Talking Cars 454: Driving the Toyota Land Cruiser

Main theme: In this podcast episode, we give our first impressions of the all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser. This iconic SUV, which has long been known for its off-road capability and bulletproof reliability, has been reformed into a smaller, less expensive, and more fuel-efficient model. But possibly the biggest change of all is the switch from a V8 engine to a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid setup.

We talk about what we like and dislike about the Land Cruiser’s new powertrain, while also assessing its ride comfort, on- and off-road handling, the usability of the controls, and evaluate the space inside this now-smaller model. We wrap up the segment with each panelist choosing the new rugged, off-road-capable SUV they’d pick from among the Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco, Jeep Grand Cherokee or Wrangler, or the Land Rover Defender. 

Audience Questions
• Lately, I’ve seen automakers advertising which of their cars come recommended by Consumer Reports. I thought CR had a no-advertising policy. Do these ads not fall under this policy? 

• In a recent podcast episode about the Honda Prologue EV (episode 451), it was mentioned that it’s available with front-wheel drive. This got me wondering, are there any advantages to front-wheel drive EVs? As a driver, FWD has always been my least favorite configuration.