The new Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser are closer than ever, sharing a platform and a ton of components. But Toyota very clearly defines them as different vehicles, and where the 4Runner is supposed to be the fun off-roader for the outdoors enthusiasts among us, the Land Cruiser is a little more serious. It reflects the Land Cruiser’s heritage as one of the most reliable trucks ever made. So, don’t expect a Land Cruiser TRD Pro or Trailhunter. The 4Runner covers that base.
“In particular the [4Runner] TRD Pro, is very symbolic as an American truck, like the Tacoma, the Tundra,” explains Ketia Moritsu, chief engineer of the Land Cruiser and 4Runner. Engine1 via an interpreter. He says it’s more appropriate to make hardcore off-road versions of these trucks. The Land Cruiser is another thing.
“At this point, the Land Cruiser is the Land Cruiser, it has its own identity,” says Moritsu. “The Land Cruiser is a car loved around the world… it’s a vehicle that has been perfected on the roughest and most dangerous terrains, so in that sense it’s an unrivaled and unique identity for a vehicle. We want to be able to convey the pride of being in a vehicle like that to customers, and so that would be their experience for the Land Cruiser, that trust, that confidence, that faith that they put into that vehicle.
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In other words, the Land Cruiser is the truck of choice for humanitarian organizations around the world; the 4Runner’s house is near the beach, at trailheads and on fire roads. Despite the similarities underneath, these are different trucks for different people.
Of course, you can make your Land Cruiser hardcore if you want. Toyota tells us it has released the Land Cruiser 1958 Edition for those looking to make the new LC their own. It doesn’t benefit from the stabilizer bar disconnect or other fancy features of the more expensive “Land Cruiser” model, making it better suited to aftermarket upgrades. There’s also the Land Cruiser’s Lexus sibling, the GX550, which comes standard with 33-inch tires and other off-road goodies in the Overtrail trim that provides another option for consumers wanting more features on their LC.
So if you’re looking for a factory Toyota rock crawler or dune jumper, go with a 4Runner Trailhunter or TRD Pro. If you want the global icon, get a Land Cruiser.
