Toyota Land Cruiser Prado/250 Series Discussion

ssun30

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I'm glad Kai is calling them out. The LC250 feels like a very low effort product compared to the GX and even NA market 4Runner. They are simply selling the badge for a big price premium.

If you want the best stock Toyota offroad SUV, buy a GX550 OT. The GX vs. LC250 comparison is what most Lexus/Toyota pairs should be. But unfortunately we are getting the opposite where the Toyota variant is the one getting more effort.
 

NomadDan

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The product overlap between the upper 4Runner trims and LC250 doesn’t make any sense to me. For $65k, I’d rather have a LC250 over an upper spec 4Runner, but if I’m going to pay $65k for a LC250, I might as well by the GX550.

I think Toyota needs to add the V35A as an option to the LC250. The GX could then get the 389hp V35A (maybe even the 420hp tune), while the LX retains the hybrid max option. That gives us a nice progression of engine output from the 4Runner to the LX. The LC250 needs to offer the pano roof as well. Lowering the price on the 4Runner would help too. A $65k 4Runner is ridiculous.

This all goes back to what the Land Cruiser should’ve been: A FJ Cruiser replacement/Bronco competitor.
 

ssun30

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The product overlap between the upper 4Runner trims and LC250 doesn’t make any sense to me. For $65k, I’d rather have a LC250 over an upper spec 4Runner, but if I’m going to pay $65k for a LC250, I might as well by the GX550.

I think Toyota needs to add the V35A as an option to the LC250. The GX could then get the 389hp V35A (maybe even the 420hp tune), while the LX retains the hybrid max option. That gives us a nice progression of engine output from the 4Runner to the LX. The LC250 needs to offer the pano roof as well. Lowering the price on the 4Runner would help too. A $65k 4Runner is ridiculous.

This all goes back to what the Land Cruiser should’ve been: A FJ Cruiser replacement/Bronco competitor.
The 4Runner is the FJ replacement/Bronco competitor. The whole purpose of the LC250 in US market is to milk every dime out of this trademark. That's why you see all those corner cutting. Profit maximization is the only goal for this product.
 

Levi

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Patent of LC250 pickup:

843caaa8-af7b-5fe4-ba3e-22c9bff50000




…in fact it is Chery….
 

Motor

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The Hybrid 48V system uses the Land Cruiser’s established 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and introduces three principal new components: an electric motor-generator, which replaces the conventional alternator; a 48V lithium-ion battery; and a DC-DC converter which controls the energy flow battery and motor.

The system in no way compromises the Land Cruiser’s ability to operate in extreme conditions and rough terrain. For example, the motor-generator has been positioned high on the engine block so that the vehicle can still wade at low speed through water up to 700 mm deep.
 

ssun30

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They use a useless 4.3Ah battery that provides a few seconds of power at most and maybe a few minutes of engine-off idling. They claim it's a lightweight battery but the energy density is only 27Wh/kg, lower than even many lead acid batteries and far lower than NiMH batteries. What's the point of using Li-ion if they can't even take advantage of Li-ion's energy density?
 

NomadDan

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2026 Land Cruiser is up on the Toyota website. SDM is once again standard on the LC LC trim. 2024 it was standard, 2025 had it as an option, and now standard on 2026 models.