The Land Cruiser ranked 19th in the segment with 4,349 sales in the first half, a rise of 18 percent on the same period last year, well behind the ID4 and other EVs in the segment (see table, bottom).
When Toyota opens pre-sales in Europe in October, the Land Cruiser will only be offered with a 201-hp, 2.8-liter diesel powertrain, which matches what it available in the current version. A key upgrade is that the new Land Cruiser will be mated with an eight-speed transmission instead of the six-speed gearbox offered now.
The electrified version with 48-volt mild hybrid technology and the 2.8-liter diesel engine will be available in early 2025.
Toyota said Land Cruiser deliveries will start in the first half of 2024. European prices have not be revealed, however, the current Land Cruiser starts at 52,940 euros in Germany for the three-door variant, with the top-of-the-line five-door version starting at 81,430 euros.
Toyota says moving the fifth generation of the SUV to its body-on-frame GA-F platform, which it shares with premium brand luxury, will improve the Land Cruiser’s off-road performance, while it has also take steps to make sure its “easy to maneuvre and more comfortable in conventional on-road driving.”
To achieve that Toyota made the Land Cruiser’s body and frame 30 percent more rigid, which increases responsiveness, handling and ride comfort.