Famed for its dependability and robust build, Toyota is one of those brands that require no introduction. It’s no surprise that common folks associate the moniker with mundane runabouts. But Toyota has a long-running nameplate in its lineup that’s so iconic that it’s worth calling it a standalone brand.

For those wondering, it’s none other than the Toyota Land Cruiser. Born in the early 1950s, the Land Cruiser proved itself as a dependable off-roader and quickly rose to fame. The Land Cruiser's utility and dependable nature made it one of the "toughest" competitors in the family SUV segment.

However, modern SUVs are pretty much all show and no go. In a competitive market, it’s important to stay ahead, and Toyota, in all honesty, is not really quick to adopt changes. With the new LC300, however, Toyota has taken a leap in terms of technology. Then again, we feel it’s distancing itself from what the OG Land Cruiser stood for.

Needless to say, it won’t be nearly as flexible a utilitarian as its predecessors, especially the pre-2000s models. Sure the LC300 would prove capable, but it won’t stand a chance against the bullet-proof Land Cruisers of the past. However, it will last more than most large SUVs out there. You can bet on that.

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Toyota Land Cruiser: The Birth Of An Icon

2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series Front Profile Featured
Via Toyota

As you might know, Jeep played an important role in aiding the men at war. Largely their companion when traversing all sorts of terrain, the Jeep Willys was an icon with veteran status. Much like how American sentiments work towards the capable Jeep, the Japanese had their own four-wheeled companion during times of turmoil.

However, since engineering back then was a daunting task for the Japanese, Toyota was assigned to make capable 4x4s that mimicked the Jeep. Come 1951, and the Korean war meant the U.S was in demand for a military-spec light utility vehicle. The United States government decided to order 100 units of the Jeep Willys and tasked Toyota to manufacture them. This led to the inception of the Toyota "Jeep" BJ series.

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser front view in snow
Via: Toyota

There’s an interesting take on how the Toyota 4x4 got named Land Cruiser. Technical director Hanji Umehara coined the name “Land Cruiser” as a dignified alternative to its competitor in England, Land Rover. It didn’t take long for Toyota to start improving its offering and several iterations followed: the 20 Series (J20/ J30) in 1955, the 40 Series (J40) in 1960, 60 Series (J60) in 1980, the 80 Series in 1990, 100 series in 1998, 200 Series in 2007 and the latest 300 Series in 2021.

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Why Is The Toyota Land Cruiser So Reliable?

Front 3/4 view of a gold pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

In its early days, the Land Cruiser was a military exercise built for the road less traveled. As years progressed, Toyota wanted the Land Cruiser to be more family-friendly. However, Toyota developed the Land Cruiser to tackle rough and unfavorable conditions across the globe. So the brand wasn’t keen on sacrificing the Land Cruiser’s go-anywhere capabilities. Hence the team, using the Kaizen principles, which they follow even to this day, built—or, let’s say, over-engineered— a family SUV with care and attention.

Land Cruisers are designed to last almost forever, robust examples with over 300,000 miles are not uncommon. Generally, Toyota puts out a goal that says they should be able to last for 25 years. This is evident in some of the Land Cruiser’s inherent design features. When compared, the brake rotors and windshield are often thicker than other vehicles. Moreover, the engine and chassis design are fairly simple yet robust, with fewer complexities that can go wrong. Countless reviewers have complained about the LC200 not having fancy rear-wheel-steering or very many electronic add-ons. It’s no surprise why Toyota wasn’t quick to adopt these changes.

Rear 3/4 view of a gold pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

If you want things to last, it’s better to stick to the basics; stand alongside the tried and tested principles. That’s one of the highlights of following Kaizen. It’s about perfecting an idea and progressively evolving it. Understandably, you can’t simply stick to an ethos and just go with the flow. You will have to innovate, but it needn’t be radical. Unlike what most OEMs do, Toyota isn’t crazy about introducing ground-breaking technology.

The 4Runner is an excellent example. The sixth-generation 4Runner is just around the corner. But why do you think it’s taking so long? The new truck has to live up to its name as a dependable vehicle, and Toyota will make sure it does. If that requires time, then it’s okay. Even though the 4Runner is old, people are buying it, albeit paying crazy premiums.

Conversely, a lack of demand pushed Toyota to axe the Land Cruiser in the U.S. However, when Toyota declared the Land Cruiser getting discontinued, sales rocketed, which says a lot about the iconic SUV. Toyota sold more Land Cruisers in January 2021 than any other month in the last decade.

Sources: Toyota