It had been almost fifteen whole years since Toyota launched a new generation of the Land Cruiser. Launched initially all the way back in 1951 as the Toyota BJ, the Land Cruiser remains, to this day, one of the most capable and proven off-roaders across the globe.
The 2022 Land Cruiser is Toyota’s most powerful iteration of this beast of an SUV and is touted to be their ultimate blend of technology and craftsmanship.
Even though the Land Cruiser will not reach American shores next year, it will still face some pretty tough competition from longstanding rivals in several different markets. Add to the mix some new challenges and you’ve got yourself a fight. Here’s how the 2022 Land Cruiser holds up against its rivals.
8 Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender is certainly one of the best off-roading vehicles in the world. In fact, it stands as one of the toughest off-roaders there is. It also stands apart from many other SUVs with its looks, as it has evolved into a very subtle and rugged-looking machine. The Land Cruiser, on the other hand, is quite bulky and massive, comparatively.
The Defender offers a 2.0-liter inline-four turbo with 300 HP, and a 3.0-liter straight-six twin-charged hybrid which outputs almost 400 HP. That isn't even the most- the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 option produces 518 HP. The Land Cruiser offers a 3.5-liter petrol V6 which makes 415 HP, and a diesel 3.3-liter that puts out 309 HP. The Defender, from the inside, remains just as great. Cameras help you see underneath the hood in real-time, the interior tech remains smooth and easy to operate while being luxurious throughout. It just might take the lion's share out of the Land Cruiser's market share.
7 Ford Explorer
Now, if the Land Cruiser were to (eventually) come to US Shores, which it won't be doing in 2022, the Ford Explorer would face some very heavy competition. After all, the Explorer remains the best-selling SUV of all time in the country. In the aesthetic department, both SUVs are massive and command a powerful road presence. With the addition of special Timberline and Enthusiast editions, the Land Cruiser's GR Sport variant will have a tough opponent as well.
In fact, it is the Timberline that just might give the Land Cruiser its hardest run for the money in the Explorer lineup. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine produces 300hp, compared to the LC300's 3.3-liter engine churning out 309 HP. In the off-roading department, Toyota's new Multi-Terrain Select system should make it more than capable of taking on the Timberline's highly-intelligent off-roading capabilities. Although, the Land Cruiser could definitely win over the Explorer owing to a better, more intuitive infotainment system and button layout.
6 Lexus LX600
The Lexus LX600 is quite often seen as a more premium, upmarket Land Cruiser. With the LC300 not gracing US shores next year, it is natural for customers to gravitate toward the Lexus. It's a surprising match-up when it is the Land Cruiser that is the more subtle-looking of the two contenders. Moreover, the LX600 will even have an F-Sport trim to go up against the GR Sport Variant of the Cruiser.
After Toyota pulled the plug on their V8 engines that powered the Land Cruiser and the LX, the LX600 offers a 3.4-liter twin-turbo gasoline engine, which churns out 415 HP. Furthermore, the Lexus sheds 441 lbs off of Toyota's own GA-F platform. Talk about showing up your competition through their own equipment!
5 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon
The Mercedes G-Wagon is one of the most popular luxury SUVs out there- it is a household name across the globe. Facing off against the Land Cruiser, the two SUVs would be almost equally matched in terms of power. The G 550's 4.0-liter Biturbo engine outputs 416 HP, against the LC300's 415 HP 3.5-liter petrol V6 engine. 0 to 60 mph on the Merc is a claimed 5.6 seconds, as opposed to the Toyota's 6.7 seconds.
On the inside, Mercedes are fairly tough to beat in the luxury department. With Nappa leather that literally comes with diamond stitching, it sure would be hard to top for the Japanese giant. One of the most notorious and versatile off-roaders, the G-Wagon wouldn't make short work of the Land Cruiser, but it sure would have the edge in speed and features.
4 GMC Yukon
The GMC Yukon would definitely be one of the biggest challenges that the Land Cruiser would have to face in terms of market share. Not only is the Yukon just as massive as the Japanese luxury SUV, but it is also a lot easier on the bank account. Even the base model of the Yukon comes outfitted with a massive 5.3-liter V8 engine, which produces 355 HP- that's around 40 HP more than the LC300.
Furthermore, there to take the fight to the LC300's 415 HP V6 engine, is the Yukon AT4's bigger 420 HP 6.2-liter Ecotec3 powerplant, although it does come with a $2600 upgrade. GMC certainly knows how to outdo rivals in luxury, and it is almost certain that it would do the same against the LC300. Where the Land Cruiser might easily overtake the Yukon is reliability, as the Land Cruiser remains one of the most reliable SUVs on the market, while the Yukon ranks quite lower than it.
3 The 2022 Range Rover
The 2022 Range Rover isn't simply an on-road luxury SUV. It earns the tag of being the ultimate SUV by being extremely capable of off-roading, even if most of its customer base won't opt to take it off the tarmac. With a wading depth of 900mm, the Range Rover is just as capable as the mighty Defender. The LC300, however, comes short with a 700mm wading depth, so if the battle was aquatic, the British beast would prevail.
This time, the Range Rover has also taken the fight to its rivals by offering a third row for the first time. With that shortcoming now a thing of the past, the interior, and luxury of the 'Rover is closely matched by that of the Land Cruiser. However, with Land Rover offering premium leather and vegan alternative blend for the seats, and the leather stretching out to the very back of the cabin, the Land Cruiser definitely pales in comparison.
2 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The Wagoneer has finally made its way back to the Jeep lineup. Jeep comes swinging at its old rival with a 123-inch wheelbase that is 11 inches longer than the Land Cruiser's 112-inch wheelbase. Being taller, the Wagoneer should have more headroom, and the longer wheelbase should provide substantially more legroom in the middle and third rows than the LC300.
The Grand Wagoneer would debut with a V8 that makes 471 hp and a standard V8 engine making 409 HP. In terms of powertrains, a V6 would be made available too, although nothing has been revealed about it yet. On the inside, every little part of the experience counts, and Jeep's critically praised Uconnect 5 infotainment system is sure to edge out over Toyota's less-celebrated Entune system.
1 GWM Tank 500
Chinese giant Great Wall Motors is taking the fight straight to Toyota. The Tank 500 is fairly imposing, with a huge chrome-studded grille and a muscular exterior. It is also larger than the Land Cruiser- longer than 5 inches and taller by one. In the off-roading department, it outshines the LC300's wading depth by 100mm, although it has 6mm less ground clearance than the Land Cruiser's 230mm.
The Tank's turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 churns out 350 HP, which is where the Land Cruiser powers ahead. GWM knows what they're doing, as they've checked plenty of boxes on the inside. A huge 14.6-inch screen is the piece de resistance of the center console. High-quality premium interiors are made better with Rolls-Royce-inspired stars on the dashboard.
It's a tough market out there, and only the best SUV would prevail- one that checks all the boxes, right off the assembly line. As impressive as the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser would be, it has its work cut out for it in terms of the competition upping its game as well.