2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Combines Hybrid Efficiency with Off-Road Heritage

Toyota launches the 2026 Land Cruiser with 326 hp hybrid powertrain, full-time 4WD, and advanced safety tech. Arriving fall 2025 starting at $57,200.

Toyota has unveiled the 2026 Land Cruiser for the U.S. market, a careful evolution of the 250 Series that blends a proven body-on-frame layout with a hybrid powertrain and a broader suite of driver assistance features. U.S. arrivals begin in September 2025 with a starting MSRP of $57,200 before fees.

The centerpiece is the i-FORCE MAX system: a turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor integrated between the engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission. Total output stands at 326 hp and 465 lb-ft, delivered through full-time four-wheel drive. Toyota quotes a combined 23 mpg (EPA estimate), a notable improvement over the previous U.S.-market generation.

Off-road hardware remains central to the Land Cruiser’s identity. Center and rear locking differentials are standard, a front stabilizer bar disconnect (SDM) is available for greater articulation, and the vehicle offers Multi-Terrain Select (including in 4H), CRAWL Control, Downhill Assist, and a full set of traction aids. For technical trails, the Multi-Terrain Monitor uses cameras to reveal obstacles around the vehicle.

The truck rides on Toyota’s TNGA-F boxed ladder frame with targeted reinforcements, preserving the model’s durability while improving on-road manners. Towing is rated up to 6,000 pounds, reflecting the hybrid system’s strong low-end torque and the chassis’ stiffness.

Inside, the focus is on practical comfort and technology. Heated and ventilated front seats are available, second-row seatbacks can recline, and Toyota’s Audio Multimedia system comes with either an 8-inch or available 12.3-inch touchscreen, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Options include a 14-speaker JBL audio system, wireless charging, multiple USB-C ports, a 2,400-watt cargo-area inverter, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. A Smart Key System is standard, and with an active Remote Connect trial the Digital Key feature allows compatible phones to unlock and start the vehicle.

The U.S. lineup is intentionally simple. The 1958 grade leans into heritage cues with round LED headlamps and a “TOYOTA” grille, while the Land Cruiser grade adds rectangular lamps, richer trims, and expanded features. The Premium Package brings leather-trimmed power seats with memory, a head-up display, a premium JBL system, a digital rearview mirror, illuminated entry, and a power moonroof. Seven exterior colors are offered, including two-tone Trail Dust and Heritage Blue with a Grayscape roof.

Design references the past without feeling nostalgic for its own sake: boxy proportions, a flat roof, and short overhangs aid visibility and off-road approach, while all-LED lighting, available 20-inch wheels, a silhouette-style roof rack, and selectable Rigid fog lamps underline the modern brief.

Safety coverage is comprehensive. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard across the range, bringing enhanced detection for the Pre-Collision System (including motorcyclist detection), Lane Departure Alert with improved lane recognition and Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist with an Emergency Driving Stop System, Automatic High Beams, Road Sign Assist, plus available Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Hill Start Assist Control is also standard.

Context for the U.S. is instructive. Versus the prior U.S.-market generation (J200, MY2021), the new model delivers substantially better efficiency (previously 14 mpg combined) and a lower entry price (previously above $85,000), while retaining a body-on-frame layout and full-time 4WD. That shift suggests a recalibrated balance toward efficiency and accessibility without abandoning the Land Cruiser’s core capabilities.