Fast Facts | 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser
⚙️ Powertrain: i-FORCE MAX hybrid with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, electric motor, 1.87-kWh nickel-metal hydride battery, and eight-speed automatic transmission
🐎 Output: 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque
⛽ Fuel Economy: EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 25 highway, and 23 combined
🛞 Tested Off-Road Hardware: Full-time four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, crawl control, Multi-Terrain Select, locking center and rear differentials, and a disconnecting front stabilizer bar
🛻 Towing Capacity: Up to 6,000 pounds
📦 Cargo Space: 46.2 cubic feet behind the second row and 82.2 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded
💵 As-Tested MSRP: $75,789 per window sticker, including a $1,495 destination charge [1]
The Land Cruiser Is Back in Its Element
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a mountain goat of an SUV, packed with hardware built for serious off-road capability. A full-time four-wheel-drive system with dedicated low-range gearing, a disconnecting front stabilizer bar, crawl control, two locking differentials, a Multi-Terrain Monitor that lets you spot obstacles while off-roading, and an impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance let this SUV tackle just about any trail you can find. On top of all that, the Land Cruiser has a premium, spacious interior and surprising off-the-line scoot. So, what’s the problem? Well, in a few places, this Toyota is still a little rough around the edges.
Heritage-Inspired Good Looks
A building is only as good as its foundation, and the Land Cruiser has very solid underpinnings. It's built on the TNGA-F truck platform, shared with other Toyotas like the 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma, and Tundra, and that includes a full frame and a live axle out back, just like a traditional pickup truck. Surprisingly, this SUV feels as rigid as a granite curbstone, with no creaks or rattles. That ruggedness also delivers a 6,000-pound maximum tow rating. What it doesn't deliver, though, are friendly, car-like manners, but more on that in a bit.
Toyota’s hybrid off-road hardware also powers another trail-focused machine, so see how the Tacoma TRD Pro Hybrid translates the formula into pickup form ➜
Up top, just like a Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and even the Land Rover Defender 110, this rugged SUV wears retro-inspired styling that clearly borrows from vintage Land Cruisers. The grille, sideview mirror housings, squared-off fender trim, “TOYOTA” spelled out in blocky letters, and the two-tone paint (this handsome combo is called Trail Dust and Grayscape) all scream Land Cruiser. Fortunately, it's not a carbon copy of past generations. There are still plenty of modern design touches too. This is retro done right.
Modern Motivation
What's not old-school, however, is what’s under the hood. Every Land Cruiser comes with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain: a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and an electric motor sandwiched between them. A 1.87-kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack stores and releases energy as required.
All this hardware adds up to a potent 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. As for efficiency, expect 22 mpg city, 25 highway, and 23 combined, not great for a hybrid, but not terrible for a vehicle this upright and capable. In real-world driving, I’ve been getting around 20 mpg and change according to the dashboard readout, which is a little disappointing. Keep in mind: 91-octane fuel or greater is recommended.
Plenty of Punch, With a Caveat
As you'd expect, this hybrid powertrain delivers strong off-the-line acceleration. Pounce on the accelerator, and the Land Cruiser surges ahead from a stop. My tester even has the available $1,395 cat-back exhaust system for some bark to match the bite. It's only a four-cylinder, but it sounds pretty good with this optional exhaust.
The Land Cruiser punches hard off the line, but that vigor fades a bit at higher speeds. Still, I think tuning for low-speed torque is the right call in most vehicles, and the Land Cruiser feels lively in everyday driving. Sadly, this hybrid system isn't very refined.
The engine somehow manages to feel both gritty and smooth depending on rpm. Maybe it’s “grooth”? At certain speeds, there’s noticeable vibration right under your feet, but other times you can’t even tell the four-cylinder is running. More concerning is the clunky transmission. Upshifts are almost always pronounced, and as you roll to a stop, downshifts often feel ragged, which is surprising for a Toyota, since they typically nail this sort of drivetrain stuff.
You’ll Never Forget it’s a Truck
Behind the wheel, you can't ignore the Land Cruiser’s tried-and-true truck-based foundation. It's great for off-roading, but it’s not necessarily ideal on the road.
The ride quality, for instance, is firm but busy. It feels like the suspension is constantly moving, even on smooth roads. Overall refinement is good, minimal grittiness or harshness comes up into the cabin, but the Land Cruiser always seems a little frantic.
I have no complaints about the steering, though, which feels nice for an SUV like this. The suspension does an admirable job of controlling body roll. This is a tall vehicle, and it stays relatively flat in corners.
For safety and convenience, the Land Cruiser comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This includes a long list of driver aids like lane-keeping assist, road-sign recognition, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and more.
Overall, the Land Cruiser isn’t bad to drive, not at all, but in some ways it feels a little less refined than other body-on-frame trucks and SUVs I’ve evaluated over the years. That drivetrain inconsistency is unexpected, too.
Beautifully Appointed and Plenty Spacious
What’s also surprising is just how nice this Toyota’s interior is, or maybe it shouldn’t be, given the as-tested price. The Land Cruiser’s cabin is handsome and functional, with plenty of beautiful materials and high-quality controls.
I also love the elevated seating position, which gives you good forward visibility, though it's hard to see what’s behind you because of the roof pillars. Fortunately, an excellent 360-degree camera system and a digital rearview mirror help make up for that.
That last item comes in the $4,355 Premium package, which includes leather trim, a 14-speaker JBL sound system, front cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display, so you can keep tabs on important information, like your current speed, without ever taking your eyes off the road.
As for tech, it’s pretty familiar Toyota fare in this SUV. Our tester has the larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, plus the upsized 12.3-inch central touchscreen. The infotainment system works well enough and is quite intuitive. Wireless smartphone mirroring is standard via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and you get a wireless charging pad on the uplevel trim.
The Land Cruiser’s front seats are plenty comfortable. Power adjustability is included in this model, and beyond that, they're heated and ventilated, which is always nice. Between them sits the optional $170 Console Cool Box, a small (emphasis on small) fridge that keeps drinks and snacks cold. Turn it off, and it doubles as a regular storage cubby.
As for the rear seat, it’s surprisingly comfortable, with plenty of room for 6-foot-tall folks. The adjustable backrest is also split for enhanced versatility. You can drop one side or the other to haul longer cargo while still fitting one or more passengers in back.
Speaking of cargo, you get 46.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row, and a huge 82.2 cubic feet with the backrests folded. A lovely touch that's increasingly rare: the Land Cruiser’s rear glass opens separately from the main hatch, so you can quickly grab items stashed in the back without other cargo falling out when you open the larger swing panel.
Before choosing a hybrid SUV at this price point, compare the Land Cruiser with other strong hybrid SUV choices ➜
Pricey but Not Unreasonable
So, how much does the 2026 Land Cruiser cost? The base 1958 trim (yes, that’s what it’s called, an homage to the year this vehicle went on sale in the U.S.) has an MSRP of right around $59,000, including $1,595 in destination fees. With options like two-tone paint, 20-inch wheels, the Premium package, that cat-back exhaust system, and more, this tester rang in at an MSRP of $75,789. That’s a lot of money for a lot of folks, though it's in line with high-end Ford Broncos, Jeep Wranglers, and some Land Rover Defender 110s.
At the end of the day, this Toyota offers a lot to love: handsome good looks, a comfortable, upscale interior, and impressive off-road capability. Unfortunately, the busy ride quality and coarse powertrain detract from an otherwise very pleasant experience.
[1] Note: This is listed as $1,495 on the window sticker, but it’s $1,595 on the build-and-price tool at Toyota.com
🏔️ More Adventure Machines Worth a Look
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