Car Review: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 Is A Boxy Paradox

EAST HADDAM, CT – Having been discontinued in 2021, the recently reincarnated Toyota Land Cruiser is a new attempt to return to the days of yore with a more affordable off-roader that stands tall. Taller, in fact, than its long-standing 4Runner sibling of similar proportions and at a price point of roughly 25 percent less than what the last Land Cruiser was. 

This new Toyota comes in three trim “grades.” There’s the Land Cruiser 1958 priced at $55,950, the simply titled Land Cruiser at $61,950 and the Land Cruiser First Edition at $74,950).

I got behind the wheel of an entry-level Land Cruiser 1958, which is the year the original Land Cruiser first came to the U.S. It’s distinguished by its traditionally round headlights, though they’re now LED (Light Emitting Diode), and a “Toyota Heritage” grille. It also has heated, SofTex fabric upholstery.

It rides on what the company calls its latest TNGA-F global truck body-on-frame chassis, which is shared (thus far) with the Tundra, Sequoia and Tacoma. (The 4Runner remains on the old platform.) But unlike those examples, this new model should really be considered a Land Cruiser “Light” as it attempts to trade on the heritage of its recognized model name. 

The original, vintage version was clearly a rough and tumble Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover competitor. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, it later went upmarket and became almost Lexus-like. Now, the new Land Cruiser has instead been downgraded and compromised into more conservative, almost-crossover, which is easy enough to identify at first glance. 

It’s shod with a set of ho-hum Yokohama Geolander X-CV tires instead of something more aggressively knobby for true off-road intentions. Tire Rack says they’re good for light snow. Thus, the contradiction of its identity crisis.

Even though it’s boxy, tough and jacked up, it simply doesn’t look the part of its former self. But it has been specified with center and electronic-locking rear differentials, a two-speed Transfer Case, Multi-Terrain Select settings, CRAWL Control and more. So this latest Land Cruiser does have some serious dirt track chops. And its beefy, desert-inspired Roof Rack adds to the impression.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter, I-Force Max four-cylinder Turbocharged Hybrid which delivers a combined 326 horsepower and impressive 465 lb-ft torque. It’s particularly adept at mid-range passing maneuvers as mated to an 8-speed Automatic Transmission and Full-Time 4WD. Combined fuel economy is 23 mpg (22 City/25 Hwy) and this Toyota will tow up to 6,000 lbs. with a standard Brake Controller included.

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The entry level 1958 grade is obviously built to a price point. The Multimedia Touchscreen is a mere eight inches across. The lift gate is manually operated. Surprisingly, the front doors seem to lack sound deadening and close with a tinny, hollow thud. The hood, meanwhile, flutters slightly at highway speed and the engine can growl a bit under acceleration. So much so that slight vibration can be felt up through the steering wheel. 

Outward visibility, specifically to the left and right, is good as a result of front and rear side door glass that dips down (quite helpful when going off-road), for an airy, square silhouette. Forward view is somewhat constricted, however, due to a high instrument panel arrangement, which encroaches. Along with a pair of funky outboard hood bulges that are in line with the headlights. 

An abundance of black buttons and switches on black backgrounds make some controls difficult to decipher at night. Access to the rear luggage deck is also rather high and requires leaning in over an extended bumper, which will no doubt dirty pants legs.

In keeping with its off-road pretensions, front and rear under bumper approach and departure angles are generous and the side mirrors are vertically oriented to accommodate narrow approaches. Burly wheels arches and fender surrounds protect the bodysides.  

Toyota’s suite of safety features called Safety Sense 3.0 is included which features Pre-Collision, Pedestrian Detection, Land Departure Warning and Tracing Assist, Pro Active Driving Assist (for gentle braking into curves) and Dynamic Speed Sensitive Cruise Control. The higher model grades get even more.

Toyota says “this rig is ready for adventure, whether it’s conquering rugged trails or navigating through the urban jungle.” The latter may not have been the original Land Cruiser’s forte, so this all-new edition has evolved through what could be considered a degree of compromise by splitting the difference. 

At a repositioned price that went from low to high over the years, it has now reverted to somewhere in between at a mid-market level. It is designed to ensure that it capably cruises lands of any nature – from the best of on road to the worst of off. As a reimagined paradox of what the two former Land Cruiser bookends were, it’s in keeping with today’s more middle of the road times.     

(Photos courtesy of Toyota unless otherwise noted.)