My Journey towards a Ladder Frame SUV

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: COK/SFO

Posts: 220

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2024 Land Cruiser/Prado successful Heritage Blue

Another angle

This is my travel towards my imagination car, the Toyota 4Runner, which took an unexpected but beauteous turn. While looking for an SUV successful the USA successful 2015, the plan and capableness of the 5th procreation Toyota 4Runner caught my attention, but its motor and gearbox were primitive, going against my like. So, I brought a Toyota Highlander AWD, 3.5V6 arsenic a spread filler for the adjacent 6 years and past moving to 4runner erstwhile gen6 is available.

It?s present 2022, and determination is nary motion of Toyota updating the 4Runner. The Gen 5 income are inactive going strong, particularly with the pandemic deed and the ladder-frame SUV craze exploding with the instauration of the Bronco. The Gen 5 4Runner saw its highest income numbers successful its beingness during 2022, and I started losing anticipation of updated 4runner since it?s selling similar hotcakes. My Highlander is present astir 7 years old, with 55K miles, which is precise debased by US standards. However, I tin confidently accidental it has faced much utmost scenarios than a emblematic Highlander oregon monocoque SUV but has encountered zero problems to date, different than periodic maintenance.

I person done respective mud/slushes disconnected pavement trips, lakebed runs, and it has served maine good for my photographic trips implicit these years, which is emblematic for a Highlander. We besides did tons of camping trips wherever the 3rd enactment was folded down and filled with tents and supplies. What is not mean is that this car besides served the intent of a pickup truck. I utilized it to haul 8 ft 4x4 timber, respective bags of soil, bags of stones for my DIY backyard garden, unassembled furniture, a fewer 24inch clay works pots, and the database goes on. Recently, I completed an 11-day roadworthy travel from the Bay Area to Yellowstone, and the car performed similar a charm.

Even with each these activities, the car has nary squeaking, zero assemblage rattle whatsoever, and is successful cleanable condition. So, wherefore regenerate it? It?s a long-pending tendency for an off-road, a rear-wheel-biased SUV with debased range. Ultimately, it's a conflict betwixt the bosom and the brain.

After losing patience, I astir decided connected a Defender 110. Then, rumors started popping up astir the Toyota Land Cruiser (200 bid astatine that time), which had near the US marketplace successful 2021, perchance coming backmost successful the signifier of the Toyota Prado. I started pursuing this news, particularly connected the TFL ? The Fast Lane YouTube channel.

By the archetypal fractional of 2023, Lexus announced the GX550, the Lexus relative of the Prado. The updated exemplary with a twin-turbo V6 showed important show improvements implicit the GX460, but the ratio remained astir the aforesaid which is thirsty, leaving maine successful a dilemma, due to the fact that what I needed was a regular operator car.

Then, by October 2023, the authoritative announcement came from Toyota astir the Land Cruiser. Even though it?s called a Land Cruiser successful North America, it?s the Prado elsewhere, which I similar much than the LC200/300. The plan of some the caller Land Cruiser Prado and the GX550 gives a feeling that they are much off-road focused compared to the curvier plan of the existent generation. The instrumentality arches person capable abstraction to upgrade to bigger tires if needed. Especially for the Land Cruiser, the bumper plan is modular, allowing for the installation of a alloy bumper without cutting immoderate assemblage panels. Simple statement is It?s a boxy design.

Its called arsenic Land Cruiser successful North America, No Prado Badge anywhere.

The main differences betwixt the GX550 and the Land Cruiser (Prado) are:
? Engine and Transmission: GX550 has a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 with a 10-speed TC, whereas the Land Cruiser (Prado) has an inline 2.4L Turbo hybrid with 8-speed TC.
? Third Row Seating: The GX550 offers an optional 3rd row, portion the Land Cruiser (Prado) has lone 2 rows owed to the placement of the hybrid battery.
? Fuel Efficiency: The GX550 has a maximum of 17 MPG, compared to the Land Cruiser, which has a maximum of 25 MPG.

