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I’ll start with this: My wife recently got a new 2025 Lexus GX550 Overtrail. She traded-in her beloved 4Runner TRD Pro, and fancied herself a Toyota girl. But she skipped over the new Toyota Land Cruiser & went straight to the GX550 because she didn’t want a hybrid. The Lexus GX550 is a twin-turbo V6, whereas the Toyota Land Cruiser is only available as turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with a hybrid. But with that being said, the Toyota Land Cruiser doesn’t necessarily drive like a hybrid… let me explain. 

Land Cruiser 1958

Toyota Land Cruiser iFORCE-MAX hybrid…

I don’t see a lot of conversation or marketing around this, but Toyota is approaching hybrids in 2 ways. One is to gain MPGs & efficiency… as in the Prius, Rav4, etc. And the other approach is to gain performance & torque… as in the new Toyota 4x4s. I noticed this firsthand driving the Lexus LX700h Overtrail (which is a hybrid). The LX700h didn’t achieve record-breaking MPGs. But it did achieve a sledge-hammering 583lbs of torque. And this seems to be the case with the Toyota Land Cruiser as well. Yes it’s a hybrid… but i-FORCE-MAX hybrids don’t drive like a stereotypical “hybrid”. And 465lb torque in the Land Cruiser is nothing to downplay. Maybe the word “hybrid” is half the problem at this point. Watch video (below) for more…

Land Cruiser 1958 review

So how does the Toyota Land Cruiser drive?

In a word – smooth. The Land Cruiser feels lighter on the frontend than our personal Lexus GX550. It doesn’t have the brute muscle of the GX550. But here’s the best metaphor I can come up with: It gets up to speed like it’s catching a wave… meaning it feels like there’s a surge pushing it forward. Getting up to speed & staying at speed is all effortless easy-cruising… with a lighter touch than the GX550. The Land Cruiser’s suspension is surprisingly comfortable – both on-road and off (see short vid below). As a Jeep owner, I low-key fell in love. A lot of the hybrids we review – tend to feel like they’re overworking their suspension. But that’s not the case in the Toyota Land Cruiser. For being such a heavy vehicle (5,000lbs), I was truly surprised at how light & agile it drives. I don’t like hybrids, at least I didn’t think I did. But taking out my bias, I thoroughly enjoyed driving the Toyota Land Cruiser. It felt very natural to me. 

Land Cruiser 1958 interior

Land Cruiser 1958… 

Trim is a matter of taste, budget, & preference – but I love the 1958 base-trim Land Cruiser. It’s everything you need, and nothing you don’t. There’s a certain charm to it. I appreciate the nostalgic-style cloth interior. As mentioned above, the Land Cruiser felt instantly natural & comfortable to me. It felt like I already owned it. Like a favorite pair of perfectly worn-in shoes… and I mean that in the best way. There was no squirming, discomfort, or irritation. The base-model screen/electronics didn’t bother me at all (even compared to our decked-out GX550). Matter of fact, in a lot of ways, I kinda felt more at home with it. Things like the manual/physical lift gate versus the auto-lift gate on our GX… are just more fluent to me. To each their own I guess. 

Land Cruiser Cargo space…

Due to the i-FORCE-MAX hybrid powertrain, the Land Cruiser gives up a little rear cargo room compared to the Lexus GX550. The floor sits 4-inches higher in the Land Cruiser. It still carries plenty though. Arguably too much… as seen in the photo above. Boxy 4x4s for the win.

Racing simulator

How does the Land Cruiser tow? 

To be fair, the extent of my towing was just a couple stand-up jet skis… but I barely even felt ‘em back there. The Land Cruiser has a 6,000lb towing capacity. But with the turbo + torque of the i-FORCE-MAX hybrid and the new 8-speed transmission, it’s an undeniable improvement over the last generation 4Runner with the V6 & 5-speed. And it’s most-definitely an improvement over my Jeep JKU on 37s lol.

2025 Land Cruiser

My 11-year-old daughter’s take… 

There’s not enough cupholders (in back). It’s super comfortable & cozy. The air works great. 

Criticisms & speculations… 

If you’re considering the new Toyota Land Cruiser, odds are you appreciate Toyota’s standing reputation for reliability, longevity, resale value, and their thoughtful approach to design/engineering. With that in mind – I can understand where the hybrid might be the one thing hanging you up. The automotive industry has changed a lot in a short time… some of it mandated. And it’s added complication & cost to vehicles. Will this Land Cruiser last for decades like the Toyota 4x4s before it? Time will tell. But look – you can’t let the online nitpicks sway you too much right out the gate. Toyota is smarter than most. They know what they’re doing, and they have a history of making well-built 4x4s. So – that should give you some purchasing comfort.

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