300 Series Land Cruiser wish list *Toyota Please Read* (1 Viewer)

[weaselox]

These suggested improvements below are based upon my experience with a 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, combined with having owned Lexus LX and GX models in addition to previous model 100 and 200 series Toyota Land Cruisers over the past two decades:

1. Fuel fill on driver side (regardless of market served). Driver side on left, fuel fill on left. Driver side on right, fuel fill on right.
2. Smaller headrest for second row, middle seat - or option to securely store the removed headrest inside the vehicle when not in use. In the 2020 LC HE the headrest is full size (great for safety of passenger), which, when in place, is large enough to hide a small car or object as seen from the rear view mirror.
3. Headlights that track with steering direction.
4. Remote engine start/stop from key fob and/or mobile app.
5. Adjustable suspension similar to LX, both height and stiffness. Though it's understandable it's important to keep reliability top on the list, this option would be lovely.
6. A selectable 2WD option for city driving or highway driving when 4WD isn't needed (again, likely full time 4WD for fewer moving parts, but other manufacturers have figured this out).
7. Heads Up Display
8. Larger drink/bottle holders in door pockets
9. Panoramic sun/moon roof
10. Puddle lights for ingress and egress
11. Put Climate Control with the rest of the controls. The Climate button to control fan speed, four zone, etc. is separate from the other buttons such as Nav, Apps, and Phone. And/or provide a manual control for fan speed in the climate button cluster.
12. Compass heading readout in the rear view mirror.
13. Upgrade the tech. This is another vote for Apple Car Play/Android Auto from other posts in this thread. We are using technology in a 2020 vehicle that was developed in the last refresh half a decade ago. Please keep up with other manufacturers - or at least keep up with your Lexus sibling.
14. Option to stop the automatic hatch lift. Having the lift assist on the rear hatch is great until it crunches the hatch into the garage (or other low object just above). Being able to manually stop it would be nice.
15. Deploy the rear wiper from beneath the spoiler. Not only does it hide nicely away from view or the baking sun to prematurely wear/crack the rubber wiper blade, it also wipes snow off downward rather than up and over. Range Rover figured this out, as did Lexus.
16. Illuminated buttons on roof cluster. In the dark, one is left guessing which button is being pushed for a map light or any other control on the roof cluster above the rear view mirror.
17. Option to turn off the courtesy lights in footwells and doors.
18. Diesel option for the U.S. market. Pay attention to other domestic and foreign manufacturers who offer this option on SUVs (Range Rover, Jeep), and domestic manufacturers offering it on lighter duty vehicles (Chevrolet, Dodge). Yes, we want enough torque to pull a house and diesel is the answer. (Unless hybrid electric or full electric is discussed, then pay attention to Rivian.)
19. Interior Rear Hatch Open. This is a safety feature that will come in handy if the vehicle finds itself in water to allow occupants to escape when/if egress through a door is not an option.

For #2. I just put the 2nd Row Center Seat down when I don’t have the kids back there (85% of the time I drive it). There’s a little lever in at the base of the middle seat that allows you to fold it down. The rear facing visibility is outstanding when I have it down.

 

[Tex68w]

Sounds like the LX570 might be a better fit based off of your list. We have a GX and a LX and both have absolutely horrid cup holders.

 

[ElTeaKay]

For #2. I just put the 2nd Row Center Seat down when I don’t have the kids back there (85% of the time I drive it). There’s a little lever in at the base of the middle seat that allows you to fold it down. The rear facing visibility is outstanding when I have it down.

That option is great if only the rear seat wasn't 60/40. Yes! Found the lever and that helps with the visibility. So the bottom of the second row is 60/40, but the top is 40/20/40. Missed that in the manual. Thank you.

 

[teleskier]

Presumably they are scuttling the LC here for lack of sales compared to the Lexus. I am no Mr Toyoda here, but it seems ridiculous that they don't seem to understand the market opportunity here. The problem here in the US is that the market for $80-110k luxury SUV's is saturated, and they refresh rate on LC just cant keep up with the constant changes that the likes of GM and Ford are doing - refreshing vehicles every 2-3 years. Toyotas niche here is in durability and reliability, but they've squandered it by trying to make the LC a luxury truck and in so doing, driven up the cost and then created a comparison of LC's to Escalades. We all know they are not the same here on this forum, but we're not supporting the sales of these vehicles in the US - its the mall cruisers that do that. It is hard for anyone who just wants a big SUV to make the decision to go with Toyota. On the other hand, just look at 4runner sales here - its a rugged vehicle but not a "luxury" truck and they sell well - its the compact SUV.

