New member here, so I just wanted to introduce myself and share some thoughts as a new LC250 owner. I’ve spent most of my life in 4Runners (1997, 2001, 2007, and 2017), and while I’ve always admired Land Cruisers, this is the first one I’ve owned. After spending a few weeks with it, I’m honestly surprised by how much negativity I’ve seen online about this generation. I figured I'd give my take, especially coming from the 4Runner side.
I learned to drive in a stick shift 3rd gen 4Runner and took it camping, skiing, on road trips, and more. It had character and was fun to drive. My 2007 was fine, but it felt more like a family car and lost some of that rugged feel. I bought a brand-new 2017 Off Road Premium thinking it would be the best of both worlds, but it just didn’t live up to the hype. It felt sluggish and constantly hunted for gears in the mountains. Ride quality wasn’t great for a growing family, and even though I loved the look and capability, it always felt like a compromise.
Enter the new Land Cruiser. For me, it’s exactly what I hoped the 5th gen 4Runner would be. It’s quicker, smoother, and more refined, but still feels like a proper truck. I know a lot of people are bashing the turbo 4-cylinder hybrid, but it pulls better than my old V6, gets better mileage, and doesn’t feel underpowered at all. The interior is well thought out with real buttons and knobs, not a touchscreen overload. It feels rugged, but well built, and most importantly, it doesn’t feel cheap.
The ride is lightyears ahead of my old 4Runner. It’s still body-on-frame and full-time 4WD, so it has the bones. Rear locker, center diff lock, sway bar disconnect, and low range. That’s more than enough for the kind of off-roading I actually do these days. Sure, it doesn’t have a front locker, but I haven’t needed one yet. I’m sure the aftermarket will have solutions soon enough.
I’ve seen a lot of comments from people saying “this isn’t a real Land Cruiser” or “Toyota ruined it.” I get that people are attached to the 80s and 100s. I respect those trucks. They’re amazing. But realistically, the 200 was the last of the overbuilt luxury tanks and barely anyone bought them in the U.S. Toyota isn’t a charity. They have to build something that will sell, and I think they nailed it with this.
A few things people criticize that I actually think Toyota handled well:
Looking forward to learning more here, seeing what people are doing with theirs, and hopefully getting back into a little light trail use when time allows.
I learned to drive in a stick shift 3rd gen 4Runner and took it camping, skiing, on road trips, and more. It had character and was fun to drive. My 2007 was fine, but it felt more like a family car and lost some of that rugged feel. I bought a brand-new 2017 Off Road Premium thinking it would be the best of both worlds, but it just didn’t live up to the hype. It felt sluggish and constantly hunted for gears in the mountains. Ride quality wasn’t great for a growing family, and even though I loved the look and capability, it always felt like a compromise.
Enter the new Land Cruiser. For me, it’s exactly what I hoped the 5th gen 4Runner would be. It’s quicker, smoother, and more refined, but still feels like a proper truck. I know a lot of people are bashing the turbo 4-cylinder hybrid, but it pulls better than my old V6, gets better mileage, and doesn’t feel underpowered at all. The interior is well thought out with real buttons and knobs, not a touchscreen overload. It feels rugged, but well built, and most importantly, it doesn’t feel cheap.
The ride is lightyears ahead of my old 4Runner. It’s still body-on-frame and full-time 4WD, so it has the bones. Rear locker, center diff lock, sway bar disconnect, and low range. That’s more than enough for the kind of off-roading I actually do these days. Sure, it doesn’t have a front locker, but I haven’t needed one yet. I’m sure the aftermarket will have solutions soon enough.
I’ve seen a lot of comments from people saying “this isn’t a real Land Cruiser” or “Toyota ruined it.” I get that people are attached to the 80s and 100s. I respect those trucks. They’re amazing. But realistically, the 200 was the last of the overbuilt luxury tanks and barely anyone bought them in the U.S. Toyota isn’t a charity. They have to build something that will sell, and I think they nailed it with this.
A few things people criticize that I actually think Toyota handled well:
- Powertrain: I’d rather have a torquey, efficient hybrid than a thirsty V8 in today’s market.
- Solid axle: I get the nostalgia, but this thing flexes great with the sway bar disconnect and rides way better on the road. Even Jeep is moving away from them in some models.
- Tech: I was worried about all the driver assists, but most of them can be turned off. And unlike the fake 4WD shifter in my old 4Runner, the 4WD selector in this actually makes sense.
- Price: Yeah, it’s not cheap. But compared to what else is out there for this mix of capability, comfort, and reliability, I think it’s fair. I know some dealerships are marking these up over MSRP, but my dealership didn’t, and I got them to throw in some extras for free.
Looking forward to learning more here, seeing what people are doing with theirs, and hopefully getting back into a little light trail use when time allows.
They are constantly trolling the LC250 FB pages and forums. Don't make it so obvious you have no life and need justification to remain relevant. 
