2024 LandCruiser

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
It's such a huge seller for Toyota in the states that all signs point to the 4Runner continuing.
This is the only reason I'm not already convinced that the 4Runner is gone (well, that and the guy that hobknobs with Toyota engineers every weekend says he "doesn't think so" :D... ). I agree that it makes no sense for Toyota to drop the 4Runner now, but it also makes no sense for Toyota to have two vehicles so very similar in their lineup.

But consider -

Mileage and efficiency standards are pressuring automakers to make their entire fleets smaller and lighter.
The new LandCruiser is smaller and lighter, dropping it exactly in the 4Runner's seat at the table.
The 4Runner is due for a big refresh, the 5th gen is long in the tooth.

I'm relatively optimistic that there might be another 4Runner, and it might be a little more 4Runner sized.
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
Is it selectable or computer controlled? The Toyota version is open or locked (with a button) I’m struggling to sort why that’s confusing folks that its mentioned.
I think for me the difference is just said in AWD vs 4WD. If something is AWD, there is no locking center diff. If it's 4WD it's a locking center diff. Is there an instance of something being advertised/marketed as 4wd, but doesn't have a locking center diff?
 

glockman

I hate Jeep trucks
Location
Pleasant Grove
I think for me the difference is just said in AWD vs 4WD. If something is AWD, there is no locking center diff. If it's 4WD it's a locking center diff. Is there an instance of something being advertised/marketed as 4wd, but doesn't have a locking center diff?
Toyota marketed the 4th gen 4runner with the V8 as AWD. It only had a 4H and 4L knob but also had a locking center diff.
 

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
This is the only reason I'm not already convinced that the 4Runner is gone (well, that and the guy that hobknobs with Toyota engineers every weekend says he "doesn't think so" :D... ). I agree that it makes no sense for Toyota to drop the 4Runner now, but it also makes no sense for Toyota to have two vehicles so very similar in their lineup.

But consider -

Mileage and efficiency standards are pressuring automakers to make their entire fleets smaller and lighter.
The new LandCruiser is smaller and lighter, dropping it exactly in the 4Runner's seat at the table.
The 4Runner is due for a big refresh, the 5th gen is long in the tooth.

I'm relatively optimistic that there might be another 4Runner, and it might be a little more 4Runner sized.
When I found out that the Land Cruiser was coming back to the US a few months ago in the form of a Prado-esq vehicle instead of the 300-Series, I was surprised. The Land Cruiser nameplate doesn't carry much cache in the US except with cultists enthusiasts. I mean when was the last time the Land Cruiser sold more than a couple thousand units a year in the US? The mid-90's? Don't get me wrong, LC's are awesome vehicles, but they just haven't captured the imagination of the US buying public for decades. So when Toyota killed it in the US, it made sense. Will this new down market Cruiser reignite that interest? Maybe?

The 4Runner, on the other hand, prints money for Toyota in the US. I had a recently retired Toyota Drivetrains R&D guy on a trip this past weekend, and the last project he worked on was the 4th Gen Tacoma. Around the campfire, among other things, we chatted about the next 4Runner. He didn't have specifics, but he said it'll share the same platform (TGNA-F, which is a modular system used for all of Toyota's newer 4x4's) and drivetrain options as the Tacoma and that even with the return of the LC, the 4Runner is getting a refresh in the next year or two.

So how will they differentiate the LC and the 4Runner? Maybe it'll be less spec'd out to make it cheaper? Maybe it'll have more options to choose from to make it a more EXTREME off-roader? Maybe it'll compete squarely with the LC in the same showroom, but your choice is retro looks vs. factory angry eyes and bold colors? Time will tell, I guess. But I'm willing to bet that because of name recognition, the 4Runner will continue to outsell the LC in the US for the foreseeable future unless the 4Runner is the one that moves up market.

As people have said though, I'm glad that Toyota brought the LC back, along with the new GX and a refreshed 4Runner. The more of these kinds of vehicles out there, the better for us. Now if Nissan would just get off their asses and bring back the Xterra and finally unveil the NISMO Armada with all the global Y62 Patrol goodies they've teased about...
 

lhracing

Well-Known Member
Location
Layton, UT
I just feel like advertising a "locking center diff" on a four wheel drive vehicle is the same as advertising that it comes with "round" tires. It's 4wd, wtf else could be going on in the middle there.

If you have ever read some of the comments on the UTOR Facebook page Toyota needs to be as descriptive as possible and also add some pictures with arrows.
 

