America has a new favorite mud and guts SUV. The Land Cruiser name returns to the U.S. this spring after a two-year break and today Toyota has revealed how much we’ll have to pay to park it on our our front lawns. The three-grade lineup starts at US$ 55,950 before a US$ 1,395 destination charge for the entry-level Land Cruiser 1958, a retro nod to the very first LCs imported to America, complete with circular LED headlights that make it easily distinguishable from the other models in the range. Standard equipment includes heated cloth seats, a smart key system, blind-spot monitoring, automatic climate control, a 7-inch digital dash display, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The ’58 gets the exact same 2.4-liter
i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain making 326 hp and 630 Nm as
the more expensive models, and Toyota doesn’t even make you pay extra for
off-road and adventure hardware. Full-time all-wheel drive, locking center and
rear differentials, a two-speed transfer case, CRAWL Control, and a 2,400W AC
inverter all come standard. But buyers who prefer glamping to camping might
want to upgrade to the US$ 61,950 (again, before a US$ 1,395 delivery fee) Land
Cruiser. Yeah, that’s the name and the grade, and yes, it’s as dumb as Ferrari
LaFerrari. This one gets rectangular lights, powered SofTex (fake leather)
seats, 12.3-inch instrument and infotainment screens, a 10-speaker sound
system, and a power tailgate. It also adds a few more gadgets that might be
useful when towing or venturing off-road: a Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism
(SDM) to improve axle articulation, a Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) drive mode
controller for different surfaces, and a Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) camera
system.
The optional Premium
Package adds ventilated leather seats, a 14-speaker JBL audio kit, a digital
rear-view mirror, a head-up display, a power moonroof, and a center console
cool box. And finally, fusing the best of the Premium-equipped mid-spec Cruiser
and the retro appeal of the base car, the US$ 74,950 (or US$ 76,345 with
destination) First Edition gets the round 1958’s round lights and all of the
toys, plus unique 18-inch wheels, “First Edition” logos, a roof rack, rock
rails and a front skid plate. Unfortunately, Toyota’s drip-feed info strategy
means we don’t yet know how much the higher grades or the Premium Package
costs.
But the US$ 55,950 (or US$ 57,345
w/destination) starting price Toyota has revealed means this latest Land
Cruiser is almost US$ 30,000 less expensive than the last Land Cruiser model
offered in America in 2021 and sits midway between its modern rivals. A
four-door Bronco starts at US$ 39,870, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe range kicks off at
US$ 50,695 and you’d need US$ 60,600 to get into the most basic four-door Land
Rover Defender 110 S.

