New Toyota Land Cruiser Debuts with 409-HP 3.4L Twin-Turbo V-6
The new 300-series SUV is enticing but won't be making its way to the U.S. market in this form. We may get a version as the next Lexus LX.
Toyota has revealed the new 300-series generation of the Land Cruiser SUV.
It has new engines including a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 and a 3.3-liter turbodiesel V-6.
We won't get this new model in the U.S., but we may get something similar as the next-gen Lexus LX.
UPDATE 8/2/21: This story has been updated with more detailed information about the twin-turbocharged V-6 engine's displacement.
Toyota doesn't redesign the Land Cruiser too often, so the arrival of this new 300-series model is a big deal. Compared with the outgoing 200-series iteration, this new Land Cruiser is lighter, more powerful, and has a far more modern interior. It'll go on sale in global markets but likely won't reach the U.S.—at least not in this form. After the Land Cruiser's recent discontinuation, the prevailing rumor is that America will only get the Lexus version of this new model, as the next-generation LX.
While we wait to see what Toyota does with this new model on our shores, we can dive into the specs. It weighs a claimed 440 pounds less than its predecessor and uses two new engines: a gasoline twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 with 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque or a turbodiesel twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 with 304 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque. A ten-speed automatic transmission and—naturally—four-wheel drive are standard across the board.
The new design doesn't look radically different from the current model, but the front end has a more prominent grille and a snazzier lighting setup, while the rear has new taillights and a reshaped tailgate. Inside, the cabin benefits from a significant upgrade with a large tablet-style infotainment screen and a cleaner dashboard layout. Three rows of seats will be available, and the third row appears to fold into the floor—a change from the current model, which requires you to flip and fold the wayback seats up towards the windows for more cargo capacity.
We should hear more about Toyota's future plans for the Land Cruiser soon, and we're curious to see what happens—if anything—with the nameplate in the U.S.