Is The Toyota Land Cruiser Really Being Discontinued?
R.I.P. Toyota Land Cruiser. With the Land Cruiser ‘exiting the market’ in 2022, it’s like the end of an era. Some people feel as emotional as if the Jeep Wrangler was being canceled, and others feel like it’s past time. But why might we be saying goodbye to the beloved Land Cruiser?
Is The Toyota Land Cruiser Being Discontinued?
According to sources by MotorTrend, the infamous Toyota Land Cruiser will be exiting the market in 2022. This is because the Land Cruiser is too old and outdated to compete with other luxury models like the Audi Q8 or Rivian R1T.
Speaking of the Rivian Electric SUV, it will start around $69k later this year, while the ‘ole Land Cruiser starts around $85k. It will be difficult for the Land Cruiser to keep up and compete with these powerful and luxurious competitors with all new tech.
The current generation of Land Cruiser was put in production in 2007 and only received a refresh in 2016. One of the current most popular Land Cruiser complaints involves it having an outdated interior with old, chunky buttons.
But other Toyota SUVs like the Sequoia and 4Runner are also seemingly old and outdated compared to the competition. But despite these complaints, they still sell because Toyota has a reputation for building reliable, long-lasting off-roading vehicles.
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Drivers love the classic FJ40, and it holds its resale value. However, the J200 does not, and base models from 2018 can be snagged for around $18k. Currently, the only thing selling the Land Cruiser might be its iconic name.
The Toyota Land Cruiser May Have A Rebirth
Notice the complicated wording above. It says the Land Cruiser is ‘exiting’ the market, not being discontinued. It might disappear for a few years and return with an all-new redesign. Only, do we trust Toyota to get it right?
Our hesitation with the idea of a new Land Cruiser comes from what Chevy did to the Blazer and TrailBlazer. They completely erased their off-roading and lifestyle roots to create pavement princesses. Either way, here is what we can gather from rumors.
The New Toyota Land Cruiser Hybrid
Rumors suggest that the Toyota Land Cruiser will return with a total redesign and hybrid powertrain with the name of the 300 Series. It will supposedly adopt the Toyota 3.5-liter V6 hybrid powertrain to replace the current 4.6-liter V8 engine that offers 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. However, it’s unclear if the power 5.7-liter V8 will be replaced or not.
Will a V6 hybrid powertrain even have enough power for this massive beast? Yes, it will, if rumors are correct, because the new Land Cruiser will be moving to the lighter Toyota TNGA platform.
Plus, the V6 powertrain borrowed from Lexus offers 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque to match the current model’s ability to tow 8,100 lb. The model may be shorter in length, but just as wide.
However, it won’t lose any capability to perform in its largest markets, including the Middle East and Australia. We’re expected to learn more about the discontinued or all-new redesigned Land Cruiser in July or August, so we will update you as soon as we learn more.
