In this modern age where SUVs are becoming more efficient and using technology to improve fuel economy while still emphasizing performance, the Land Cruiser might become the new face of eco-friendly off-roading. A Toyota Land Cruiser for sale just might be the hottest item of the current model year, surpassing the domestic brands that have long been dominant in the segment.
While the SUV is popular among family-oriented consumers looking for an agile way of getting around town, many still rely on the segment to facilitate adventures in the rough and tumble work of off-roading. The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser has a distinctive advantage over its domestic counterparts, such as the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, as it boasts better fuel economy that makes off-roading more eco-friendly thanks to its hybrid powertrain. In the case of the 2025 Land Cruiser, Toyota outdoes domestic brands like Ford and Jeep.
Style and Flair
The SUV segment is by far the most competitive in the industry, and all it takes is just one look at Toyota’s offering to comprehend that the brand fully intends to dethrone another recently resurrected model—the Ford Bronco. Both vehicles offer a design that pays homage to their previous incarnations while exhibiting the modern features that today’s drivers look for. Toyota seems to have streamlined this process by providing two versions of its classic vehicle. The Land Cruiser trim has a more modernized presentation, while the Land Cruiser 1958 looks more in tune with its original incarnation.
Competing against the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler is no small feat, as both offerings are synonymous with off-roading. However, Toyota’s reputation for sustainability and longevity is something that few brands can compete with. I find that this reputation leads to the Land Cruiser having plenty of style and substance that will attract many drivers who crave adventure and a means of transportation pleasing to the eye.
Many drivers look for style just as much as they do substance in what they own. The Toyota Land Cruiser is just as venerable as the Wrangler and Bronco and exhibits the right amount of retro style that many look for. As we’ll see later in this article, the Land Cruiser also has just as much, if not more, substance than its competitors, making it a better choice than anything offered by Ford or Jeep.
Efficient Performance
For many, off-roading is a lifestyle and not a leisurely activity for weekend warriors. But browsing through the many special editions of off-road-ready vehicles built each year also means being flabbergasted at how inefficient most of them are at conserving fuel. It appears that Toyota has seen the same things that many of us industry writers have and decided to offer drivers an economical powertrain that can facilitate bold and daring adventures.
The Land Cruiser uses the same engine that’s been gaining rave reviews in the Toyota Tacoma—a hybrid powertrain called the i-FORCE MAX. The Land Cruiser’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired with electric motors, producing 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, a more potent combination than some six-cylinder powertrains still being made by the competition.
The i-FORCE MAX comes with standard four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission and can easily tow 6,000 lbs. These specs are impressive, but the Land Cruiser thrives on its fuel economy. Getting an estimated 22 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway for a total of 23 MPG combined, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser can facilitate adventure and help you save money simultaneously. Comparing the specifications of the Land Cruiser to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, we see Toyota’s revitalized SUV outperform its most prominent competitors. The Ford Bronco only achieves an estimated 20 MPG combined, while the Wrangler does only slightly better at 21 MPG combined. Even the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe only gets 20 MPG combined when not operating in electric mode.
Numbers don’t lie. In an age where fuel costs are unpredictable, every extra mile one can travel counts. The Land Cruiser is a far more efficient choice to save you money at the pump and reduce emissions on the trail. Combine that with the knowledge that most off-road-ready vehicles sacrifice fuel consumption for performance, and it’s no wonder why so many would appreciate the Land Cruiser’s ability to balance performance and efficiency.
Off-Roading Capability
Having an efficient powertrain that packs a punch is certainly a prerequisite for having the means to engage in adventure. As technology has advanced within the industry, off-roaders have benefited from cutting-edge innovation that allows them to exert control on any terrain. When a brand like Toyota, which is well-known for adapting its vehicle to suit the needs of the many, fuses technology and design to assist off-roaders in their pursuit of adventure, the results can be described as a game-changer.
Off-roading is an activity that can take place in various locations. As such, having the ability to exert control over the most inhospitable of terrains becomes necessary. Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system is a gift from the off-roading gods and offers modes that include Sand, Mud, Rock, Dirt, and Deep Snow. When used with Crawl Control, which allows drivers to navigate the most difficult terrains at low speeds by automatically applying braking and acceleration when necessary, anywhere is ripe for an adventure. Obstacles are also a thing of the past, courtesy of the Land Cruiser’s 8.3-inch ground clearance.
The Toyota Land Cruiser’s multiple drive modes, including Sport, Eco, Normal, and Snow, allow you to easily go between the city streets and the winding and tumultuous trails. This transition between the daily commute and adventures off the beaten path is made even easier with Toyota’s stabilizer disconnect mechanism. The stabilizer bar is connected when traveling in the city limits to assist you in keeping your vehicle stable and balanced; disengaging the sway bar while off-roading frees up the suspension to maintain traction and ensure a comfortable ride, even when the terrain is inhospitable. The Land Cruiser also has standard rear and center locking differentials to allow you to maintain even more control.
I’ve learned firsthand that the off-roading crowd is very hard to please. They’re only satisfied with the best, and settling for second in off-roading is never an option. Luckily, Toyota brings its knack for design and innovation to the forefront and has presented a vehicle that any off-roader can fully appreciate.
An Effective Balance of Efficiency and Performance
While the lineage and pedigree of the Toyota Land Cruiser might not be as well known to many as that of the Bronco or Wrangler, the new incarnation of the SUV is ahead of the curve in terms of what it has to offer. The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser makes use of a powertrain that’s highly competent in performance yet efficient enough to assist you in embarking on more adventures with fewer fill-ups.
Thanks to Toyota’s long-standing reputation for reliability, you can enjoy plenty of excitement for many years. With each passing model year, I find myself examining the off-roading capabilities of many vehicles; the new Land Cruiser is the first time I’ve seen one that so effectively merges efficiency and performance, ideal for any adventurer.
