True to its roots, the new Land Cruiser maintains the virtues that have made it a legendary automobile for more than 70 years. Toyota has once again designed a reliable and resistant all-terrain vehicle to go anywhere, a car designed to withstand the harshest conditions with a design inspired by the model’s historical legacy.
We do not know if this type of automobile still has a long way to go, in a context that is very prone to limiting and prohibiting, especially in Europe. But we do not hesitate to describe Toyota’s decision as correct in recovering a concept highly valued by fans of the 4×4 universe.
On August 1, 1951, Toyota launched the BJ model and shortly after demonstrated its power and capability by becoming the first vehicle to complete the ascent of Mount Fuji. Since then, Toyota’s mission for the Land Cruiser has been to offer customers a vehicle that gets them to their destination safely, even in the harshest environments.
The diverse experiences of customers around the world have been invaluable in the evolution of the Land Cruiser in terms of its essential qualities of reliability, durability and ability to cope with the harshest conditions. And it is not surprising that its established reputation around the world has made it one of the brand’s best-selling models, with 11.3 million sales to date, in more than 170 countries and regions.
With the new Land Cruiser 250, Toyota returns to its origins and highlights the vehicle’s design, which fuses the legacy of the Land Cruiser with modernity. Its rugged styling projects reliability, a timeless image, and the kind of functional solidity identified with the best professional tools.
“This is not a simple tribute. It interprets these elements in a modern design that evokes the essence of the Land Cruiser,” says Toyota Chief Designer Yoshito Watanabe.
The classic silhouette of the Land Cruiser is reminiscent of the line of the first models of the 40, 60 and 70 series, with a horizontal axis, an elongated hood, a vertical windshield and a short front overhang.
The proportions are also faithful to the design legacy of the Land Cruiser, with a box-shaped cabin located behind the vertical axis of the vehicle, to gain interior space and comfort. The length of the vehicle is 4.92 meters, with 1.98 meters wide and 1.93 meters high. For its part, the distance between axles is 2.85 meters.
In addition to its retro design, the Land Cruiser arrives in Europe, for now, with a single diesel engine. It is the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, with 2,755 cc, direct injection, four cylinders in line and 204 HP at 3,000 rpm. It is paired with a new eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. And with a maximum torque of 500 Nm generated between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm, it has the strength to tow loads of up to 3,500 kg.
This new generation, called 250, uses the GA-F platform, with a body on a chassis (with side members and cross members) of superior rigidity. Likewise, Toyota has revised the suspension to increase wheel articulation and improve off-road qualities. And for off-road driving, Toyota has added two elements to the Land Cruiser. One is the Multi-Terrain Monitor to see what is under the front of the vehicle.
The other element is the Multi-Terrain Selector, a system that adjusts the operation of various components of the car such as engine response, traction control or steering. All depending on what the driver intends and the conditions of the terrain. It also has crawl control (CRAWL) and central and rear differential lock.
In 2025, Toyota will launch a hybrid version of the Land Cruiser, combining the 2.8-liter diesel engine with a 48V electric motor-generator, a 48V battery, and a stop-start system. The result will be smoother and quieter operation, yet greater response, without losing its ability to withstand the most adverse conditions. And it will carry the ECO environmental label.
By returning to the model’s origins, Toyota has ensured that the vehicle has the fundamental strength built into it to live up to its prestige, rather than resorting to sophisticated technologies. And, beyond its off-road capability, this is a vehicle based on a simple and comfortable concept to use in the daily life of any family. To achieve this, it has good visibility, an easy-to-use gear change and an agile response that is faithful to the driver’s intentions.
Likewise, the new Land Cruiser is the first model in the family to mount an EPS (Electric Power Steering) electric power steering system. And this electrically assisted steering has allowed Toyota to install safety systems such as lane keeping.
On the other hand, DAC (Downhill Assist Control) can be used to automatically apply a stable braking force without locking the wheels, maintaining a low vehicle speed when going down steep slopes. The system has been developed to be used as cruise control at speeds between 4 and 30 km/h in the H4 and L4 (reduction) ranges of the gearbox.
The new model arrives in September with an edition of 500 units with a price of 76,450 euros. In addition, Toyota markets the First Edition launch series (85,950 euros), with a more retro style if possible, with circular headlights and two-tone paint, but there are very few units available.