Toyota Land Cruiser in-depth review .:. Full tech details, on- and off-road first drive

The Toyota Land Cruiser helped build the Japanese brand’s reputation for solid engineering, and although it has become a bit of a niche thing in Europe, elsewhere it’s still massive.
You can take that literally: in some markets, Land Cruiser is its own model range, including the 4.6-metre-long Land Cruiser 300 Series and the ultra-old-school Land Cruiser 70 Series. That comes with a 4.5-litre V8 diesel and a manual ’box.
In the UK, we get just the 250 Series, also known as Prado, and it’s entering a new generation for 2024. It’s not electric, it’s not even a hybrid (not in Britain, anyway) and the mechanical specification hasn’t radically altered from the old one.
But although the new J250 Land Cruiser isn’t a radical departure from the J150 of before, there’s still plenty to talk about.
Join road tester Illya Verpraet as he does exactly that, in this in-depth review of the new Land Cruiser, including on-road and off-road driving impressions and a full technical overview. Edited by Shreyans Chordia.
Here's the full technical specification:
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser
Engine: 4 cyls in line, 2755cc, turbocharged, diesel
Transmission: 8-spd automatic
Driveline layout: Front engine, 4WD, Torsen centre and rear differentials
Power: 201bhp at 3000-3400rpm
Torque: 295lb ft at 1600-2800rpm
0-62mph: tbc, 10.0sec (est)
Top speed: 102mph
Kerb weight (DIN): 2330-2550kg
Fuel economy: tbc, 30mpg (est)
CO2: tbc
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Visit our website at www.autocar.co.uk
00:00 Introduction, design, technical overview
04:58 Interior
07:30 Off-road driving
10:42 On-road driving
16:45 Conclusion

[@CrackkkCrazyyy]

This review reminds me of listening to a school presentation from someone who did their work the night before 🤣🤣

[@JJS432]

LOLL

[@MegaDogsBreakfast]

Far more useful than some other videos of people just waving their arms around excited by every single vehicle they review for views. Information is good

[@JJS432]

@@MegaDogsBreakfast It was terrible. Just be honest.

[@MegaDogsBreakfast]

@@JJS432 Or I just have a different opinion than you bro

[@JJS432]

@@MegaDogsBreakfast A terrible one I might add.

[@hannesviljoen8434]

This is like watching a first time vlogger trying his hand at reviewing cars. He will also be the first and only person to ever drive a land cruiser with a scarf.

[@andygrayson7485]

Haaaaa ✌

[@timwilcox8270]

Shocking how few professional road testers have the foggiest idea how to drive in these conditions. Such a capable machine, beautifully updated in a retro way!

[@mdshamz]

This probably the saddest car review I've ever watch. 😂

[@3DNETWORK]

Can't believe John Lennon came back from the dead to review this. A true testament to the amazingness of the Land Cruiser.

[@chiaenlin7014]

This review gives me the confidence to this great car. I love the reverse psychology: if he can drive, so can I.

[@GURken]

worst review of a land cruiser I won't believe that there was no one available in Autocar who never went off-road in a lifetime (like this guy)

[@ozymandias7940]

Have to agree, this tool knows as much about 4wd's as I do about nuclear fusion.... 😂

[@przeniko]

Complete waste of time and resources. 😢

[@chiaenlin7014]

With all due respect to you and this comment, i wish to defend the market/PR decision behind this review. I have been following many professional 4WD tester/drivers on youtube; i admire those professionals, however at times, they make me very very humble, and insecure about myself. This Autocar review, however, restores my self-confidence. Therefore, i consider this video a marketing success.

[@haider1413]

You have explained the on road ride feel very well. So, the ford ranger is better driving experience than this LC250?

[@TheBTG88]

Wrong - The FJ Cruiser was not an American special. It was also sold in the Middle East, Asia, South America and Australia. Wrong - The US does not get the 300 series Landcruiser. Lack of basic research here. Split tailgates were a feature on cars long before the BMW.

