Alongside the all-new 2024 Lexus GX 550, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser represents the Japanese company's offer for great off-road 4x4 SUVs in the mid-size class in North America.
After much anticipation, Lexus introduced on the US market the 349-hp twin-turbo V6 GX 550 as the ritzy alternative, and Toyota sent to dealerships the 2024 Land Cruiser to signal the return of the legendary nameplate in a more compact, mid-size format – though it's still based on the same TNGA-F body-on-frame platform as the full-size J300 Land Cruiser sold across certain international markets.
The Land Cruiser is available to buy right now from Toyota's dealerships, with MSRPs starting at around $56k, as promised. However, the choice is still rather limited because you can only select the base Land Cruiser 1958 or the flagship $75k First Edition with round headlights or the intermediate Land Cruiser grade sporting the rectangular headlight style from $62k.
That's it – nothing less, nothing more. However, one would also have to take into account that the First Edition is limited to just 5,000 units, after which there will be just two grades to choose from. In comparison, the related 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, which rides on the same TNGA-F platform and has the 326-hp i-Force Max inline-four hybrid powertrain as an option, can be had with six trim levels even before the hybrid versions arrive at dealerships.
Naturally, after Toyota completes the Land Cruiser First Edition run, it would be logical if the Japanese automaker revealed some additional trim levels in conjunction with the 2025 model year updates. Even if they don't do that, no worries; the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has us covered. More precisely, the good folks over at the AutoYa info channel on YouTube have imagined the CGI looks of the unannounced and entirely hypothetical 2025 Land Cruiser TRD Pro.
Well, this is a very comprehensive CGI presentation, indeed. The resident pixel master was busy presenting the potential TRD Pro upgrades in this unofficial design project, which include a higher ground clearance by around three inches or six to eight cm, carbon fiber elements, TRD Pro badges, TRD Pro protection elements, and suspension components, plus a few subtle treats in the cabin, as well.
There was also the traditional optional color reel, both inside and out, by the way. Meanwhile, the host discussed all the potential changes – and we agreed with 99% of them based on prior experience with TRD Pro models from Toyota. However, it's a bit farfetched to think that the Japanese automaker will not only upgrade the looks and underside components plus the cabin for the TRD Pro model but also introduce the beefier 437-hp i-Force Max V6 hybrid setup from the larger Sequoia and Tundra models, right?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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