2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Evaluate & Check Drive : Automotive Addicts
Toyota is not any stranger to creating automobiles which can be versatile in being dependable road-going transportation and being able to go off-roading with out compromise. The Land Cruiser, lengthy identified for being one of many nice multipurpose SUVs that championed a devoted following for many years, has returned in a distinct type that, regardless that it’s smaller than earlier than, nonetheless brings off-roading high quality combined with being a formidable SUV.
Efficiency and Driving Character
The heritage of Toyota is alive and properly within the newest Land Cruiser, which was absolutely redesigned for the 2024 mannequin yr. In its smaller measurement, there’s nonetheless quite a bit to understand in what you count on in a Toyota, beginning with the intelligent strategy of using a hybrid powertrain for the brand new Land Cruiser. Such a hybrid powertrain, one thing that Toyota has mastered for a lot of a long time, finds a house within the Land Cruiser as a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine assisted by two electrical motors to provide collectively a complete of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. That energy is directed by way of an 8-speed computerized transmission.
All Land Cruisers get full-time all-wheel-drive, and for these seeking to go off-road, there’s the good thing about having a middle locking differential in addition to a rear locking diff. In Toyota trend, there are many drive modes for off-roading adventures the place you’ve got a low-range gearing, crawl-control system, and hill-descent management. One of many limiting components right here is the tires, the place Toyota doesn’t essentially provide an off-roading trim nor off-roading tires to couple with the outstanding and succesful drivetrain. I’d think about there are many aftermarket avenues to find to outfit a brand new Land Cruiser with hardcore off-roading add-ons and tires, along with Toyota doubtlessly providing such in future choice packages. For now, there are simply two trim ranges, that are distinctive of their front-end design, with the bottom Land Cruiser 1958 trim having the 2 outstanding circle LED headlights, whereas my up-leveled Land Cruiser check automobile will get an oblong setup and distinctive Inflexible Industries color-selectable (white or yellow) LED fog lights.
On the highway, the Land Cruiser feels simply because it appears to be like, with a good trip high quality from fixed-rate dampers that’s hardly upset till you begin to push it laborious into turns, as you’ll be able to solely think about. Right here, doing such shortly will get you understeer, and the steadiness management steps in surprisingly softly to maintain issues from being abruptly unsettled. Basically, the physique roll may be regarding for some, as there’s loads of it together with some questionable physique dive upon heavy braking, which tends to increase the braking distance. Nonetheless, the hybrid system, taking from the lengthy lineage of hybrid know-how, proves to be principally seamless in its operation and driving capacity. There are not any noticeable hiccups, however there are seldom delays in energy added from the electrical motors to the turbocharged gasoline engine firing up. In any other case, it simply works and works to the purpose of giving the Land Cruise ample torque and infrequently wanting extra energy. Whereas the Land Cruiser borrows the same drivetrain setup from the brand new Tacoma, there’s one thing particular about how the Land Cruiser feels extra substantial in its strategy to efficiency from the powertrain. Zero to 60 mph takes place in about 7.7 seconds. In the event you’re evaluating it in any respect to the twin-turbo V6-powered Lexus GX 550 chassis-mate of the Land Cruiser, there’s much more oomph to be discovered within the Lexus, however there’s nonetheless an honest get-up-and-go feeling to the Land Cruiser that doesn’t take away a lot for its off-roading functionality. Towing is rated at 6,000 kilos.
Gasoline Financial system
Gasoline financial system may be prolonged barely past the EPA estimates of twenty-two mpg metropolis, 25 mpg freeway, and 23 mpg mixed. Use of the hybrid system to crawl round city can grant you higher figures, however count on them to just about match the constant EPA figures in the actual world with out giving your driving fashion a lot thought. The smaller 17.9-gallon gasoline tank filled with required premium unleaded will provide you with a freeway cruising vary of about 447 miles.