[@TheBTG88]

@@richardtribe9788 That’s because Toyota has a design center here in California. And while Jonathan (who has worked on my FJ40), was approached by Toyota to work on the project that ultimately became the FJ Cruiser, his designs and inputs were shelved and Toyota used it’s own internal design instead. He does not like the FJ Cruiser at all.

[@tempestv8]

Also wrong that the 300 Series is "bigger" than this 250 Series. The 300 simply has different engine/gearbox combination, but the platform is the same, i.e. same wheel base, etc. hence interior dimensions are virtually identical between the 300 and 250 Series. Only the front end of the 300 Series is 50mm longer (mainly to give an illusion that it is larger)

[@danielrogers4072]

Finally a review of the Land Cruiser 250 that understands the lineage and does a true comparison to the 150 Prado.

[@kevinkiiza1]

I actually feel he got it wrong. The LC250 or its predecessor the 150 is called Prado everywhere except the UK, US and Canada.

[@dimekoza]

Dude, if you don't want to be a car tester/reviewer - quit. There are plenty of people that would kill for this job, and will do it with love and enthusiasm.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Still don't understand why we're not getting the choice of the 2.4 turbo hybrid in Europe. Not everyone wants a diesel and the hybrid is much much faster

[@tempestv8]

Agree, same sentiment I have here in Australia.

[@ADI-hi5xz]

Is this the type of guy who we see during weekend protests and has bad hair days ?

[@TracyJefferson-yi4fz]

He didn’t want to go to the dentist, yet he went anyway.

[@ThePedroDB]

Seriously boring delivery. Left early...

[@RalapLindsay]

True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances.

[@derekchi2010]

This review must be the photographer’s prank

[@Jonathan-dl4nb]

Sorry dude but i almost fell asleep listening to you.

[@glideman]

I wondered what happened to my old geography teacher from 1970’s

[@plung3r]

Correction at 4:45 the 300 series is discontinued in the US.

[@dstreamer]

Not only eas the reviewer very dull. But also lots of road and ambient noise, was there an issue with the mic?

[@n3clar]

Off road cars with stick and leavers are made for places where if your car breaks down and you can't repair it, you die! Ineos Grenadier is not that type of car saddly,! 😅 Neighter this Land Cruiser... But Land Cruiser 70's series on the other hand is the one ! Respect for that

[@jbekiaris7146]

Dreadful, uneducated reviewer. The previous gen also had the pop out rear glass...you thought you were being really clever with that comment. Also, USA does NOT get the LC300 and never will. It feels like he didn't have a singular thought prepared...give it a bit more effort if you plan to make a career of it, old sport.

[@przeniko]

What’s the point of this review. It’s an off road legend and this guy doesn’t even show case off road capabilities of this rig and complains about the diesel engine vibration. The reason to buy diesel Toyota is to avoid expensive engines replacements like on modern Land Rovers. It’s built to last. This review is just waste of time and resources 😢

[@NydiaRose]

As the rest of the world is walking out the door, your best friends are the ones walking in.

[@jspope2008]

Why have they got Catwheasle to test this car 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@aphexbg]

Why is the AC at 16,5 in the middle of the woods and the dude wears a sweater :)

[@BetsyConrad]

In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice.

[@dhivagar1000]

3:14 those are 20" wheels brooo..

[@plung3r]

It's 18". you can see R18 on the tires, which means the rim diameter is 18".

[@LeonaLouise-up5xv]

8% of 25 is the same as 25% of 8 and one of them is much easier to do in your head.

[@martindrazsky7451]

This guy is hopeless... There is a lot of info on the US version to be found elsewhere but little on the European version - and whatever is available is very superficial, like this "review". Unfortunately, even dealers don't have much info yet and the marketing materials are incomplete. As an example, I am waiting to see if the Executive version coming to Europe will have skid plates installed as standard (and what kind / where). It doesn't help that a lot of the test cars are the First Edition that is however sold out, so it is only the Executive that can be ordered.

