Review – Toyota Land Cruiser (2025) – Indestructible icon
Who is the Toyota Land Cruiser for?
Let us immediately clear up a misunderstanding: the Toyota Land Cruiser is not an SUV. It is a true 4×4 offroader, built to withstand extreme conditions and continue unflappably where other vehicles give up. Think deep mud trails, deserts or rocky mountain passes. It is a car for adventurers, professionals who need to transport heavy trailers, or simply lovers of a robust and reliable machine that always does its job. In the Netherlands it is popular with the military police, coast guard, customs, army and other government services.
New face, with retro looks
The previous generation Land Cruiser was known for its performance, but design was not exactly its strong point. That played little role for its target audience – when you’re plowing through the jungles of Guatemala as a Red Cross doctor or braving the deserts of Sudan on behalf of the United Nations, appearance is an afterthought. For the new generation, however, Toyota seems to have spent considerable extra time at the design table. The Japanese offroader is no longer a nondescript presence, but one of this year’s coolest and toughest creations.
Toyota has taken inspiration from the past, with classic, clean lines that harken back to the model’s roots. The large, imposing grille, rectangular headlights and short overhangs give the Land Cruiser a tough character. For true retro enthusiasts, there is the First Edition, a special edition with nostalgic round headlights and exclusive retro colors and striping.
Ladder chassis
The nostalgia of the new Land Cruiser goes beyond its retro design. Beneath the rugged exterior lies a tried-and-true body-on-frame architecture, or ladder chassis. This relatively simple but robust construction has been the backbone of the Land Cruiser for decades.
A ladder chassis offers advantages you need off-road. The resilient chassis and body are built separately, which makes the Land Cruiser suitable for heavy loads, such as towing a heavy trailer (up to 3,500 kg, with 140 kg max. nose weight) or hauling a roof full of equipment. In addition, a ladder chassis can better handle the violence of rough terrain.
In the Atlas Mountains, it becomes immediately clear that the Land Cruiser is built for hard work. It effortlessly makes its way over everything in its path: boulders, deep potholes, river beds, loose sand, mud – nothing is too crazy. Climbing a mountain with a 30-degree gradient? A piece of cake. All while sitting comfortably in the cab, without bouncing in all directions. Braving a large rock formation with the Land Cruiser feels almost more comfortable than driving a German sedan over a speed bump.
Steadier and smarter
The new Toyota Land Cruiser uses the new so-called GA-F platform, which is 50% stiffer compared to its predecessor. As a result, the Japanese feels perfectly at home on asphalt as well. The days when you had to hang firmly on the steering wheel with both hands to keep a 4×4 in line on the highway are clearly over. Although not a traditional passenger car, the Land Cruiser feels surprisingly stable on asphalt. The Land Cruiser steers through corners with confidence and offers good straight-line stability even at 130 mph.
Also new is a detachable front stabilizer bar. This provides extra stability on the road, but can be disconnected at the push of a button. This gives the front wheels more wheel travel, making it easier for them to find ground and grip in rough terrain. Electric power steering is also new and a first for this model. It makes steering smoother, even on the roughest roads. Along with the improved suspension, new platform and stabilizer bar, the Land Cruiser feels more agile and direct than ever.
Technology
The new Land Cruiser is packed with technology that comes in handy both on and off the beaten path. In addition to the familiar high and low gearing and the ability to lock differentials, the SUV also offers the so-called Multi-Terrain Select system. This system automatically adjusts performance to the surface. While driving over loose rocks and dirt roads, we hardly need to intervene; the Land Cruiser does the work for us. The Multi-Terrain Monitor system, which provides a picture of the environment around and under the car via cameras, also proved indispensable on the narrow mountain trails with deep gullies and large boulders.
Dieselen
In Europe, under the hood of the new Land Cruiser is always a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, good for 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offers more than enough power to climb even the steepest slopes. In addition, with a towing weight of up to 3,500 kilograms, the Land Cruiser remains an excellent workhorse for Dutchmen who need to tow large trailers and trailers. A mild-hybrid version will be introduced later in 2025. This combines the diesel engine with a 48-Volt system, which reduces fuel consumption.
Simplicity and functionality
The interior of the new Land Cruiser stays true to the philosophy of simplicity and functionality. The elongated infotainment screen is easy to operate and does not block forward vision. Large buttons and clear switches ensure that, even with gloves on, you can operate everything effortlessly.
All-round visibility is improved by the lower hood and wider side windows. The hood rises slightly on the sides, allowing you to see exactly where the nose ends. Handy, whether you’re maneuvering through the Atlas Mountains or looking for a spot at the supermarket. Although the Land Cruiser is nice and rugged, it is not lacking in luxury. Modern amenities like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, ventilated and heated seats and wireless charging make the interior a fine place to work.
Conclusion: a worthy successor
Toyota has raised the bar again with the new Land Cruiser. During our test in Morocco, it showed that it is more than just a worthy successor; it sets the standard for what a modern off-road vehicle should be. Its off-road capabilities are impressive as expected, but now its comfort also stands out. In addition, the build quality remains unmatched: even when hit the hardest, the interior remains completely creak and squeak-free. That speaks volumes about the quality of this car.
What will the new Land Cruiser cost?
The new Toyota Land Cruiser can rightfully call itself an icon, but that iconic character comes with a hefty price tag. In 2024, the starting price starts at 65,200 euros on gray registration. Due to adjusted bpm rules, this amount will rise to over 85 grand in 2025.
On yellow license plates, the price rises even faster, again due to the bpm. The entry-level version, the five-seat Professional, starts at 180,995 Euros, of which nearly 100,000 Euros is VPT. Yes, you read that right. A ton of bpm, for a car approved in Europe. The exclusive First Edition with five seats costs 184,995 euros. In 2025, the Dutch Toyota importer additionally expects a price increase of about 5,800 euros. The price of the mild-hybrid version is not yet known.