Inside and Expertise
Toyota has accomplished properly with its newest iteration of tech and infotainment tools. With a strong footing of their latest system, the Land Cruiser makes use of a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a lot bigger than the 8-inch commonplace setup within the base Land Cruiser 1958 trim. Whereas each setups make the most of the identical software program integration, there’s much more to understand within the bigger display screen and within the many bodily buttons and toggles for the three-zone computerized local weather management. I additionally welcome the mixing of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, together with having a wi-fi smartphone charging pad.
The inside of the brand new Land Cruiser, identical to its new smaller measurement, performs down from the earlier technology as a extra fundamental house. That’s to not say the inside is overly low-cost, it’s simply not as plush as we discovered within the outgoing generations, the place issues had been quite a bit nearer to its Lexus counterpart. There are nonetheless a number of smooth contact surfaces and nearly distinction from the dashboard to the seats so as to add some visible attraction however nothing to the extent of being luxurious.
The seating areas are comfortable and ultimate for such a kind of car. Nonetheless, identical to the brand new Lexus GX 550 I reviewed a few weeks in the past, the entrance seating areas have a fairly slender tunnel in your legs, and people who could also be as tall as I’m at 6-feet or extra could discover their legs rubbing into the perimeters of the seating space. The rear seats present an excellent quantity of house and first rate headroom, profiting from the tall stature of the Land Cruiser. The cargo house is nice and on par with rivals, however it’s essential to take care of a ground rise over the hybrid battery that considerably impedes the power to raise cargo into the house. Furthermore, folding the again seats doesn’t present a very flat loading ground.
Security
Toyota sticks with the anticipated custom of equipping a number of energetic security options as a part of the most recent Toyota Security Sense 3.0 suite, which bundles up lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitor, ahead collision warning/emergency braking, entrance/rear cross-path detection/rear emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, and computerized high-beam headlights. One characteristic I do take pleasure in usually sufficient is Toyota’s 360-degree digicam system that provides you a digital look of what’s below the automobile, which proves useful for gradual off-roading adventures. Furthermore, I welcome the digital rearview mirror, which shows a digicam feed of the rear instead of the standard view out again from your rearview mirror – although, the picture is usually a direct illustration of what you see out again window and will take time for some to get used to the depth notion of the mirror show.
Pricing
Toyota isn’t shy about proving its value, and it exhibits in most of the pricing buildings of late in remaining on par with rivals. The brand new Land Cruiser 1958 trim begins at $57,200 earlier than any charges or choices. Transferring to the highest Land Cruiser trim, the worth begins at $63,275. Including on optionally available 20-inch alloy wheels, a feature-packed Premium Package deal, a two-tone roof, a liftgate mild, and a processing and dealing with charge of $1,450, the worth of my check automobile involves $70,285.
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser
Beginning Worth: $63,275 / as-tested $70,285
Car Sort: front-engine, front-motor, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon/SUV, HybridPowertrain
Engine: Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.4L inline-4 + permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor; 0.9-kWh air-cooled NiMH battery
Horsepower: 326 hp (mixed)
Torque: 465 lb-ft (mixed)
Transmission: 8-speed computerizedGasoline Financial system & Vary
EPA Gasoline Financial system: 23 mpg mixed / 22 mpg metropolis / 25 mpg freeway
Gasoline Tank Capability: 17.9 gallons
Vary (Metropolis/Freeway): — / 447 miles
Gasoline Sort: Premium UnleadedBrakes
Brake Sort: 4-wheel vented disc
Entrance Brakes: 13.4 in vented discs
Rear Brakes: 12.3 in vented discsExterior Dimensions
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Size: 196.5 in
Width: 78.0 in
Top: 76.2 in
Seating Capability: 5 passengersCargo & Weight
Trunk Area: 38.0 cu ft behind second row (82.0 cu ft max)
Curb Weight: 5,639 lbs.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice within the automotive media world for over 20 years. With 20+ years of hands-on expertise protecting the business, Malcolm has constructed a fame for delivering trustworthy evaluations, sharp insights, and in-depth protection of the whole lot from new automotive debuts to high-performance check drives. Passionate in regards to the evolving automotive tradition and staying forward of the curve, Malcolm continues to guide Automotive Addicts as a go-to vacation spot for fans and business insiders alike.
