The new Toyota Land Cruiser meets Israeli terrain for the first time

For years, there hasn’t been such a big hype in the world of off-road vehicles. Toyota is launching the Land Cruiser 250, the fourth generation in the lineup of off-road vehicles, following the 90, 120, and 150 models.

The curiosity is immense and justified: This iconic and significant player in the off-road world arrives in a new, modern, and exciting form. It’s not just a facelift or improvement of the outgoing model, which recently celebrated its 14th birthday. In a world leaning toward crossovers, Toyota remains loyal to one of its most important icons, upgrading and adapting it to modern times without giving up the classic specifications: A rigid ladder frame, solid rear axle, and independent front suspension. The 3-door version was canceled, likely to make way for a future mini Land Cruiser, and the 5-door is offered as usual with 5 to 7 seats.

Until the regular import of the 250 Diesel begins soon, a model we already drove at the international launch, we managed to get our hands on the new Land Cruiser 250 hybrid version, which is slowly trickling into Israel through parallel imports.

The powertrain of the American model we tested is based on a 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 281 horsepower, paired with an electric motor, resulting in a combined output of around 330 horsepower and 64.2 kgm of torque. In Israel, as in Europe, the new Cruiser will be marketed with the familiar 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine from the outgoing 150 model, delivering 204 horsepower and an impressive 51 kgm of torque, which is expected to receive a mild hybrid version later on.

The powertrain is paired with a new 8-speed gearbox, unlike the 6-speed in the previous model. It features permanent all-wheel drive, a center differential lock, rear differential lock, terrain modes that adjust the vehicle’s systems to different conditions, and "Crawl Control" for autonomous movement in difficult terrain, including hill descent control.

The suspension system includes coil springs at the rear and long-radius arms. The front suspension is independent, supported by coil-over springs with shock absorbers inside the coil springs.

Additionally, more equipped models feature a disconnectable front stabilizer to improve front suspension articulation, similar to what’s offered in two other off-road icons: The Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

The premium version of the Cruiser we tested comes with an extensive list of comfort and safety features, including 33.5-inch tires.

Design: While design is entirely subjective, there's no doubt that Toyota’s designers hit the mark. The new design makes a clear statement: The new Cruiser is an off-road icon and isn't apologetic about it. Its boxy silhouette and straight, square lines are especially striking.

The window line feels a bit high to me, but the roof isn’t low. The front is aggressive yet modern and beautiful, with a large, horizontal hood incorporating muscular bulges on the sides. The wheel arches are huge, as if they demand larger wheels. The most noticeable feature is the absence of chrome, with a restrained and elegant matte black finish.

The rear door opens fully upwards, though I would have preferred a different configuration, such as a split tailgate. However, the current setup includes the option to open just the rear window for quick and easy access to the large cargo space.

For off-road enthusiasts, the front is spacious enough to install a hidden winch, and it’s clear that the front bumper was designed to be easily replaced in case of damage during off-road driving—a nice touch.

Interior: As expected, the interior is entirely new. The conservative retro-modern design is evident everywhere.

The dashboard is relatively square, while the air vents feature a retro-circular design. There’s a huge screen in the center and plenty of well-placed buttons on the center console. The steering wheel is comfortable and filled with control buttons. I particularly liked the presence of real buttons and actual driving mode dials, a welcome change from the digital trend that dominates today’s vehicles. The idea of searching for controls on a shaking screen while off-roading? No, thank you. Toyota clearly understands its customers, unlike some other manufacturers.

The material quality looks excellent, with plenty of rubber integrated into the dashboard—a reminder of the rugged off-road vehicles that could be washed out with a hose, though that's not entirely true here. The mix of materials ensures a pleasant touch, durability, and quiet operation in rough terrain.

The leather seats are wide and especially comfortable, perhaps the best I've sat in recently. The driving position, pedals, and gear lever are nothing short of perfect—surprisingly and delightfully so.

The premium model we’re in comes with a large sunroof, essential for me, and the interior’s color scheme feels very American, with brown leather and a black-grey environment. Where are the designers who love light and brightness?