There is virtually no SUV in the NA market that can tow a modern 8-9k pound wakeboard boat or large camper safely... Sure the tow rating is OK on a 200/GX/LX, but it could be better and safer. Old Ford Excursions are basically selling for the same price 15 years later with 200k miles on them. If they just put the cruiser on a tundra chassis, and a 1VD-FTV diesel puller, they would probably sell like crazy - good mileage, good torque, beefy chassis. It's in keeping with streamlined auto manufacturing with some overlap. Make a "limited" version for the fancy bits if you want. There is NOTHING else to compete at this time.

In regards to the interior, fold flat second row and third row is a desireable feature. Dare I say it, but in an LR4 I own, I can blow up an air mattress and 2 adults sleep on the perfectly flat 7' x 4' floor comfortably. None of the seats need to be removed to make it happen.

 

[weaselox]

That option is great if only the rear seat wasn't 60/40.

I actually thought mine was just a 60/40 split until I found the lever 3 years later....

 

[ElTeaKay]

For #2. I just put the 2nd Row Center Seat down when I don’t have the kids back there (85% of the time I drive it). There’s a little lever in at the base of the middle seat that allows you to fold it down. The rear facing visibility is outstanding when I have it down.

Thank you sir for pointing out that little easter egg!

 

[weaselox]

Thank you sir for pointing out that little easter egg!View attachment 2525709

You’re welcome. Now go for a drive. Totally different view out the back.

 

[ElTeaKay]

You’re welcome. Now go for a drive. Totally different view out the back.

Agreed. I'd just removed the headrest altogether and kept the seat up and have been driving around like that for months.

 

[ToyotaLandCruiser]

In regards to the interior, fold flat second row and third row is a desireable feature. Dare I say it, but in an LR4 I own, I can blow up an air mattress and 2 adults sleep on the perfectly flat 7' x 4' floor comfortably. None of the seats need to be removed to make it happen.

My wife has commented that a reliable LR4 would be nearly the perfect SUV for our wants. Once we factored in reliability, it was a GX460 for us. The LC is too big for her and we couldn't justify the premium, but we love the tail gate.

 

[Tex68w]

Weird, the lever to fold the top portion of the center seat down on our 2019 is up top and on the back. I've never seen a need to use this feature but it's similar to the ski pass through they do on cars into the trunk.

 

[Tex68w]

Dare I say it, but in an LR4 I own, I can blow up an air mattress and 2 adults sleep on the perfectly flat 7' x 4' floor comfortably. None of the seats need to be removed to make it happen.

While not completely flat, (we remedy this with some closed cell foam layer out in the cargo area) we sleep two on a blow up mattress in the back of our GX as well.

 

[k3pack]

These suggested improvements below are based upon my experience with a 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, combined with having owned Lexus LX and GX models in addition to previous model 100 and 200 series Toyota Land Cruisers over the past two decades:

