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Toyota Land Cruiser 4DR SUV
2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
Pros
- Smooth ride and comfortable seats
- Respectable off-road capability
- Hybrid powertrain returns good mpg
- Distinctive, heritage-themed styling
Cons
- Cargo area is small and has a high load floor
- Disappointing backseat legroom
- Long braking distances during panic stops
- Handling can be a bit ponderous around corners
Overview
The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser is a compelling off-road-oriented SUV wrapped up in a retro-themed design. It also features a hybrid powertrain paired with its full-time four-wheel-drive system, resulting in significantly improved fuel economy compared to other rugged SUVs, including the Lexus GX, its more posh corporate sibling. Most of Toyota’s other SUVs are more practical and sensible choices, but the Land Cruiser stands out for having a rather compelling outdoorsy vibe to it.
Semitco spotlight: A Toyota SUV for adventuring
The Land Cruiser is more capable off-road than your typical RAV4. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance and stubby front and rear bumpers to help you drive over rocks and ruts without scraping the underside of the vehicle. It’s further bolstered by some helpful off-road gear, such as a locking rear differential, skid plates, and, in the upgraded Land Cruiser trim level, specialized off-road drive mode functions, a multi-view camera system and an available disconnecting front stabilizer bar. That latter feature allows you to enhance the Land Cruiser’s wheel articulation when off-roading, thereby improving your chance of having the tires stay in contact with the ground over very challenging terrain.
Competitors to consider
Two of the Land Cruiser’s strongest alternatives are mechanically related: the less expensive Toyota 4Runner and the more expensive Lexus GX. The 4Runner is available in a wider array of price points and trim level options, while the GX offers a more luxurious cabin and a more powerful V6 engine. Both offer third-row seats, whereas the Land Cruiser is solely a five-passenger SUV. Outside the Toyota empire, the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco may be more rugged and capable, but they’re less livable and practical. The Land Rover Defender is a good comparable, too, though it is much more expensive.
Driving experience
How does the Toyota Land Cruiser drive? In our testing, the Land Cruiser accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a lackluster 8.2 seconds, slower than its Land Rover Defender 110 rival. For routine driving, the hybrid powertrain is smooth and responsive, but you’ll probably wish for more power for highway passing.
The steering feels a bit heavy, without much feel for the road, while sudden braking causes excessive nosedive. And while the Land Cruiser isn’t exactly nimble, it’s more composed than hardcore off-roaders like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler and soaks up bumpy roads fairly well. Off-road capability is good, but more ground clearance and more aggressive all-terrain tires would be nice for owners who intend to hit up trails.
Plenty of safety tech comes standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and Proactive Driving Assist, which reads the road ahead and slows automatically for curves and traffic. This system can be overreactive and potentially annoying, though.
Comfort
How comfortable is the Toyota Land Cruiser? For an off-road-oriented SUV, the Land Cruiser offers a pretty comfortable experience. The front and second-row seats are supportive, with the front seats offering ample thigh extension and plenty of adjustment. But for such a large vehicle, the amount of backseat room is disappointing. Taller passengers will like the expansive headroom but probably wish for more legroom. The seat cushion is also a few inches too close to the floor, forcing a passenger’s knees a little higher than typically comfortable.
All of the controls, including climate controls, are placed in a logical fashion and easy to reach from the driver’s seat. The cabin is also well insulated from wind and tire noise.
For car seats, there are three upper LATCH anchors, and the lower anchors are easy to reach. Again, the lack of rear legroom makes things tight, but there’s plenty of vertical space to help situate and adjust a big car seat. Rear-facing car seats will probably force the front seats to move up some.
Buying Tips for the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser is a hot commodity, so get ready to act fast if you’re considering bringing one home.
- Both trims are flying off dealer lots, with a median sales cycle of just six days, so you may want to consider reserving one in advance.
- Savvy buyers are scoring an average of $600 off the MSRP, paying just over $60,000 before options and fees.
- Military personnel and students can snag an additional $500 rebate.
- The special low APR of 4.99% is available across all loan terms, providing savings of up to 2.4% off the market rate, depending on the term.
Contact dealers for the latest offers and incentives as they can change frequently.