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
When I found out that the Land Cruiser was coming back to the US a few months ago in the form of a Prado-esq vehicle instead of the 300-Series, I was surprised. The Land Cruiser nameplate doesn't carry much cache in the US except with cultists enthusiasts. I mean when was the last time the Land Cruiser sold more than a couple thousand units a year in the US? The mid-90's? Don't get me wrong, LC's are awesome vehicles, but they just haven't captured the imagination of the US buying public for decades. So when Toyota killed it in the US, it made sense. Will this new down market Cruiser reignite that interest? Maybe?

The 4Runner, on the other hand, prints money for Toyota in the US. I had a recently retired Toyota Drivetrains R&D guy on a trip this past weekend, and the last project he worked on was the 4th Gen Tacoma. Around the campfire, among other things, we chatted about the next 4Runner. He didn't have specifics, but he said it'll share the same platform (TGNA-F, which is a modular system used for all of Toyota's newer 4x4's) and drivetrain options as the Tacoma and that even with the return of the LC, the 4Runner is getting a refresh in the next year or two.

So how will they differentiate the LC and the 4Runner? Maybe it'll be less spec'd out to make it cheaper? Maybe it'll have more options to choose from to make it a more EXTREME off-roader? Maybe it'll compete squarely with the LC in the same showroom, but your choice is retro looks vs. factory angry eyes and bold colors? Time will tell, I guess. But I'm willing to bet that because of name recognition, the 4Runner will continue to outsell the LC in the US for the foreseeable future unless the 4Runner is the one that moves up market.

As people have said though, I'm glad that Toyota brought the LC back, along with the new GX and a refreshed 4Runner. The more of these kinds of vehicles out there, the better for us. Now if Nissan would just get off their asses and bring back the Xterra and finally unveil the NISMO Armada with all the global Y62 Patrol goodies they've teased about...
It is interesting, since Toyota said they dropped the 300LC from the US because the sequoia was basically fulfilling the same function - large, 3 row family oriented SUV. But now they LC and the 4Runner are the same(ish). Maybe Toyota learned something from Ford and is going to make the 4Runner a convertible like the good old days and make it the bronco/wrangler competitor.

And when I say maybe I mean that will never happen, so I’m genuinely curious how they differentiate the two platforms.
 

moab_cj5

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
I think for me the difference is just said in AWD vs 4WD. If something is AWD, there is no locking center diff. If it's 4WD it's a locking center diff. Is there an instance of something being advertised/marketed as 4wd, but doesn't have a locking center diff?
Generally speaking, anything with a part time 4wd system won't have a center diff unless it has 4HAuto.

Your CJ is an example that doesn't have a center differential: you have 2WD and 4WD.

The center diff only comes into play with full time 4WD vehicles and some AWD.

I'm not 100% up to speed on all AWD systems, but I'm sure most have a center diff to avoid binding front to back. They my accomplish that with some other device besides a differential though.
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
Generally speaking, anything with a part time 4wd system won't have a center diff unless it has 4HAuto.

Your CJ is an example that doesn't have a center differential: you have 2WD and 4WD.

The center diff only comes into play with full time 4WD vehicles and some AWD.

I'm not 100% up to speed on all AWD systems, but I'm sure most have a center diff to avoid binding front to back. They my accomplish that with some other device besides a differential though.
When I shift from 2 to 4, doesn't something lock into place to split the power 50/50 front and rear?
 

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
When I shift from 2 to 4, doesn't something lock into place to split the power 50/50 front and rear?
Yes. That's the transfer case. If that's all the truck has, is a transfer case with hi/lo range, it's a part-time 4WD. That's most of the 4WD vehicles out there. But when the transfer case is engaged, that power split is exactly 50/50 front and rear, and that can be problematic when turning on pavement. If the rig has a transfer case with a differential that allows a variable power split that lets it turn without driveline binding, it's a full time 4WD (generally speaking, if it doesn't have low range then they call this setup AWD). The problem with having a differential on the transfer case to allow that variable power is that it's a differential, and it will behave like a differential and leave you stuck spinning just one tire. Sometimes you want/need that power to be split exactly 50/50. That's where the locking center differential comes into play - Toyota calls it Multimode, Jeep calls it... Quadtratrac? It's a way for a 4WD to be able to use 4WD on pavement without binding and still use 4WD off pavement without losing all your torque when just one tire loses traction.

I don't understand the benefit of having a fulltime 4WD system, I feel like any time the roads are bad enough that 4WD is necessary, then they're bad enough that I can just use normal 4WD and not worry about driveline binding or tire scrub or whatever. But I've never had a rig with full-time 4WD so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Just saw one of these in a kind of gold/green/moss color just north of Moab this evening. Those are sick looking rigs! My wife needs one. This one i saw had the round headlights. Checking the Toyota page, that color is NOT an option. Semi-affordable as far as new cars go
 
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