1. Fuel fill on driver side (regardless of market served). Driver side on left, fuel fill on left. Driver side on right, fuel fill on right.
2. Smaller headrest for second row, middle seat - or option to securely store the removed headrest inside the vehicle when not in use. In the 2020 LC HE the headrest is full size (great for safety of passenger), which, when in place, is large enough to hide a small car or object as seen from the rear view mirror.
3. Headlights that track with steering direction.
4. Remote engine start/stop from key fob and/or mobile app.
5. Adjustable suspension similar to LX, both height and stiffness. Though it's understandable it's important to keep reliability top on the list, this option would be lovely.
6. A selectable 2WD option for city driving or highway driving when 4WD isn't needed (again, likely full time 4WD for fewer moving parts, but other manufacturers have figured this out).
7. Heads Up Display
8. Larger drink/bottle holders in door pockets
9. Panoramic sun/moon roof
10. Puddle lights for ingress and egress
11. Put Climate Control with the rest of the controls. The Climate button to control fan speed, four zone, etc. is separate from the other buttons such as Nav, Apps, and Phone. And/or provide a manual control for fan speed in the climate button cluster.
12. Compass heading readout in the rear view mirror.
13. Upgrade the tech. This is another vote for Apple Car Play/Android Auto from other posts in this thread. We are using technology in a 2020 vehicle that was developed in the last refresh half a decade ago. Please keep up with other manufacturers - or at least keep up with your Lexus sibling.
14. Option to stop the automatic hatch lift. Having the lift assist on the rear hatch is great until it crunches the hatch into the garage (or other low object just above). Being able to manually stop it would be nice.
15. Deploy the rear wiper from beneath the spoiler. Not only does it hide nicely away from view or the baking sun to prematurely wear/crack the rubber wiper blade, it also wipes snow off downward rather than up and over. Range Rover figured this out, as did Lexus.
16. Illuminated buttons on roof cluster. In the dark, one is left guessing which button is being pushed for a map light or any other control on the roof cluster above the rear view mirror.
17. Option to turn off the courtesy lights in footwells and doors.
18. Diesel option for the U.S. market. Pay attention to other domestic and foreign manufacturers who offer this option on SUVs (Range Rover, Jeep), and domestic manufacturers offering it on lighter duty vehicles (Chevrolet, Dodge). Yes, we want enough torque to pull a house and diesel is the answer. (Unless hybrid electric or full electric is discussed, then pay attention to Rivian.)
19. Interior Rear Hatch Open. This is a safety feature that will come in handy if the vehicle finds itself in water to allow occupants to escape when/if egress through a door is not an option.
20. A place for smartphones to sit on the dash or center console. Though the 'charging garage' in front of the shift lever at the bottom of the center stack on the dash is nice, it's awkward for when your passenger needs to put their phone somewhere.

Well you nailed it. Just did a 3k road trip breaking in my MY 2021 and I could not agree more with each point you made.

 

[Bartleby]

Well you nailed it. Just did a 3k road trip breaking in my MY 2021 and I could not agree more with each point you made.

 

[300blk]

Stripped down off road model for about 65k with no luxo s***.

 

[linuxgod]

Toyota's issued a statement affirming that 2021 is the final year for the Land Cruiser as we know it. It reads, "The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for more than 60 years. While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments."

 

[OSS]

Buy a 2021 now and put it in storage. In 20 years it will be a coveted collectors item worth $$$.
Sell the house, take out a 2nd mortgage, but don't let this one slip by. It's a surer bet than the stock market

 

[cruisermatt]

Toyota's issued a statement affirming that 2021 is the final year for the Land Cruiser as we know it. It reads, "The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for more than 60 years. While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments."

about time!

 

[PNWescapes]

I personally would like to see them go back to 80 series capability, with jeep like removal of panels, and a cavernous cargo area, in order to create a modular type system that can be fully upgradable with a plethora of aftermarket solutions.

The Troop Carrier that 4xOverland uses is a good platform to start with, but not perfect.

There really is no really off-road capable vans anymore since Ford got rid of the E-350 series and went with the transit.

You have to get the E-350 cutaway that they use to build ambulances and such, and build your own, or go to Sportsmobile and have them build one. Of which they are starting at $175k and going up from there.

Toyota could easily go back towards their roots; come back with a more utilitarian vehicle. One with the capability of the 80 series (triple locked, solid axles) and with the gear hauling of a van or troop carrier, and the modularity of the Jeep. Removable tops allow for easy camper mods that companies like Alu-Cab cater to.

With how "#vanlife" and overlanding has exploded in America, and Europe they could create an excellent and reliable platform for these people that are looking to have their "living quarters" inside the vehicle, instead of requiring a rooftop tent system.

 

[OSS]

My guess is the USA will eventually get a "FJ Cruiser 2.0" which will be smaller than the 200, have at least a hybrid electric engine and hopefully improve upon the long list of failings that the first FJ Cruiser had.

 

[linuxgod]

Buy a 2021 now and put it in storage. In 20 years it will be a coveted collectors item worth $$$.
Sell the house, take out a 2nd mortgage, but don't let this one slip by. It's a surer bet than the stock market

We all joke about this but it's not really an investment. If you buy it for $85k then it needs to be worth $170k in 20 years for you to have made a measly 3.6% annual rate of return. How much was a new 80 series? If you could find a pristine one with zero mileage, what are they worth now? Cruisers are not exotic hand made 1960s Ferraris, despite the low volume sales numbers in the US.