Toyota Land Cruiser Isn’t Dead in the U.S., After All
The Toyota Land Cruiser will be making a comeback in America, but it may not look anything like the new J300.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of that automaker’s most iconic nameplates, a rugged, off-road capable SUV that debuted way back in 1951 and has lived through many generations, including the latest – the J300, which debuted for the 2021 model year. However, the new body-on-frame SUV wasn’t brought to the U.S. due to the fact that its predecessor – the J200 – wasn’t exactly a hot seller in that particular country, marking the end of an era and leaving us with its platform mate – the Lexus LX600 – as the only alternative. However, it seems as if Toyota has had a change of heart, as it just confirmed that the Land Cruiser will come back to the states, after all.
This confirmation that the Toyota Land Cruiser will return to the U.S. comes from the automaker itself, which posted a video across its social media platforms this week showing off an array of vintage Land Cruiser badges along with the text “the legend returns.” It didn’t provide us with any additional details, but at least we know that the rugged SUV will soon make a comeback – and that’s obviously huge news.
What the American Toyota Land Cruiser rebirth looks like, however, is up for debate. Rumors have long suggested that Toyota won’t simply sell the J300 here, but rather, it will create a unique model just for the U.S. With the recent debut of the rather squared-off, traditional-looking 2024 Lexus GX, many believe that the new Land Cruiser will share much in common with that well-received model, which would make a ton of sense.
After all, the new mid-size GX looks like a proper, old school off-road SUV, with its upright appearance and aggressive yet modern styling that pays homage to vehicles like the old FJ and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. Of course, Toyota already sells the Land Cruiser Prado in other markets, which is essentially the Toyota version of the GX. In fact, Toyota could simply opt to drop the “Prado” from that vehicle’s name and sell it in the U.S. as the new Land Cruiser. Regardless, we’re just happy to see that Toyota has apparently changed its mind here, or perhaps this was the plan all along.
Photos: Toyota
Join the YotaTech forums now!
