2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known as the J250, embraced its iconic status with a boxy design and flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to earlier models, such as the heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, round headlights on the base and top trims, and rectangular headlights on the mid-grade trim. All lighting was upgraded to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The two higher trims boasted color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. Driver comfort was enhanced with a lowered beltline for improved visibility, and the First Edition trim came equipped with off-roading gear like a roof rack and skid plate. Inside, the base trim offered cloth seats, while the mid-grade trim featured SofTex upholstery, and the First Edition boasted real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated front seats.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trims, with the First Edition no longer offered. The base model, named the 1958, featured a retro look with round headlights and cloth seats, while the more upscale Land Cruiser trim offered a modern appearance with larger screens and additional off-roading hardware. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, a power sunroof, and other tech upgrades. The Land Cruiser's exterior was characterized by a traditional two-box SUV design, maximizing off-road clearances and visibility. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-colored leather option providing contrast. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a technological edge, and the steering-wheel controls were intuitive. However, the limited color options and high load floor were noted as drawbacks.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, delivering a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The vehicle also included an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and center-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings and operated silently, enhancing off-road capability.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser also utilized the i-Force Max hybrid system, producing the same 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It featured a full-time 4WD system with electronic locking rear and center differentials, supporting a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. Standard features included Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control, with the Land Cruiser trim adding Multi-Terrain Select modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The vehicle offered a high driving position with excellent visibility, and off-road features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Multi-Terrain Monitor enhanced its capability.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently located. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space and included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from cloth to SofTex artificial leather in the Land Cruiser trim, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The rear window design was criticized for not powering down into the tailgate. The cargo area offered 46.2 cubic feet of space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. Maximum cargo space with the back seat folded was 82.1 cubic feet.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display that was useful for off-roading. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base trim had an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL system with the Premium Package.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser upgraded from an 8-inch to two 12.3-inch displays in the Land Cruiser trim, featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Five connected service plans were available, including Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving aid. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert and Traffic Jam Assist. The NHTSA rated the Land Cruiser with four stars overall, five stars in side-impact testing, and three stars for rollover resistance.