappointing.
I think all of the turbocharged Dynamic Force powerplants have gotten similar feedback, except for maybe the RX/TX 500h with 366hp. I was hoping the truck/SUV tune of the 2.4T + hybrid was going to be more powerful or exciting. GX 550h is likely another 500-600lbs heavier than the Land Cruiser, so this powerplant is going to be even slower in the Lexus.
My guess is that Toyota went more conservative on tuning and power delivery for the DF family because they are a major leap forward in technology and most now incorporate turbocharging, so understressing them would yield better long term predicted reliability. While I know reliability is probably #1 for most Toyota/Lexus buyers, as an enthusiast, I think the DF family has been underwhelming and disappointing.
Same.
I'm a little disappointed as well, even though I wouldn't consider that powerplant if I was shopping for a 4Runner or GX. I'd take the non-hybrid versions with lower load floors, less curb weight, and less cost.
qtb007
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It is an issue of misplaced expectations. They see that 465lb-ft of torque and assume that it means the vehicles will be fast. Torque is an awful indicator of performance. Power is all that matters. The Land Cruiser is a 5200lb+ vehicle that makes 326hp. It likely performs exactly as the power:weight ratio indicates it would.
Torque is great for driveability. It feels strong and immediate in “normal” driving. Versus needing to downshift all the time, a little throttle can apply that torque increase in the same gear. Also great for not needing to be in 3rd gear when pulling a normal hill on the highway.
Torque is great for driveability. It feels strong and immediate in “normal” driving. Versus needing to downshift all the time, a little throttle can apply that torque increase in the same gear. Also great for not needing to be in 3rd gear when pulling a normal hill on the highway.
Gecko
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I don't think I've ever heard someone say torque is an awful indicator of performance with trucks and utility vehicles... it is the opposite. 465lb-ft with a turbo and batteries should be a pretty serious kick in the ass off the line or when passing, especially with 8 gears. I wouldn't be looking for a Land Cruiser, or anything similar, to deliver top end (horse)power like a performance car, and 326hp is still very healthy.
5k lbs is the average weight of most midsize SUVs and CUVs these days, and this powertrain makes more torque than all of them, and comparable horsepower, with the added benefit of on-demand power from batteries.
Since most of these reviews were off-road, I look forward to reading more on-road impressions and hope there are stronger marks for the powertrain. It's also likely that the media rounds were done with pre-production units and production Land Cruisers will have a different software update that might remedy some of this... and at the very least, I expect Toyota to iterate on the powertrain calibration going forward.
5k lbs is the average weight of most midsize SUVs and CUVs these days, and this powertrain makes more torque than all of them, and comparable horsepower, with the added benefit of on-demand power from batteries.
Since most of these reviews were off-road, I look forward to reading more on-road impressions and hope there are stronger marks for the powertrain. It's also likely that the media rounds were done with pre-production units and production Land Cruisers will have a different software update that might remedy some of this... and at the very least, I expect Toyota to iterate on the powertrain calibration going forward.
qtb007
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@Gecko GX460 versus 4Runner is a great illustration between torque and power.
All out performance wise, they have basically the same power to weight ratio, similar gear ratios, same platform, etc and return basically the same performance metrics. GX is a little faster, but that would be expected due to it having a little better weight : power ratio.
Now think about how each one of them drive on a day to day basis. The V8 of the GX feels a lot more effortless in its normal driving than a 4Runner. That's the difference between power and torque. Torque makes vehicles feel quick and drive nice... power makes them fast.
Another easy test... when you bury the throttle in any multispeed transmission vehicle, does the transmission put the engine speed at peak torque RPM or peak power RPM?
| Vehicle | 4Runner Limited (V6) | GX460 |
| Weight | 4805 | 5126 |
| Power | 270 | 301 |
| Weight : Power (lower is better) | 17.8 | 17.0 |
| Torque | 278 | 329 |
| Weight : Torque (lower is better) | 17.3 | 15.5 |
| 0-60 | mid 7 | low 7 |
| 1/4 mi | upper 15 | mid 15 |
All out performance wise, they have basically the same power to weight ratio, similar gear ratios, same platform, etc and return basically the same performance metrics. GX is a little faster, but that would be expected due to it having a little better weight : power ratio.
Now think about how each one of them drive on a day to day basis. The V8 of the GX feels a lot more effortless in its normal driving than a 4Runner. That's the difference between power and torque. Torque makes vehicles feel quick and drive nice... power makes them fast.
Another easy test... when you bury the throttle in any multispeed transmission vehicle, does the transmission put the engine speed at peak torque RPM or peak power RPM?
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The iForce Max hybrids should be treated like diesels instead of high performance gasoline engines. The 2.4L iForce Max has 630N.m of torque but only at 1700rpm and falls off after that. At 2000rpm it's down to 600N.m and at 3000rpm it's "only" 545N.m (mind you, that's still more than the 5.7L V8 in the LC200). What's more important than peak torque figure is the torque curve, but it's much harder to advertise than a single number. Anyone who has driven a LC200 V8 diesel knows it's way slower than the V8 gasoline models (even the 4.6), but what it can do is climbing obstacles almost at idle, the gasoline models cannot.
Another problem with the iForce Max hybrids is the ancient NiMH battery tech they use. The 288V 6.5Ah NiMH pack has been in use since 2008 on the LS600h, and even compared to that 2008 pack it's detuned from 46kW to 36kW. (Of course they optimized the packaging a bit, but the battery cells have not evolved since then). It has barely enough usable charge to deliver full hybrid boost for a minute. So Toyota is going maximum conservative with tuning. And of course this very little available energy is also why iForce Max hybrids have consistently failed to deliver promised fuel efficiency gains, because in real life it is very likely to run out of charge after the driver does a few overtakes or climb a long gradient. With low SOC the whole hybrid system is essentially dead weight on a P2 parallel setup.
Since Toyota has chosen the route of very low energy density and a high C-rate and very conservative battery specifications overall, they don't have any battery optimized for truck applications, until they introduce PHEV models to them.
Another problem with the iForce Max hybrids is the ancient NiMH battery tech they use. The 288V 6.5Ah NiMH pack has been in use since 2008 on the LS600h, and even compared to that 2008 pack it's detuned from 46kW to 36kW. (Of course they optimized the packaging a bit, but the battery cells have not evolved since then). It has barely enough usable charge to deliver full hybrid boost for a minute. So Toyota is going maximum conservative with tuning. And of course this very little available energy is also why iForce Max hybrids have consistently failed to deliver promised fuel efficiency gains, because in real life it is very likely to run out of charge after the driver does a few overtakes or climb a long gradient. With low SOC the whole hybrid system is essentially dead weight on a P2 parallel setup.
Since Toyota has chosen the route of very low energy density and a high C-rate and very conservative battery specifications overall, they don't have any battery optimized for truck applications, until they introduce PHEV models to them.
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