[@kichaa13]

'Obviously the car won't get stuck because it's a toyota event' What does he think that means? They laid down special anti stick mud?

[@user-om4fc1lm3b]

Yeah no, you can’t get the 300 in America. And the old Land Cruiser prado also had the same rear window that could be opened.

[@vp272]

Such a versatile and important vehicle for many markets but the reviewers voice is in this video is extremely flat. Lost interest after a minute and a half! Autocar used to be one of the go to magazine brands!

[@oliverbailey8788]

This reviewer will lose your audience. Beware

[@dave9614]

Why? He was excellent and writes most of their reviews on the website. Knowledgeable bloke.

[@andrewcampbell7030]

I came here to say the exact same thing, wtf… amateurish

[@bumblebee9288]

He is awful

[@L77yma]

If you don’t have anything nice to say…

[@hemmingj100]

Agreed

[@mateusztomczyk2899]

It’s extremely expensive for what it offers. You can get a Lexus GX from USA cheaper. Crazy. 100000 euros for a plastic Toyota?

[@lifescope]

Where did you hear 100k?

[@plung3r]

it's around $55k to $62k

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

Land Cruiser looks great - would love a 3 door version

[@ozymandias7940]

Dude, stick to lecturing at Oxford....

[@DavidDatura]

As far as I know new Land Cruisers aren’t available for purchase in the States anymore. And it’s been that way for a couple of years now.

[@Arytonsennafan1]

The worst car reviewer, l have ever heard! This was very challenging to listen too!!....

[@cangoksoy]

Finally!!

[@chrismeakings9007]

That was like a teenagers bad attempt at presenting. Awful.

[@blueharmonica]

prado .... prado..... prado.....prado.....prado

[@robinholmescnx]

Is this s parody of a car review?

[@yahtadi5152]

You speak very well haltingly. Might as well read the text

[@user-te9yq3wd8w]

Well done Toyota. Contrary to some of the comments on here, I think that the journalist, Illya Verpraet, has done a fairly good job here first time up.

[@cmg11235]

Hoped to learn how it handles in a corner. Don’t want to feel like I’m in a water bad when I lane change or corner. Guess I’ll have to wait to drive it in person. … I’m sorry but yeah this guy is just nattering on and on.

[@mbingham10]

Good job it doesn’t have hand jesters control it wouldn’t know if it was coming or going Mr tickle reviews the Land Cruiser 😂

[@andrewstevenson6540]

The Landrover isn't a competitor,these aren't bought by ponces to impress the neighbors. A Subaru Forester is a more likely rival.

[@redicej5843]

You don't look like an off-road guy tbh, more an electric cargo bike person...

[@freddiespack7444]

Just not the type of guy for this job , try librarian, you got the knit work …. Sorry bud this is not for you…

[@chase1as]

Dull review

[@09juliancarr]

2.5tonnes?! With a 4 cyl engine? Wow

[@YTM965]

if only the prado drove just as well as the Land rover defender

[@aaaviation1]

James Potter is going to need more than Hogwarts to present on Autocar. *yawn*

[@stevericcio9740]

After only reading the jabs at the review, my interest in watching it immediately stopped. Too much negativity to try it. The power of negative comments.

[@lnter1908]

In one go the car changed 3 colours from gray white and black 😂

[@ahemgee9542]

I believe even my amateur attempt to review cars , as a monotone autistic person , is way better than this dude! And those were clearly 20" wheels come on... 😴😴😴

[@insansiregar6158]

America also don't get the 300 series

[@Tracertme]

Much better than any Range Rover ❤✅💯🥂🫶👍 All diesels have always sounded and drive like tractors, just wind the window down. SUV are a waste of space.

[@petergazarek9466]

NEW TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 👑❤

[@joegrehan8608]

Thanks for the review I enjoyed watching.

