Toyota’s Franchise in United States has made it official: The Land Cruiser moniker will make a comeback in the United States. In an early Tuesday morning announcement on Facebook, the company shared a brief video featuring classic Land Cruiser badges to confirm the SUV’s return.
The accompanying caption in the video teasingly asks, “Did you truly believe we would stay away for an extended period?” and boldly declares, “The iconic nameplate is back.”
In 2021, Toyota made the decision to discontinue the Land Cruiser in the American market and chose not to introduce the new J300 model. Despite the affection that many SUV enthusiasts had for the spacious and amiable vehicle, it struggled to attract buyers. The Land Cruiser’s large size and inefficient fuel consumption, combined with its hefty price tag of nearly $90,000, made it unappealing to Toyota SUV enthusiasts and fell short of meeting the expectations of luxury SUV buyers.
However, Toyota did not completely abandon the Land Cruiser nameplate. Surprisingly, these future developments might materialize sooner than anticipated, potentially as early as the 2024 model year.
Engine & Power
With up to three rows of seats, it is highly expected that the SUV will be powered with a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain built around a turbocharged, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. There are also speculations that this could be system offered in new Tacoma.
Further details regarding features and specifications are yet to be revealed, including its exact name. There is speculation whether it will retain the Land Cruiser nameplate or be introduced as the Land Cruiser Prado. Previous iterations of the Land Cruiser have included the “Prado” suffix, but this distinction may become irrelevant if there is no standard Land Cruiser model to differentiate it from. The official name and further details about the new model are yet to be revealed.
What do you think about the relaunching of Toyota Land Cruiser in U.S market? Drop your thoughts in the comments section.
