All-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 now in Japan, PH next?

Toyota drops the Prado name for the Land Cruiser 250 SUV

Toyota wowed everyone last year when they revealed the all-new Land Cruiser Prado in the US. Also called the Land Cruiser 250 (or J250), the fifth-generation SUV now sits on the same platform as the Land Cruiser 300 (LC300) and features a retro-inspired exterior & interior.

Fast forward nearly a year later and the Land Cruiser 250 has officially been launched in Japan. With it, it seems it may only be a matter of time before it eventually lands in the Philippines. Remember, both the Land Cruiser 300 and the current Land Cruiser Prado are sourced from The Land of The Rising Sun.

Back to the vehicle itself, the Japan-spec Land Cruiser Prado looks no different from the US version. However, Toyota has decided to drop the “Prado” name from its nomenclature and simply call it the Land Cruiser 250. While some might say this is a simple name change, Toyota announced that the rename also signifies the repositioning of the Land Cruiser 250 as the core model of the lineup.

Whereas the Prado used to be a high-end luxury SUV that sits close to the Land Cruiser 200/300, the Land Cruiser 250 returned to its original role as a mid-range midsize SUV that can go anywhere it pleases. As for the number of variants, the LC250 will be offered in three distinct versions; ZX, VX, and GX. The ZX and VX come with three-row seating while the base model GX is only available as a five-seater.

However, those who want something a little more special can get the Special Edition ZX First Edition. This one has unique features like round bi-beam LED headlights, matte black aluminum alloy wheels, and 18-inch off-road tires. There's also the Special Edition VX First Edition which is painted in an exclusive Sand exterior color with a Dark Chestnut interior finish.

Like the vehicle revealed in the US last year, the Land Cruiser now sits on the new GA-F platform albeit shortened. The ladder frame architecture makes use of ultra-high tensile strength steel plates in certain places to increase body rigidity while also reducing weight. It also comes with high-mount double wishbones at the front and a trailing link axle suspension at the rear. Not only do these provide better wheel articulation but the new suspension also delivers optimized front & rear suspension geometry.

Under the hood, the Land Cruiser 250 for Japan is not available with an electrified powertrain. Instead, it's only offered with either a turbo-diesel or naturally-aspirated gasoline engines. The former gets the 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV inline-four that makes 204 PS and 500 Nm of torque. It is then paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The other engine is the enduring 2.7-liter 2TR-FE four-cylinder engine that puts out a humble 163 PS with 246 Nm of pull. It is then saddled with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Both engine variants are coupled to a full-time 4WD system with Multi-Terrain Select and a Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD). In addition, the Land Cruiser 250 benefits from Multi-Terrain Monitor which consists of four cameras that help the driver see around in all directions. This is particularly useful when navigating off-road terrain.

With the 2024 Land Cruiser 250 now available in Japan, we won't be surprised if Toyota Motor Philippines is already making preparations to bring it here.