[@lenny1157]

Informative review from a knowledgeable and relatable gentlemen who appears to be moving more than the Land Cruiser 😵‍💫

[@lav1daloca]

J250 is not based on the J150 its based on the J300 get that straight! Its also the same size as the J300 which makes no sense why Toyota would build the Prado same size as the big LC.

[@omaribawn777]

It is not the same size; literally look at the dimensions

[@lav1daloca]

@@omaribawn777 Hey dummy look at the dimensions again.

[@tempestv8]

The 300 Series and 250 Series are pretty much the same size vehicle - previously the superseeded 200 Series was much larger than the 150 Series, but Toyota has used one platform for the 300 and 250.

[@coljones98]

Never coming back to this channel again

[@mcjogom]

👍👍👍

[@lav1daloca]

30mpg is great!

[@panathaninf]

tinftouno?

[@agfitts]

Behave Reviewer Behave The review was like when a Sports car Punk reviews Big heavy boxy 4x4

[@CLaFong]

The vehicle is from 2024 but it looks like the presenter is from 1969.

[@haylemonkey]

Setright?

[@Salubrious101]

LJK? Just needs a beard and glasses.

[@carolcooks1208]

A haircut perhaps?

[@fahimakm3448]

This dude is so dull Autocar should replace him asap 😂

[@johnwighton]

Sack this guy. It sounds like a review created by a one person company, NOT Autocar . The sound is rubbish, the review content is weak. 1/10 at a push.

[@PeterMarkAzzopardi]

If it was a University presentation, it would be a fail

[@jasonbe6426]

Wtf

[@shiekhrameez7153]

AUTOCAR send a little boy to review the beastly vehicle. Next time send someone manly. This girl does not know about heavy duty vehicles

[@richgarland6170]

DID NOT LIKE THIS REVIEW

[@TJLiwanag]

Please get a mic. And lock your white balance.

[@jamiep61]

The best Video Review 😊

[@Silverfox1982]

Shouldn’t this dainty laddie be back at Hogwarts?

[@davidgoulden3543]

I have to agree the worst presentation I have seen sorry mate McDonald's is hiring

[@jonathan_careless]

Reviewed by Dr. Who.

[@abhishekkohli7930]

please change your reviewer…..very uninterested and boring

[@deet4895]

PRADO!!!!

[@user-ni2en7vq2m]

The Land cruiser was fine , but the presenter

[@CrackkkCrazyyy]

So uninformed. Every other sentence has inaccuracies

[@zoltrix7779]

Is this Doctor Who?

[@nanampyrn63]

best review so far, by alot. Watching from Texas.

[@mikezog1030]

Also one of the ONLY reviews...

[@ZherkaFunnierThanDaveChappelle]

From the thumbnail, I thought it was a woman! 😳😳😳

[@gritnltw]

No, I do not know .. “..you know..”

[@Jonoingram]

Reviewer needs to save his pennies and buy himself a personality.

[@chrisglover2133]

Terrible and incoherent review.

[@kinomorrison8004]

Get a hair cut

[@jr.techboss3440]

the worst review of a car and he talks like a crying baby and out of passion

[@davidoh709]

Congratulations. You're even more boring than Matt Prior.

[@shaun1900]

I bet he's read all the Harry Potter books. Terrible review.

[@akk424]

COPY OF DEFENDER

[@rone7982]

Not a copy at all. The LC will be reliable.

[@rolan2dr]

If this was fully electric I would buy it. We’re not in 1979 anymore.

[@oneeleven9832]

Not many other people would though…electric is crap technology & the climate crises is a scam.

[@kylem324]

Toyota would very likely sell fewer of these if they were all electric. It would be counter to the typical buyer of Landcruisers.

[@TP-3000]

Tell me you know nothing about cars without telling me you know nothing about cars

[@ozymandias7940]

Lmao... Full electric Landcruiser in the middle of nowhere... What are you going to plug it into to recharge, a tree?

[@deet4895]

You are an absolute 🤡 congratulations 🙄