As mentioned, the central screen is large, but not very user-friendly. Despite the praise for the control buttons of the powertrain, other systems have fallen victim to "screen syndrome." Almost every simple action related to air conditioning or media requires too many steps, and they aren’t very intuitive. A shame.

The digital dashboard in front is clear, except for the small and crowded icons, especially those for off-road options. Why not design larger, more prominent icons?

The premium trim includes a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, a head-up display for the driver, USB ports even in the cargo area, a JBL system with 14 speakers, and more.

Safety: The Land Cruiser 250 now has electric steering, allowing for the first time the addition of lane-keeping and lane-departure correction systems, along with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition.

Performance: The engine comes to life quietly and obediently. A smooth shift into D, and we’re off. Even in the first few meters, the improved ride quality is noticeable. The suspension is nicely tuned—comfortable and controlled, unlike previous Cruisers.

The hybrid powertrain delivers impressive power and torque. It doesn't feel like a fully electric car, but the Cruiser moves with surprising agility. The new gearbox is precise and responsive, delivering immediate feedback with every press of the pedal.

Comfort: The Cruiser 250 raises the bar of comfort compared to its predecessors. The more we drive, the more it becomes evident that the standout feature is the exceptional ride comfort. It might be the combination of relatively high tires, excellent seating, and a finely tuned suspension system. Noise insulation is excellent for a rugged off-road vehicle, the climate control is as obedient as you’d expect from a Japanese brand, and the overall driving experience is comfortable and relaxed.

Handling: The electric steering is smooth and responsive, providing good feedback from the road. The turning radius is excellent.

The body roll remains well-balanced even during aggressive maneuvers, and the ride feels stable and secure. The brakes bite effectively, and the ABS system is not overly eager to engage.

Off-road: We turned off-road. Gravel paths were easily absorbed by the suspension. With the press of a button, the center differential locked, distributing power equally to both axles.

The driving mode selector allows for more precise adaptation to different terrains and driving styles. Even on rocky trails, the noise insulation is remarkable, and the build quality is evident—there's not a single squeak in the cabin.

At higher speeds, the stabilizer bars perform excellently, keeping the body stable and balanced. Control is easy and enjoyable—a lot of fun.

We aimed the long, horizontal nose of the Cruiser at rock steps and deep water grooves. Engaging LOW mode, switching the terrain mode to rocks, and activating Crawl Control—what more could you ask for? With precise steering, the Cruiser crawled elegantly over the rocky terrain.

But not everything is perfect.

After minutes of trying to figure out how to adjust the Crawl Control speed, I couldn’t. I tried every intuitive action I could think of. Nothing. Nada (read the F@#$# manual). I was stuck at an especially slow crawl speed, occasionally pressing the accelerator to slightly speed up.

Additionally, it was difficult to identify the system statuses on the dashboard. The icons were too small and crowded, making it hard to tell which systems were active.

The system integration works excellently, but if we focus on the basic traction control system of the Cruiser, we find that it's still not as precise as I’d like. The sensors take too long to detect when a wheel loses traction, so relying solely on this system in technical terrain would be less effective and enjoyable.

That’s when the Cruiser’s magic button comes in—rear differential lock—ensuring steady and controlled progress.

Disconnecting the front stabilizer improves the wheel tracking over uneven terrain, but the articulation isn’t dramatically increased.

The new Land Cruiser 250 indeed lives up to and surpasses the expectations set for it. It's an excellent SUV, continuing the Land Cruiser's tradition as an outstanding on-road and off-road vehicle. The new design and engineering make it even better, and it's one of the most comfortable and interesting vehicles in this slowly disappearing segment. I loved the driving position and capabilities, and it’s hard to argue with the brand’s reputation for reliability.

Through parallel imports, the hybrid premium version can be obtained for NIS 590,000. The official importer has yet to reveal the prices for the new diesel versions, but signs point to a significant price increase, though these will likely be lower than the hybrid's price.

Either way, the prices of real off-road vehicles in Israel will continue to rise, so it's better to grab one now while they're still relatively affordable.