2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Has Taco Engine, GX Looks, Still Feels Entirely Fresh or Vintage

Anyway, one thing is for sure – the much-beloved legendary nameplate is back in America after a three-year hiatus that might have felt like an eternity for diehard fans of the series. The model harks back to the Toyota 'BJ' of 1951 and is currently the Japanese carmaker's longest-running moniker still in use. And, just so there is no confusion, this 2024 Land Cruiser is not the same as the J300 Land Cruiser presented by Toyota during the summer of 2021.

Instead, as per its other Prado and 250 monikers, it has more to do with the smaller yet still full-size off-road version that has existed for decades in parallel with the main series. It's safe to say that the latter will not visit America, though, as a way to protect the J310 Lexus LX crown. On the other hand, Toyota seems keen on confusing us.

For example, depending on the region, you get vastly different powertrains – gasoline, diesel, or hybrid – with power ranging from just 163 horsepower to 326 electrified ponies. Alas, there is one constant – there is no engine greater than four cylinders, unfortunately. No worries, the North American version stands at the top of the pyramid with the i-Force Max 2.4-liter turbo four-pot also shared with the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck.

As such, while many folks would immediately compare the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser for America with the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and also the Land Rover Defender, we decided to pursue a different angle – which is better if you have to choose between the N400 Taco truck, the Land Cruiser, or its J250 Lexus GX 550 sibling?

And don't say we are comparing pickup truck apples with off-road SUV oranges here because the automotive industry has been doing that since its inception. Anyway, let us first remember some of each model's main characteristics.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma (N400) was unveiled in May 2023 as the culmination of six months of hard work from the Japanese automaker that brought us many novelties, including the 2024 Grand Highlander three-row mid-size crossover SUV. The latest iteration of the best-selling mid-size pickup truck in America featured a subtly evolved design ethos, an all-new Trailhunter trim focused on overlanding adventures, plus the new XtraCab body style.

Lots of trims made for a great choice, but for sure, the show's star was none other than the TRD Pro model when it featured the fresh 326-horsepower i-Force Max powertrain under the hood. So, from now on, there's a hybrid option for pickup truck users that don't care much about the performance-oriented Ford Ranger Raptor, for example.

Next up, in June, the 2024 Lexus GX 550 broke cover alongside the 2024 Lexus TX (the posher sibling of the 2024 Grand Highlander) and also featured an all-new Overtrail+ grade plus a singular option for what lies under the hood – a 349-horsepower 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hooked to a ten-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission and full-time 4WD.

Yep, they said goodbye to the mighty V8. Still, they catered to the off-road aficionados: up to 8,000 lbs. (3,629 kg) of towing capacity, plus approach/breakover/departure angles of 26/24/22 degrees on the Overtrail trims. Just like the new Tacoma, Lexus' new GX was also met with near-universal acclaim from both critics and fans.

Now, there's a problem – what will you choose if you want the TNGA-F body-on-frame platform and the ultra-expensive Lexus LX 600 just doesn't cut it for you? Could it be time for a switch to a mid-size pickup truck lifestyle? Or are the full-size SUV siblings too enticing? Well, that's a big conundrum, right?

Curiously, Toyota just solved part of the problem when it revealed the 2024 Land Cruiser is coming to nationwide US dealerships starting next spring with a simple lineup consisting of the Land Cruiser 1958 and Land Cruiser grades. Yep, there's also the First Edition, but that one will disappear like new-found gold nuggets because there are only 5,000 units slated for production for North American markets. So, if you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, the mid-$50k Land Cruiser 1958, with its vintage appearance and Bronco/Wrangler/Defender-styled round headlights, might do the trick.

Or, if you don't mind shelling out an additional buck, the squared LEDs of the regular Land Cruiser trim will probably fare better in a mpg comparison with the twin-turbo V6 Lexus LX. Besides, if the Land Cruiser starts around $55k, we are pretty sure the 2024 Lexus GX 550 is coming for at least $60 or even $65k. So, at least for now, I think the saner choice is a 2024 Land Cruiser, right?