2024 GX/Prado Release and Discussion

[Docyota]

Love the 70. Just drove one for a few weeks in West Africa, and while it's perfect for utility, servicing remote clinics in the bush, hauling bibles around, etc.
But downhill, gas pedal floored, that ol' reliable diesel topped out at 110km/h. 70mph down hill wouldn't cut it here. It made my gas guzzling, slow poke Tacoma feel like a hybrid sports car.

So, I agree. Not a vehicle that will do well in the states.

 

[TWILLY]

The LC70 just isn't well suited for most of the USA that's built of wide lanes, 80mph speed limits, and big parking spots.

It's perfect.

 

[Madtiger]

It's perfect.

Make sure that you have a kidney donor on standby…….

 

[stonepa]

Make sure that you have a kidney donor on standby…….

12 years daily driving my FJ60 made my kidneys impact proof.

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

If done well I think a Prado based LC could be great. They need to keep the commitment to overengineering and LC quality. The I-4 is what worries me. I really think it should have the V-6 twin turbo hybrid.

 

[OSS]

12 years daily driving my FJ60 made my kidneys impact proof.

30 years of driving mine made me want a different vehicle

 

[Docyota]

If done well I think a Prado based LC could be great. They need to keep the commitment to overengineering and LC quality. The I-4 is what worries me. I really think it should have the V-6 twin turbo hybrid.

Yes. But that would cause problems for the LX600 and sequoia. I'd love to see a Tacoma with 350hp, but that would kill the tundra sales.

There is a guy on Tacoma3G who put a Lexus V8 in his tacoma after his lifted, 37 inch tired tacoma engine bit the dust. But I suspect that will be the only 350+hp engine I'll ever see in a tacoma.

 

[stonepa]

30 years of driving mine made me want a different vehicle

Yeah - ive had mine 36 years but only lasted 12 years as a daily driver. Then I bought a new 100.

 

[Specialeyes]

Yes. But that would cause problems for the LX600 and sequoia. I'd love to see a Tacoma with 350hp, but that would kill the tundra sales.

There is a guy on Tacoma3G who put a Lexus V8 in his tacoma after his lifted, 37 inch tired tacoma engine bit the dust. But I suspect that will be the only 350+hp engine I'll ever see in a tacoma.

There’s a guy who recently posted here on Mud about his LS swapped 3rd gen Tacoma. Turned out pretty nice by the looks of this video.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Yes. But that would cause problems for the LX600 and sequoia. I'd love to see a Tacoma with 350hp, but that would kill the tundra sales.

There is a guy on Tacoma3G who put a Lexus V8 in his tacoma after his lifted, 37 inch tired tacoma engine bit the dust. But I suspect that will be the only 350+hp engine I'll ever see in a tacoma.

I doubt it would affect Tundra sales. I have both a 1st gen Tundra and a 2nd gen Tacoma.

I prefer the size of the Tacoma platform, but the power levels are lower than I'd really prefer, especially with how loaded my Tacoma is (6700 lbs GVW).

I love the power of my Tundra, but the width and overall size of the truck isn't what I prefer.
I feel that a 4.6 V8 should have been an option in the 3rd Gen Tacoma.

I'd like to know how the Lexus V8 (3UR, if I am guessing) was installed if it was with the factory electronics or an aftermarket ECU.

There’s a guy who recently posted here on Mud about his LS swapped 3rd gen Tacoma. Turned out pretty nice by the looks of this video.

I watched that video, none of the dash stuff is working. It's working, yes, but only just. If this guy lived in a place where Emissions are a thing, there is no way this would pass. And there is no way I'd consider it 'nice'.

 

[TWILLY]

Make sure that you have a kidney donor on standby…….

But, payload. When loaded, which is what they're designed for, those I've driven become a lot less rude.

I fear that a new Prado - the leading bet for Land Cruiser's second coming to the U.S. - would be largely redundant of current market offerings, Toyota or otherwise.

It'd prefer something heavier duty, with real payload and cargo volume capacity, but still narrow and short enough for off road chops... Something that hews more closely to Land Cruiser's utilitarian roots (in function, not just grill aesthetics) and that fills a market gap.

 

[Madtiger]

But, payload. When loaded, which is what they're designed for, those I've driven become a lot less rude.

I fear that a new Prado - the leading bet for Land Cruiser's second coming to the U.S. - would be largely redundant of current market offerings, Toyota or otherwise.

It'd prefer something heavier duty, with real payload and cargo volume capacity, but still narrow and short enough for off road chops... Something that hews more closely to Land Cruiser's utilitarian roots (in function, not just grill aesthetics) and that fills a market gap.

So, i assume, Tundra is too big?

 

[Douglas S]

Find a tundra you like. You can drive it a million miles and go highway speed! I think there's buyers. Just not a lot. The LC70 just isn't well suited for most of the USA that's built of wide lanes, 80mph speed limits, and big parking spots. It's just a square peg in a round hole.

Love the 70. Just drove one for a few weeks in West Africa, and while it's perfect for utility, servicing remote clinics in the bush, hauling bibles around, etc.
But downhill, gas pedal floored, that ol' reliable diesel topped out at 110km/h. 70mph down hill wouldn't cut it here. It made my gas guzzling, slow poke Tacoma feel like a hybrid sports car.

So, I agree. Not a vehicle that will do well in the states.

There is more than one variant of 70 in the world. The turbocharged V8 diesel is not going to have a problem doing highway speed, neither is the gas V6.

