How Toyota got the 2024 Land Cruiser so wrong

TurboMinivan

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
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Lehi, UT
I'm surprised I have not yet seen a thread on this.

Jason Cammisa (under the Hagerty umbrella) stars in a large number of wonderful car videos, featuring excellent production quality, loaded with facts and interesting information, and liberally sprinkled with humor. If you're any sort of car guy, I'd suggest you seek him out on YouTube. One of his video series highlights the Icons--storied models significant for one reason or another. I'll watch these videos even when they are centered on a vehicle I don't much care for, and I always walk away entertained and educated.

Just a couple days ago, his newest ICONS video popped up in my feed. I decided to watch, and within seconds I thought I recognized its filming location. It didn't take long to realize my suspicion was confirmed. That this video was filmed practically in my back yard just made it all the more enjoyable.

 
We really want to like the new LandCruiser (wife gets the next "new" car---I've yet to buy anything totally new). I'm hoping the LandCruiser is cooler than what you're alluding to
 
mbryson said:
We really want to like the new LandCruiser (wife gets the next "new" car---I've yet to buy anything totally new). I'm hoping the LandCruiser is cooler than what you're alluding to
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Drive the new LC and the new GX and make up your own mind.

Jason makes some good points, and hanging out with him making that video was a cool experience, but I wouldn't automatically rule out the new LC based on the video. The GX is better, but that doesn't mean the LC is junk.

My $0.02...
 
moab_cj5 said:
Drive the new LC and the new GX and make up your own mind.

Jason makes some good points, and hanging out with him making that video was a cool experience, but I wouldn't automatically rule out the new LC based on the video. The GX is better, but that doesn't mean the LC is junk.

My $0.02...
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We're at least 2-3 years out from a purchase. Not in a hurry but the Cruiser is what's interesting to her at the moment. She secondarily likes the Bronco
 
I've started seeing them around, for some reason it takes me a minute to figure out what it is. It's always been a black or dark gray. Toyota needs to push some color or something before I notice them quicker.
 
Spork said:
I've started seeing them around, for some reason it takes me a minute to figure out what it is. It's always been a black or dark gray. Toyota needs to push some color or something before I notice them quicker.
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That's because black or dark grey appears to be about all they sell them in.
 
Just watched it. Gotta say, I agree with his take (minus the driving impressions, because I haven't driven one). I think Toyota got it right in the US when they kept the 4Runner and Land Cruiser lines distinct as heavy duty and light duty offroaders. I think they goofed calling the Prado a "Land Cruiser", and they goofed again when they doubled down and brought that Prado platform to the US as a Land Cruiser. Speaking as a certified 4Runner nerd, I think they should have kept the Land Cruiser a Land Cruiser and reused the 4Runner badge for the new platform.

Maybe that's a bad take. Maybe they're a worldwide billion dollar megacorp that's really good at selling cars and they know what they're doing. But the past several years it sure has felt like the marketing weenies have got over on the engineers in the Toyota board room, and what they're doing with the Land Cruiser sure kinda feels right in line with that impression.
 
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My closest neighbor has had a black 1958 base model since early June. It has torque off the line, but then quickly feels winded. Cloth seats, and some interior trim that just feels cheap. The engine sounds like the 4 cylinder it is, which is to say it'd kind of loud, and sounds like a thrashy econobox. Not the 60k plus BOF SUV it is. My 5th gen TRD ORP 4Runner looks and feels much better finished, and is more refined to drive.

There are three other LC 250 I see regularly in the neighborhood. A 'Trail Dust' First Edition, a 'Meteor Shower' mid level trim, and a 'Windchill' mid level trim. I haven't asked those owners their opinion.

The GX 550 definitely is a step up in finish. But the TTV6 issues are not proven to be resolved to my satisfaction to consider one at this time.

The 4Runner videos I've seen from Youtuber TRDJON, and from building them on Toyota's website, the interior looks really cheap. That and the other obvious cost-cutting measures, are not inspiring. Building a TRD Off-Road Premium to a moderately optioned level, it would be over $60k.

I'm hoping they are more impressive in person.
 
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