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Following the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser in January 2024, I recently got to check out the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 in person. Manufactured in Japan, the new-generation Land Cruiser is scheduled to start reaching U.S. dealerships in the Spring of 2024. Here are my first impressions of the no-frills 4×4 SUV in its retro-style 1958 grade:
Design & features
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 features a masculine exterior replete with classic SUV design cues like round headlights, a flat roofline, squarish windows, and boxy rear combination lamps. The classic headlights remind me of the 1955 Land Cruiser 20 Series, which arrived in the U.S. in 1958, hence the grade name. The bar-like amber-colored turn indicators slotted beside the headlights complement the old-school SUV look.
The high-set hood, factory-fitted front fog lamps, big, squarish mirrors, pronounced wheel arches, and strong horizontal lines further emphasize the proper 4×4 SUV character of the 2024 Land Cruiser 1958. I don’t like the shape of the wheel arches that much, though. Moreover, I wish Toyota had used a more attractive design for the wheels and wrapped them in bigger tires.
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 further has a simple and functional interior. I find the horizontal dashboard hefty in some places and hefty elsewhere, which is a rare, impressive combination. I like the chunky steering wheel, round AC vents, and wide center console as well. The rectangular area that integrates the central AC vents and the climate control panel reminds me of an old-school toolbox.
There are physical controls wherever needed, and yet, somehow, Toyota designers have managed to keep it clean. Strangely enough, even the gray fabric seat covers with grainy texture also look nice. Aesthetically, this interior gets full marks from me.
My only gripe with the interior of the 2024 Land Cruiser’s 1958 Grade is that Toyota hasn’t equipped it with the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system of the Land Cruiser grade. The company has used an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system instead. This unit is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto and supports over-the-air updates. The tech pack includes an LCD instrument cluster as well.
Specifications
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with a 48-horsepower electric motor. The latter is integrated into an 8-speed automatic transmission and feeds off a 1.87 kWh NiMH battery pack. The hybrid powertrain produces 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2024 Land Cruiser 1958 has a double-wishbone suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers in the front and a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs. A full-time four-wheel drive system with a center locking differential and an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range is standard. The system also includes VSC and LSD. An electronic locking rear differential is also present, and it can split power 50/50 to the rear wheels.
Price
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 will be priced in the mid-USD 50,000s.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
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