The esteemed Toyota Land Cruiser celebrates its diamond anniversary this year after first rolling off the assembly line in 1951. As the longest-running Toyota model, this 4×4 SUV has been helping people get away from it all with a trail-ready design for a long time. After a two-year hiatus from North American shores, the Land Cruiser returned in 2024 with a substantial makeover to bring it into the modern age. The 2025 edition promises to continue this updated path while appealing to serious off-roaders who want a classic body-on-frame design.
To say people have taken to the new Land Cruiser is an understatement—as many were sold in the US in 2024 alone as from 2013 to 2023 combined. Should a 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser for sale be on your shopping list? This 2025 Land Cruiser buyer’s guide goes over everything you need to know. I’ll look at the powertrain, suspension, body design, infotainment tech, and more to see what it offers to people looking for a new 4×4 SUV. In particular, I’ll examine how it manages to appeal to those with classic and futuristic visions of what an off-road vehicle should be.
Powertrain
One of the first things that caught my eye when Toyota brought the Land Cruiser back to the US was what powers this machine. Like the previous year, the 2025 Land Cruiser is once again a hybrid-only SUV, harnessing the merger of internal combustion and battery-electric capability. The i-FORCE MAX powertrain has a 2.4L turbo-four engine, electric motor, and eight-speed automatic transmission that together produce 326 hp and an impressive 465 lb-ft of torque. The technology has plenty of quickness and pull for unmaintained terrain and gets a surprising EPA-estimated 23 MPG combined, which makes it adequate for everyday driving (for comparison, the previous-generation Land Cruiser only mustered 14 MPG combined).
Chassis and Performance
Not only do all Land Cruisers have full-time 4WD with active traction control, but Toyota also includes many other standard features that will delight the hardcore crowd tired of crossovers. The model has electronic locking rear and center differentials to maximize traction on slippery surfaces, a two-speed transfer case to grab lower gears for steep climbs, and hill descent control to manage the trip down. There is even Crawl Control—off-road cruise control—to take your foot off the gas. The Star Safety System provides a performance boost as well with its enhanced stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and electronic brake force distribution for an ultra-smooth drive.
Beneath the bells and whistles is a strong foundation. The independent double-wishbone front suspension, five-link rear suspension, coil springs, and semi-floating rear axle keep pilots in full control. With its towing capacity of 6,000 lbs, owners can easily haul ATVs or utility trailers. And yes, it’s a body-on-frame vehicle—there are no unibodies in sight, meaning maximum strength and payload for the size.
Incidentally, the 2025 Land Cruiser only has two trims. This will suit people who want simplicity in their 4×4 choice instead of trying to parse through seven or eight trims to see which has the best combination of features. The higher-end Land Cruiser (yes, the trim has the same name as the model) adds a Multi-Terrain Select System with six additional drive modes, including Sand, Deep Snow, and Mud. There’s also an available sway bar disconnect mechanism to let the wheels move independently for better grip off-road.
Exterior and Body
The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser still has the squared-off look of a vintage SUV—but it’s been updated from bumper to bumper for a contemporary touch. All the front lighting uses bright, long-lasting LEDs, including the headlights and daytime running lights. The entry-level Land Cruiser 1958 trim (named for the first year the vehicle was available in the US) has heritage-style circular headlights, while the Land Cruiser trim uses modern rectangular lights. Both SUVs have LED fog lights, but the top-end Land Cruiser uses Rigid Industries color-selectable lights to swap based on conditions.
All Land Cruisers have a front skid plate to protect the powertrain, 18-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare tire, frame-mounted tow hooks on the front and rear, mudguards to reduce debris buildup, rear privacy glass to shield passengers, and rain-sensing windshield wipers with a deicer for winter off-roading. Those who want more goodies will find them on the top-end Land Cruiser with its roof rails, running board steps, and power liftgate. There are also available features like a power moonroof and 20-inch wheels.
Interior and Cargo
I’ll start this section with an interesting note. For decades, the US has received the station wagon version of the Land Cruiser, which most recently was the J300 series. Now, the US-market Land Cruiser is the slightly smaller J250 series, which is known in some markets as the Land Cruiser Prado.
That said, the difference between the two isn’t as big as it used to be, and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser is still large enough for hardcore adventuring. It has a generous 43 inches of front legroom and 36.7 inches of rear legroom to comfortably fit five people—and there’s still 46.2 cu.ft. of illuminated cargo area with all the seats up. Fold down the second-row seats, and you have 82.1 cu.ft. of space for luggage and equipment. Tall people can maneuver with 40.1 inches of headroom up front and 39.3 inches in the back (note the moonroof will slightly reduce headspace).
The cabin has a nice look and feel as well, with heated seats, three-zone automatic climate control, an LED-lit overhead console, a leather-trimmed shift lever, and no fewer than 12 beverage holders to stay hydrated. The auto-dimming rearview mirror has an integrated compass to find your way in places where phones and GPS systems don’t get a single. Upgrade to the top-level Land Cruiser trim for an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, SofTex upholstery, all-weather floor liners, and a power-adjustable steering wheel.
Tech and Safety
This is where the Land Cruiser 1958 and Land Cruiser separate themselves the most. I’ll start with what is standard on each SUV:
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
- Six USB charging and audio ports.
- SiriusXM satellite radio with a three-month trial.
- A 12V center console outlet and a 120V AC cargo outlet.
- A 2.4 kW AC power inverter for equipment and appliances.
- A subscription-based AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot.
Beyond this, features vary greatly. The Land Cruiser 1958 has an eight-inch touchscreen and seven-inch digital gauge display; on the Land Cruiser trim, these grow to 12.3 inches each for expanded visibility and control. The speaker count for the main Land Cruiser grows from six to 10 as well for better audio quality. Both trims can run Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation, but the higher trim includes a one-year subscription. The available Land Cruiser Premium Package adds a 14-speaker JBL audio system, wireless device charging, light-up running boards, a digital key system, a head-up display, and other tech.
As for safety, all 2025 Land Cruisers have Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with numerous advanced driver assistance systems:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Road Sign Assist
- Automatic High Beams
- Proactive Driving Assist
- Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Merge Warning
- Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking
- Trailer Sway Control
- Integrated backup camera display with projected path
The Premium Package includes several more driver assistance features, such as Lane Change Assist, Front Cross-Traffic Alert, and Traffic Jam Assist. Whether you prefer an SUV stuffed to the gills with tech or something more bare-bones, the Toyota Land Cruiser can accommodate those wishes.
Vintage Off-Roading Meets the Digital Age
It can be difficult to simultaneously accommodate adventurers who want the hardcore off-road basics and those who want to be on the cutting edge. With the 2025 Land Cruiser, I think Toyota has achieved this. The midsize SUV has plenty of high-level components in the powertrain, suspension, exterior, and tech load-out. At the same time, it hasn’t forgotten where it came from with the essentials to survive extreme driving. Add an industry-leading hybrid warranty that provides coverage for eight years or 100,000 miles, and you have a vehicle that’s more than worthy of the Land Cruiser’s 75th anniversary.
