Toyota announced the addition of the ‘J250’ series to the Land Cruiser lineup. Most motoring influencers call this new model a refreshed version of Pardo, but it is not. Let’s look at how the J250 differs from the Prado and its unique features.
Design Philosophy
The Land Cruiser J250 is compacter than the previous Prado, with an overall reduction of 8 cm in dimension. Since it has an extended wheelbase, it is more spacious than the older one. It features an impactful ‘TOYOTA’ logo, just as we saw earlier in the 70 series. At a glance, it has muscular looks and a powerful road presence, enhanced comfort, and increased passenger capacity, giving it strong competition to Suzuki Jimny and Mercedes G-Wagon.
Exterior
Starting from the front, it has a boxy bonnet, DRL lights, and halogen lamps paired with metallic grey garnish and a plastic skid plate at the bottom. On the side profile, there is a continuous running character line, footrest, roof rail, and visors, which further contribute to its boxiness. 18-inch blacked-out rims bring a dark look, while tilting quarter glass brings a softer image to give you leeway for enjoying the weather.
I believe automakers are quite inspired by vintage vibes, as we can see an old-school exhaust, Defender-style taillights, diffuser, and split spoiler at the rear end. Meanwhile, you can enjoy smart entry and auto boot for swift access to the cabin.
Interior
In comparison with the LC and Prado, J250 follows a pretty straightforward interior. With a 7-seater passenger capacity and soft leather on dash it looks premium yet minimal. Finally, Toyota has moved to a 14-inch large multi-media screen, now even the previous cluster panel is replaced by a digital one.
Further, it has AC knobs and a separate climate control for rear passengers, a 360-degree camera with an underground view, charging and HDMI ports, a sporty gear knob, traction control, a handbrake button, a 4X4 option, and a host of ADAS functions. It also comes with 9 airbags and a JBL sound system for music lovers.
Engine And Performance
The JC250 comes in three engine options: 2.7 L non-turbo, 2.4 L Turbo, and 2.8 L Turbo Diesel. Similar to the transformation pattern of a V8 Land Cruiser to a V6, this 2.4 L engine tries its best to bring out maximum performance.
Delivering 164 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, this model is a perfect option for off-roaders who need a stable but softer suspension strong enough to tackle bumpy rides comfortably.
With all due respect, the interior is what has become standard Toyota (and Honda). Bland, Black and Depressing.
There is no leather. That is soft plastic filled with foam backing which give a soft feel. Like the man says, the interior is basic. One thing Japanese brands have always been good at is making cheap materials fit and feel good.
What I find amusing is, when it is the Japanese brands that are being discussed, copying European designs is always mentioned as a positive. You can tell from the excitement in the tone and language. However, if this is the case with the Chinese brands or any other, it is always frowned upon and mentioned in a negative tone. Strange…
There is a very under rated off-roader here in Pakistan that this must be tested against in a proper off-road test. It will be fun I think. This must be tested against the BAIC BJ40. The BJ40 has a much nicer interior, a roof that can be completely removed for that added off-road look/feature and the BJ40 has more power and torque (220HP and 340NM Torque); all-be-it because its a turbo. And it is FAR more affordable.
Don’t get me wrong. I know with Toyota’s years of experience there is a good chance it will be the one to come out on top. But will the BJ40 actually give the J250 a run for its money. Or will it even beat it? Or how close will it come to beating the “king”? It will be fun to see how these two match up.
@Ali Khan
European design! You need to wake up, smell the coffee and see J250 again. It is reminiscent to Land Cruiser J60, and J70.
Besides, you have been using a JDM for years now, why don’t you just trade it for a pathetically built Chinese car. Perhaps, using one shall tell that initial price difference isn’t the only thing that matters. Serviceability, longevity and resale value are other factors that could establish or break vehicles’ market.