Smaller version of Toyota Land Cruiser will be cheaper than the standard model by up to USD 20,000 (~ Rs 16.60 lakh)
Available across diverse global markets, Land Cruiser is one of Toyota’s best selling SUVs. It is popular for its superior build quality and ‘go-anywhere’ attitude. To make it more accessible, Toyota appears to be working on a smaller version of the Land Cruiser.
Baby Land Cruiser – exploring new possibilities
As of now, Land Cruiser is available in broadly three formats. There is the 300-series, the classic 70 Series and the Prado light-duty version. The smaller sized Prado is slated to be replaced with the 250 series. It will soon be available in North America. Toyota is working on other models such as a 7-seater Land Cruiser Se electric concept. This is scheduled to debut at Japan Mobility Show 2023.
At the time Land Cruiser 250 was revealed earlier this year, Toyota had given clues about a new off-road focused, smaller-sized vehicle. Latest reports indicate that this new version of Land Cruiser could be available by end of 2024.
It will be interesting to see what name Toyota chooses for the smaller Land Cruiser. Earlier, there were speculations about the name ‘Land Hopper’. However, this turned out to be a three-wheeled electric bike concept. Other naming possibilities include FJ Cruiser or variants like FC Cruiser. Another name that seems to make sense is ‘Compact Cruiser. This was earlier associated with the EV concept.
Or, Toyota may simply go with alphanumeric names. For example, names like Land Cruiser 50 or 60 could be a possibility. Irrespective of the name, enthusiasts can expect the baby Land Cruiser to have some serious off-roading capabilities. One of the primary rivals will be Ford Bronco Sport.
Baby Land Cruiser will borrow design cues from the 2024 Land Cruiser as well as the Compact Cruiser EV concept. It will have a boxy silhouette with features such as a prominent bumper, thick body cladding and tailgate-mounted spare tire.
Powertrain options
Initially, the smaller version of Land Cruiser will be available with ICE and hybrid powertrains. At a later date, a fully electric version could also be launched. A number of engine options can be considered. For example, the 194 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid gasoline engine offered with the Prius in North America could be one of the possibilities. Prius plug-in hybrid version generates 220 hp. This can also be considered for the smaller Land Cruiser. All-wheel drive (AWD) will be standard for all variants of the mini Land Cruiser.
Smaller Land Cruiser will be around 4,500 mm long. It will be 1,800 mm in width. This is the same as that of Toyota Corolla Cross. Height will be 1,850 mm, making it taller than Corolla Cross by 204 mm. Overall, the baby Land Cruiser will be dimensionally comparable to Ford Bronco Sport.
The 2024 Land Cruiser will be available at around $55,000 in the United States. In comparison, the smaller Land Cruiser could be offered at around $30,000 to $35,000 in North America. This will make it accessible to a larger segment of potential buyers.
