by Future additions to Toyota’s Land Cruiser range will follow the lead of the company’s enlarged Century and Crown model lineups. Three Land Cruiser SUVs are currently offered by the brand worldwide: the flagship LC300, the recently revealed LC250, also known as the Land Cruiser Prado, and the rugged, retro-styled Land Cruiser 70, which also underwent a significant update a few months ago. Two additional models that will be positioned above and below the Land Cruiser Prado are being prepared by the brand for international markets.
Two Land Cruiser EV SUVs incoming
In order to establish the Land Cruiser EV brand as a standalone one, the upcoming lineup will feature a range-topping luxury model in addition to an affordable, urban-focused derivative. These EV SUVs will be based on the J250, also known as the Prado, which is the new “core” Land Cruiser model. The Prado is presently undergoing global market introductions. It is available with both petrol and diesel engine options, as well as mild hybrid technology, depending on the market.
Toyota Compact Cruiser to be entry-level rugged EV SUV
The Toyota Compact Cruiser is a squat, tough family SUV that was shown as a concept but appears almost production-ready. It aims to capture the essence of the Land Cruiser in a more compact, more economical package. As per Toyota, the idea aimed to demonstrate “how the ‘Cruiser’ moniker can adapt to an all-electric and ultramodern environment” and was specifically designed for young buyers residing in cities and having active outdoor hobbies.
According to Simon Humphries, chief branding officer for the company, Toyota is looking into ways to electrify the Land Cruiser lineup while keeping it “more affordable” and “within reach of even more people around the world.”The new compact will likely command a slight premium to compete with more premium rivals like the upcoming “baby” Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz’s “little” G-Class. It will serve as a more stylish and practical alternative to the similarly sized Toyota bZ4X.
Both the influence of the groundbreaking J40-generation Land Cruiser of the 1960s and the visual relationship with the new combustion-powered Land Cruiser are evident. The blocky, upright shape and squared-off arches of the Compact Cruiser are obvious homages to both the later FJ and its 1960s predecessor.
A variety of universal accessories, such as a roof rack, auxiliary lights, and branch deflector wires, suggest a similar level of off-road capability. It is anticipated to operate on a variant of the E-TNGA platform, which powers the bZ4X, which boasts a maximum range of 415 km and a maximum power output of 217 horsepower, despite the lack of official confirmation.
Toyota Land Cruiser SE EV SUV to come by 2026
The considerably larger and more opulent Toyota Land Cruiser SE will be located at the other end of the lineup. It will have nothing in common, both technically and aesthetically, with the previous generation of off-road-focused, utilitarian Land Cruisers. At the Tokyo Motor Show, it was on display as a concept car as part of a lineup that offered a sneak peek at a completely redesigned lineup of Toyota electric vehicles that will be available in the second half of this decade.
The 75th anniversary of Land Crusier could coincide with the launch of the SE EV SUV in 2026. This luxurious Land Cruiser, which is anticipated to be one of the biggest and heaviest vehicles in Toyota’s updated lineup, is unlikely to boast the highest range ratings, but it will undoubtedly outperform the majority of electric SUVs currently available for purchase.
Toyota maintains its commitment to the fundamental principles of the Land Cruiser brand despite the SE’s drastically altered appearance and road-focused pricing. The SE is expected to provide “highly responsible handling” in off-road scenarios thanks to its contemporary monocoque, as opposed to ladder-frame, construction and the “high-torque driving characteristics of a battery-electric vehicle.”
