5 Ways the 2024 Land Cruiser Rivals the Ford Bronco

Meet the 2024 Land Cruiser

Tonight, Toyota resurrected the 2024 Land Cruiser for North America and it very much seems like Toyota's gone Bronco-hunting with this one, reestablishing a rivalry that dates back to the 1960s.

What do we mean? In the wake of World War II, there was the Jeep. Then Toyota brought the Land Cruiser to the U.S. in 1958 where it went on to become the company's number one seller through the mid-1960s. Which is when a little SUV called the Bronco debuted. (You may have heard of it?)

Over the years, the Land Cruiser and the Bronco grew larger and larger until both were put out to pasture. The Bronco returned three years ago as a modern take on its 1960s origins. And tonight, Toyota's taken a few pages from the Ford playbook and brought back a lighter, narrower, and more nostalgic Land Cruiser that's priced starting in the mid-$50,000 range.

Right where many mid-to-premium tier Broncos hang out. And so here are five ways the new Land Cruiser rivals the Bronco aka five reasons you might consider buying the Land Cruiser instead of the Bronco (which we, of course, love) --

1. Modern Ride, 2 Nostalgic Designs

Much like the 2020 Bronco, Toyota's reaching back into the past and toward the future to hopefully sell a metric crap-ton of Land Cruisers. But here's a crazy move we don't think we've seen before.

Toyota's offering not just one, but TWO different headlight configurations. The Land Cruiser 1958, which is the cloth-seat bare-bones edition, and the Land Cruiser First Edition, which like the Bronco First Edition, is a limited-run premium model with every conceivable option, feature rounded LED headlights and fog lights inspired by the very first Land Cruiser ever sold in the united states. And the 2024 Land Cruiser (no special name, gets rectangular headlights inspired by the 1985-1992 FJ62.  

Under its skin, however, the 2024 Land Cruiser is a body-on-frame SUV with a modern double-wishbone front suspension with twin-tube shocks and a rear multi-link setup with coil springs.

2. More Torque is More Fun

The 2024 Land Cruiser boasts a 2.4L Turbo Hybrid drivetrain that pumps out 326 peak horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of max torque. Imagine Ford taking the base 2.3L Bronco engine and adding in the hybrid system from the F-150 PowerBoost and that's pretty much what Toyota's doing here. And it's also the only engine option. 

Compare that to the Bronco's more expensive 2.7L twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost engine. It produces 330 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. of max torque. A few more ponies to be sure, but way down on torque. And remember that electric motor torque is INSTANT right off the line.

Now, you could step up to the Bronco Raptor with its twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost making 418 horsepower and 440 ft.-lbs. of torque. That one going to pull harder at higher speeds. But the Land Cruiser still has more torque.

3. Towing the Line (And Then Some)

Admittedly, any Bronco with the Sasquatch Package, not to mention a Wildtrak or a Raptor, is going to be a better factory-equipped rock crawler. (At least based on Toyota's initial descriptions.) But off-roaders don't need to be extreme to be competent. And sometimes folks need an off-road capable vehicle that can also tow a boat or a small camper.

To wit, the 2024 Land Cruiser can tow up to 6,000 pounds. Compare that to 3,500 pounds on the standard Broncos, and 4,500 pounds with the Raptor. 

If you need a tow rig while overland, you might want to get a Land Cruiser and just pick up a better set of tires (and maybe a lift) and you'll be all set. 

4. Noise vs. Comfort

I've personally driven five different Bronco variants at this point, from the lowly base model up to the mighty Raptor. The Bronco is amazing and fun and it drives really well. But take one of these brick-shaped boxes up to 80 miles an hour and you can barely hear the radio. And this is WITH the insulated hardtop option. The cloth top is even worse. 

The Land Cruiser, in comparison, is not a convertible. It's a genuine body-on-frame SUV (like a smaller Expedition) with an honest to god roof. Which means it's going to be quieter inside and more refined. That roof is also going to make the Cruiser more rigid and less prone to flex than the Bronco, which is helpful for a variety of on and off-road activities. 

5. Genuine Premium Ammenties

Again, I adore the Bronco in so many ways. But even when you step up into the $60 to $80 grand range with leather seating and a "premium" radio, it still feels pretty cheap inside. The leather's fine. And the radio is serviceable. Much like the Shelby GT350 or GT500, you buy a performance Ford for its capabilities, not because it's actually a luxury car.

The Land Cruiser, by contrast, is going to offer an optional 14-speaker JBL audio system alongside a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, dynamic radar cruise control, heated and ventilated leather seating, and much, much more. 

In short, the Bronco may offer a little more off-road prowess, whereas the Land Cruiser is likely to deliver more premium luxuries that actually feel premium.