2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958

More often than not, when an automotive manufacturer sends out a vehicle to be reviewed, it’s in one of the higher trim levels and equipped with a lot of options. That gives the reviewer and their audience a better idea of everything that that vehicle has to offer. Plus, features such as massaging seats, an onboard fragrance system, and a $3,000 branded audio system upgrade don’t hurt a model’s chances of making a good first impression.

I certainly enjoy loaded press cars (like the $71,364 2024 Land Cruiser my colleague Luke and I tested on- and off-road a few months ago), but I’m always curious about the more modest trim levels in a vehicle’s lineup. After all, not every potential buyer who’s interested in a Corvette, for instance, can swing the price tag for the Z06 version. He or she may not even want its additional power and capabilities.

That’s why I was excited to learn I’d be spending 48 hours in a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958. That’s the base trim for the reborn off-roader, but it may be the most important one. The last-generation Land Cruiser sold in the U.S., the 200 Series, was discontinued at the end of the 2021 model year, when the V8-powered, three-row rig had a base price of of $85,515. While other parts of the world received a new 300 Series Land Cruiser as its replacement, Land Cruiser fans in the United States had to wait for the J250 2024 Land Cruiser. It shares its predecessor’s name and off-road focus, but it’s different in a few major ways. The new Land Cruiser is a two-row SUV with a turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 hybrid engine, which is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. Those reductions contribute to a significantly lower $55,950 price of entry (excluding the $1,450 Delivery, Processing, and Handling fee), making the once-exclusive Land Cruiser (relatively) accessible to a wider range of buyers.

Of course, our Land Cruiser 1958 test vehicle had a few extras on it, which included a front skid plate, a skid plate to protect the transmission, rock rails, a roof rack, and more. Altogether, it had a total price of $60,790.

What a difference that $10,000+ gap in as-tested prices made – and I mean that in a good way. As its name implies, the 1958 has heritage-inspired styling, which is visible in the round LED headlights. Obviously, that chasm also meant our Meteor Shower gray 1958 press vehicle didn’t have a lot of the features that were on our Premium Package-equipped mid-tier media loaner, such as the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism, power-adjustable leather seats, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, power moonroof, 14-speaker JBL sound system, center console cool box, and wireless charging pad. It still had digital displays for the instruments and infotainment system, but their seven- and eight-inch screens, respectively, were much smaller.

At first, I was shocked to be in a brand-new Land Cruiser with manual cloth seats. Its lack of convenience features and gizmos quickly became apparent. However, those omissions didn’t truly matter in the end. Yes, the 1958 wasn’t as luxurious as I knew the new Land Cruiser could be, but that didn’t impact its core mission or its charm. In fact, the 1958’s relative simplicity made it feel even more rugged and focused. Yes, power-adjustable leather seats are nice to have, but they won’t get you any further up a rocky grade. A jumbo touchscreen won’t make splashing through a stream more fun.

There are so many people out there who don’t have to have all the bells and whistles (and the associated costs) on their next SUV; they just want something that’s attractive and capable. Aside from its round headlights, the Land Cruiser 1958 has the same basic, square-jawed good looks of the more expensive models. True, the Multi-Terrain Select system and the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism could be useful on extremely difficult trails, but the 1958 has the same electronic Torsen limited-slip center locker, rear locker, and full-time four-wheel drive system with A-TRAC (Active Traction Control) as its more expensive siblings. And all grades have the same engine output: 326 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque at 1,700 rpm.

Rugged SUVs are meant to provide a sense of freedom. Their buyers can get far away from fluorescent lighting and the soul-crushing confines of cubicles and high up into the quiet and serenity of the outdoors. The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser also gives its buyers the freedom of choice. They can keep it simple and their out-the-door price lower while getting the Land Cruiser’s primary capabilities or go big on content and price by loading their configuration up with flashier tech and more lavish amenities. Neither one is a bad decision.