2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 Review – Iconic Looks, Rugged Drive

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser stands as one of the most characterful vehicles of the year, embodying rugged capability and heritage-focused design that celebrates the nameplate’s storied history—a legacy this new 250 Series honors when traversing challenging terrain.

The Undeniable Appeal

If automotive enthusiasm flows through your veins, you inherently understand this vehicle’s allure. Toyota’s design team deserves substantial credit; they’ve created a Land Cruiser that projects both toughness and approachability, resembling a trustworthy companion for adventures ahead. Enthusiasts from both the round-headlight and rectangular-headlight camps can agree that the 250’s styling properly honors the legendary Land Cruiser badge.

The driving experience offers genuine authenticity as well. Classic truck-like dynamics provide the Land Cruiser with a determined imprecision that engages drivers in commanding this gentle giant across various terrains. With the exception of a slightly firm brake pedal, all controls feature a relaxed feel that makes the driving experience pleasantly unhurried.

Ride quality emerges as a particular highlight. While the subtle shimmies inherent to body-on-frame construction remain present, plush comfort predominates as the structure absorbs impacts with confidence. Substantial tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels provide initial cushioning before the compliant suspension takes over.

Despite some body movement, the Land Cruiser maintains substantial presence and composure. This characteristic proves valuable during steady highway cruising and becomes genuinely appreciable off-road, where the suspension effectively minimizes chop while articulating to maintain stability.

During our evaluation on familiar local trails, the Land Cruiser demonstrated impressive capability. On dry, rocky terrain, its full-time four-wheel drive system compensated for the 1958 trim’s relatively modest tire tread pattern. While locking center and rear differentials stand ready when needed, the vehicle never faltered on routes that have challenged other SUVs. The Land Cruiser required only minimal dirt exposure to convince us that gentle treatment was unnecessary, and soon we were confidently navigating switchbacks and ascending inclines.

Practical Considerations

In an era dominated by fashion-forward crossovers with limited actual capability, the Land Cruiser’s purposeful engineering provides a refreshing alternative. However, if utilizing its genuine off-road prowess isn’t your primary motivation, several factors might direct you toward different options.

The nearly $60,000 starting price demands careful consideration; our modestly optioned 1958 model reached $61,640. This base variant costs similarly to various specialty vehicles offering genuine luxury, impressive efficiency, engaging performance, or trail capability—your choice. Moreover, it sits within a few thousand dollars of its corporate sibling, the excellent Lexus GX.

This pricing becomes more difficult to justify when examining the 1958’s interior, which features materials and trim reminiscent of an entry-level Corolla. Hard black plastic dominates throughout—door panels, dashboard, and center console consist almost entirely of this utilitarian material. The manually adjustable seats feature fabric that, while adequately soft, resembles a slightly refined burlap weave. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter provide welcome exceptions.

The 1958’s feature set would seem appropriate in a basic vehicle costing half as much. The 7.0-inch driver’s display and 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen appear small and somewhat pixelated, though the six-speaker audio system delivers acceptable performance. No sunroof option exists for the 1958 trim. USB-C ports are present, but a wireless charging pad is absent. The front seats and steering wheel do offer heating functionality, while rear passengers receive their own climate zone.

Some might interpret these observations as criticisms, while others view them as ideally aligned with purpose. This durable, minimalist cabin could represent part of the Land Cruiser’s mission-focused approach: free from delicate elements that might not withstand unpaved adventures. Importantly, everything appears well-constructed, and physical controls fortunately outnumber digital interfaces.

Of course, upgrading to the higher-end Land Cruiser trim provides access to more refined finishes for a modest price increase.

Performance and Efficiency

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 Specifications

Testing Results

In our testing, this 1958 model delivered results nearly identical to the higher-trim Land Cruiser previously evaluated. Its 0-60 mph acceleration required 8.1 seconds, eventually completing the quarter mile in 16.3 seconds at 84.3 mph. Skidpad grip measured 0.71 g average, with a figure-eight lap of 29.3 seconds at 0.57 g average—modest figures yet expected from a roughly 5,500-pound vehicle topped with a metal roof rack.

The most significant difference between this 1958 and the First Edition appears in the 60-0 braking distance, which required 131 feet in our test vehicle versus 117 feet in the latter, primarily attributable to their different tire specifications.

Every 250 Series Land Cruiser features Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor integrated within the eight-speed automatic transmission. Generating 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, this system shouldn’t be confused with the efficiency-focused setup from a Prius—despite its complexity, it performs comparably to the previous model’s V-8, never sacrificing capability for economy when power delivery matters.

Rich with low-end electric torque and producing a pleasingly mechanical sound, this i-Force Max configuration complements the new Land Cruiser’s character and capabilities effectively. Slightly noticeable transitions between engine and motor operation add to its distinctive personality. On trails, these power sources collaborate to maintain steady progress up inclines while utilizing their decompression and regeneration capabilities to control descents. However, outright acceleration remains modest.

Nor—despite hybridization—does the Land Cruiser deliver exceptional fuel efficiency. While officially EPA-rated at 22/25/23 mpg city/highway/combined according to the EPA’s fuel economy database, we observed approximately 18 mpg in mixed driving, consistent with previous Land Cruisers tested. This performance makes the EPA’s 412-mile full-tank range rating appear optimistic—not ideal for extended overlanding expeditions.

While the Land Cruiser easily inspires affection, recommending it as a practical $60,000+ investment proves challenging. This isn’t because the 250 drives poorly or lacks versatility for daily tasks. Rather, at this price point, finding alternatives that simply offer more comprehensive packages isn’t difficult. What’s challenging is identifying where your investment went.

However, if you intend to use this Toyota as a true Land Cruiser—taking it far beyond paved roads—the equation changes significantly. Venture into remote areas, and you’ll appreciate how the robust chassis, capable powertrain, and focused interior justify their cost. The timeless charisma represents a quality desirable in any vehicle, but the Land Cruiser 1958 doesn’t rely solely on heritage to demonstrate its purposeful excellence.

FAQs

Q: Does the 2025 Land Cruiser 1958 have third-row seating?
A: No, the Land Cruiser 1958 is configured as a five-passenger vehicle with two rows of seating.

Q: What is the towing capacity of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser?
A: The 2025 Land Cruiser offers a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped according to NHTSA towing safety guidelines.

Q: Is the Land Cruiser 1958 available with a diesel engine?
A: No, in North America the 2025 Land Cruiser is exclusively offered with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain.