The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known as the 250-Series internally, has made its debut at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. This new LC takes some parts from the Lexus GX and Toyota Tacoma, but with a starting price in the mid-$50,000 range, it competes with vehicles like the Land Rover Defender 110, Jeep Wrangler, and Ford Bronco. So, how does it compare to these competitors? We’re putting the 250-Series up against the base-model Land Rover Defender S 110, a well-equipped Ford Bronco Badlands four-door, and a Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe four-door, all of which can be purchased for a similar price. The Land Cruiser excels in some areas while falling short in others, and we’ll have to see how it performs in the real world before we can determine a winner in this revived off-road SUV segment. One thing’s for sure, the Bronco, Wrangler, and Defender now have some tough competition.
Off-Road Geometry:
– Toyota Land Cruiser:
– Ground Clearance: 8.7 inches
– Approach / Departure / Breakover: 31.0 / 22.0 / 25.0 Degrees
– Length / Width / Wheelbase: 193.7 / 84.2 / 112.2 Inches
– Ford Bronco Four-Door:
– Ground Clearance: 8.3 inches
– Approach / Departure / Breakover: 35.5 / 29.7 / 20.0 Degrees
– Length / Width / Wheelbase: 189.4 / 86.2 / 116.1 Inches
– Jeep Wrangler 4-Door:
– Ground Clearance: 9.7 inches
– Approach / Departure / Breakover: 41.4 / 36.1 / 20.3 Degrees
– Length / Width / Wheelbase: 188.4 / N/A / 118.4 Inches
– Land Rover Defender 110:
– Ground Clearance: 8.9 inches
– Approach / Departure / Breakover: 31.5 / 37.5 / 22.2 Degrees
– Length / Width / Wheelbase: 197.5 / 82.9 / 119.0 Inches
Powertrain:
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser will be equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four hybrid engine, producing 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can tow up to 6,000 pounds.
– Toyota Land Cruiser:
– Engine: Turbocharged 2.4-Liter I4 Hybrid
– Output: 326 HP / 465 LB-FT
– Towing Capacity: 6,000 Pounds
– Ford Bronco Four-Door:
– Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 2.7-Liter V6
– Output: 330 HP / 415 LB-FT
– Towing Capacity: 3,500 Pounds
– Jeep Wrangler Four-Door:
– Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-Liter I4 PHEV
– Output: 375 HP / 470 LB-FT
– Towing Capacity: 3,500 Pounds
– Land Rover Defender 110:
– Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-Liter I4
– Output: 296 HP / 295 LB-FT
– Towing Capacity: 7,716 Pounds
Off-Road Equipment:
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser comes standard with hill descent control and low-speed crawl control. Opting for the mid-level model will provide Multi-Terrain Select and a disconnecting front sway bar for improved articulation. It has full-time four-wheel drive with a selectable low range, as well as a locking rear differential and limited-slip center diff.
Compared to other models:
– Ford Bronco Badlands 2.7L ($55,220) features a disconnecting front sway bar and Trail Turn Assist, along with standard locking differentials and Terrain Management.
– Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe ($56,530) is equipped with solid front and rear axles, center and rear differential locks, and impressive off-road capability.
– Land Rover Defender S 110 ($62,075 base) includes a low-range transfer case with a locking center differential and offers optional terrain management software and an active rear differential.
In conclusion, while the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser offers a respectable spec sheet for its estimated starting price, there are other options available in the market. The Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Land Rover Defender offer their own unique features and capabilities. Choosing a winner solely based on specifications is difficult, so we’ll have to wait for real-world testing to determine our favorite.