The Toyota Land Cruiser is regarded by some (if you know you know) as one of the most iconic and off-road capable SUVs ever built. With six decades of history in the U.S., its absence for the last three years has been felt. Now, after numerous rumors, leaks, and a lot of anticipation, there’s a new Toyota Land Cruiser, and it’s a mixed bag of new and old blended into one pretty awesome package.

By the time you’ve consumed everything on this page and venture onto social media, there will undoubtedly be people complaining about the lack of a V-8 engine. What they won’t tell you, however, is that the new (and standard), hybrid four-cylinder engine doesn’t harm the Land Cruiser’s capability that much. The new Land Cruiser can still tow 6,000 pounds directly from the factory, it still has more than 300 horsepower, 4WD is standard, and Toyota has engineered the new Land Cruiser to outshine all those that came before it.

Related: What You Need To Know About The Return Of The Toyota Land Cruiser To The U.S.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Capability

Without a V-8 engine, it’s easy to assume that the Land Cruiser has fallen victim to the same emissions and fuel economy regulations that have forced most brands to suck it up and start downsizing engines. And, that’s probably true to some extent, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice what really matters. You can still take the new Land Cruiser off-roading, and thanks to its slightly smaller size, you might find that it can go a few places its predecessor cannot. To put it simply, Toyota pushed back the A-pillar, shortened the front overhang, and made the new Land Cruiser shorter 1.2 inches while reducing its width by 4.4 inches. This translates to some impressive off-road specifications.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Off-Road Specifications

Of course, the figures above mean nothing without the right setup underneath, but you’re covered there too. As it should be, the new Land Cruiser carries on as a body-on-frame SUV that’s more rigid than ever before. It has double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear setup with coil springs. 17-inch brakes come standard as do the 18-inch alloy wheels (20-inch wheels are optional on the mid-level Land Cruiser grade). You are stuck with an eight-speed automatic transmission with practically zero hope for a manual, but there is a full-time 4WD with a two-speed transfer case as standard equipment.

Exterior Dimension Comparison

Beyond this, front tow and recovery hooks come standard across all grades while a front stabilizer bar disconnect comes standard on all grades except for the 1958. Fog lights come as standard equipment, but moving beyond the base 1958 grade will get you color-selectable RIGID lights. Optional off-road accessories include new rock rails and full-coverage all-steel skid plates.

Related: Here's What Toyota Needs To Get Right With The Upcoming Land Cruiser

Land Cruiser Performance Electrified

The most controversial thing about the new Land Cruiser is the new i-Force Max 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It literally has half the cylinders and less than half the displacement as the last Land Cruiser’s 5.7-liter V-8. The good news is that Toyota has gone the hybrid route, so there’s a small battery pack and an electric motor. Total system output comes in at 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, so there’s a drop in horsepower but an impressive increase in torque. The engine comes standard, and there’s no other option – a story identical to that of the eight-speed automatic transmission.

As of now, Toyota is keeping a lot of on-road and off-road performance a secret, however, we do know that all models can pull 6,000 pounds without optional add-ons. Figures like top speed, 0-60 mph, and fuel economy figures will be announced later on, probably a month or two before the new Land Cruiser goes on sale.

Powertrain Comparison

Related: 15 Things You Need To Know About The Upcoming Toyota Land Cruiser

The New Land Cruiser Is Well-Equipped From The Factory

The Toyota Land Cruiser was always capable off-road, but it also featured a fairly luxurious interior, especially in range-topping form. Don't expect it to be as luxurious as the 2024 Lexus GX, but the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser carries on this tradition with new convenience and safety technology.

The base model comes complete with the rear locking differential, six-speaker sound system, and even a 2,400-Watt AC inverter, among other things. Moving up the line to the Land Cruiser grade, you'll find things like the Multi-Terrain Select system (MTS), Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM), and a very modern 12.3-inch infotainment system. The First Edition adds some other niceties like a tailgate light, back door guard, and leather heated/ventilated power seats, but the Land Cruiser grade really feels like the sweet spot in the lineup.

On the safety front, the new Land Cruiser comes complete with Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 suite as standard equipment. This suite includes all of the basic stuff you'd expect, including pre-collision braking, radar cruise control, automatic high beams, and the like. Toyota has yet to announce pricing for the 2024 Land Cruiser but has said that it should start out in the mid-$50,000 range at launch, with the First Edition being the most expensive.