That said I still don't think anyone would buy one. I love my LC but if I was cross shopping a VDJ79 with a Powerstroke Superduty or a Cummins Ram the Toyota is losing that comparison.

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

All I know is that if Toyota built a new LC on the Prado frame, gave it the V-6 twin turbo hybrid, gave it "Heritage" styling and tilted it more to off road than luxury, I would buy the hell out of that SUV (at a reasonable price, of course).

 

[Jetboy]

There is more than one variant of 70 in the world. The turbocharged V8 diesel is not going to have a problem doing highway speed, neither is the gas V6.

That said I still don't think anyone would buy one. I love my LC but if I was cross shopping a VDJ79 with a Powerstroke Superduty or a Cummins Ram the Toyota is losing that comparison.

I was meaning the FJ80. Just poking a little fun. I know they can maintain highway speed as long as you don't have a trailer attached and there aren't too many hills in the way. The 1GR is pretty similar power in a pretty similar vehicle. The 4Runner is pretty close analog for a 1GR LC80/LC70 as far as performance. It works fine, but there's not much power on reserve. It would be a lot nicer with a small v8 or a turbo 6. I am a bit skeptical that a stock 1VD LC70 with 201hp/317tq would fare well on American highways. I'm not sure 200hp is enough in some cases.

Compared to a $40k base model Tundra at 358/406, it would be hard to opt for the LC70 as a work truck outside of a mining or forestry type application. I agree that at $80k, I'd be a lot more likely to be buying an HD diesel for work. Or even a Capstone Tundra - the use case where the LC70 wins out is pretty small. I love the idea of it. Don't think I'd be very serious about buying one at $80k.

The rumor is that a test mule Taco with the V35A was built but not approved for production. Not sure if that's true or not. Whatever the case may be - Toyota needs better engine options for the Tacoma, 4Runner, and likely the new LC assuming all of those stablemates share the same T24A base and optional hybrid powertrain.

 

[TWILLY]

So, i assume, Tundra is too big?

Yes. For me, coming from 80s, the Tundra feels massive with its long wheelbase, and wide width. And, it's not a wagon. It's a fantastic full-sized truck, but it's also a full-sized truck.

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

To be honest, I think the 200 series was too big. I have not driven the 300. But when I bought my 200 I also looked at a 100 and thought it handled better and felt more "right" sized. I bought the 200 because it was much newer and in much better shape. But I think a downsize would be a good thing for it. Just bring back the tailgate.

 

[m4hk33]

A 4.0 v6 4x4 Land Cruiser 79 pickup isn't $80k in most of the world. It's base price is equivalent to $39,745. Buy The New LC70 2022 in The UAE | Toyota - https://www.toyota.ae/en/new-cars/land-cruiser-pickup/ There's no magic. It's just a work truck at work truck prices. Unless you have a very specific need for it to be narrow, the base Tundra 4x4 is $41k and is a bigger more powerful truck that is nicer inside. Would it sell at $40k in the USA? I'm not sure. I think it would sell some, but not a ton. In large part due to the craptastic re-design of the Tundra front clip being so highly compromised for anyone looking for utility use. If you wanted to run a snow plow, or use around a ranch for example, the LC79 is better suited vs the plastics on the Tundra, but it probably also holds front weight better than a Taco IFS.

I don't think the rendering of a LC300 grill on a Prado is going to be the next LC for the USA. The new LC will (supposedly?) be about as similar to the Prado as it is to the 4R. Meaning it's neither Prado or 4Runner. More LC70 on Prado/4Runner running gear. What is the value proposition? I have no idea. Seems like there's got to be some sort of secret sauce we don't know about.

Food for thought - There are currently 3 (maybe 5?) midsize BOF off-road SUVs for sale in the USA; Bronco, wrangler, 4Runner (maybe LX600 and GX?). For Q1 2023 the Bronco already outsells the 4Runner by about 30%. Of total sales between the 3, Wrangler had 45k, Bronco 32k, and 4Runner 21k. For the 4Runner that is a 39% decline in sales from the same quarter last year. Toyota is losing a lot of sales in this segment by not having a Bronco/Wrangler direct competitor.

This is exactly my thoughts on the next LC...

At this point, despite being a big toyota fan for the past decade or so, I am quite agnostic about what I may go with for my next vehicle. I drive a newer GMC 2500 for work and it has its pros and cons. We just picked up an Armada Platinum for the wife and I honestly really like it.

I just think it really comes down to toyota can produce sometime interesting. i am actually more interested in the new Armada or Xterra that Nissan is planning for 2024.

 

[Madtiger]

This is exactly my thoughts on the next LC...

At this point, despite being a big toyota fan for the past decade or so, I am quite agnostic about what I may go with for my next vehicle. I drive a newer GMC 2500 for work and it has its pros and cons. We just picked up an Armada Platinum for the wife and I honestly really like it.

I just think it really comes down to toyota can produce sometime interesting. i am actually more interested in the new Armada or Xterra that Nissan is planning for 2024.

I think that the rear diff on armada is made for a pathfinder . Not sure about the newer ones but the old rear diff was incredibly weak.

 

[stonepa]

I think that the rear diff on armada is made for a pathfinder . Not sure about the newer ones but the old rear diff was incredibly weak.

Not sure but one of my friends has an Armada with over 300k miles. He has towed his heavy ski boat for pretty much all of those miles (usually drives whatever the latest M5 is) and he hasn’t mentioned ever having any issues with anything.