The terms quality betwixt the corresponding Lexus and Toyota was astir 7k to 8k USD, which was expected. However, the large decision-maker for maine was the taillight plan of the GX550, which mightiness dependable silly. I can?t tolerate the full-length taillight of the GX550, a caller inclination successful each caller Lexus models. What I indispensable unrecorded with is renting a van if relatives sojourn from India oregon if I request to transportation much than 5 people, which I find acceptable compared to what I?m getting into. Spec-wise, determination is lone a insignificant quality successful powerfulness and torque figures betwixt these models, but determination is simply a immense quality successful efficiency. The LC hybrid is importantly much efficient, which is besides a large origin successful the determination process.

Within 1 week aft the announcement, I went and placed my deposit astatine a showroom known for selling vehicles astatine MSRP successful the Bay area. I chose a mediate ?Land Cruiser Trim? successful Heritage Blue with a dual-tone colour scheme. I was 37th successful the queue, and present it?s a waiting game. Deliveries started astir April 2024, with the archetypal batches of vehicles being the costly First Edition oregon introduction level 1958 trims. People who were consenting to wage the markup started receiving their cars. I besides received offers with markups ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 USD, which I rejected. I adjacent went to the grade of calling dealers successful Boston to spot if they had a car disposable without a markup. If I could bargain one, I would beryllium consenting to marque a cross-country trip, arsenic I felt the wealth spent would beryllium worthwhile compared to paying a markup.

There was inactive immoderate disorder astir what would hap if a Gen 6 4Runner were announced during my hold for the Land Cruiser, what if it is simply a amended car? Toyota announced the Gen 6 4Runner astir May 2024. Until Gen 5, the 4Runner had a unsocial styling compared to the remainder of the Toyota lineup, which I liked. However, the Gen 6?s from beforehand extremity till the rear doorway bodyline looks precisely similar a Tacoma pickup. The interior besides resembles that of the Tacoma, which made my determination easy. I?m sticking with the Land Cruiser.

As clip passed and accumulation accrued aft the archetypal glitches, markups began to constrictive down (though not astatine each showrooms). I past realized that my colour operation is causing further delays, arsenic the dual-tone colors with the enactment I wanted (or alternatively didn?t want) were not initially produced successful ample numbers.

By that time, I had developed a bully rapport with the income feline who helped maine with the deposit. Around mid-July, I received a telephone from different income feline from the aforesaid trader asking if I was funny successful a Trail Dust dual-tone color. It took maine 30 minutes to determine and respond, and by the clip I got back, different lawsuit had taken it. Another week passed by and past I received a connection from my income feline with the nonstop colour that I requested, and I jumped connected it. I got the VIN for my allocation, and astatine this point, the car is inactive successful the vas connected its mode from Japan to USA.

After 2 weeks, I received a telephone from my income cause informing maine that my car is acceptable for pickup. I had been expecting further delays astatine the port, arsenic I had heard from others that determination had been delays owed to prime checks connected immoderate models. Additionally, I did not person an approved indebtedness astatine that time. Fortunately, I was capable to put the indebtedness wrong the aforesaid time and was capable to get a bully woody for the security arsenic well. The adjacent day, I arrived astatine the showroom and could spot my car successful the transportation conception from a distance. After the PDI, took a trial drive, and aft a insignificant hold with the documentation, the Land Cruiser reached home.

The archetypal Look erstwhile I reached the showroom for pickup

At Canyon roadworthy adjacent my House

Another presumption astatine Canyon Road

The car allocated to maine came with a fewer options I hadn?t requested, specified arsenic 20-inch wheels and a Premium Package, which accrued the terms by different 10-12%. Unlike American oregon European brands, Japanese cars cannot beryllium factory-ordered with the nonstop options you want. Instead, factories physique cars with options based connected their ain studies, and users tin lone take from the disposable inventory based connected what you are looking for. On my car, the Premium Package was added astatine the factory, but the 20-inch wheels, doorway borderline guards, and overgarment extortion movie beneath the doorway grip were added by the distributor erstwhile the car reached the larboard (PIO ? Port installed Options) to marque a speedy profit, which I usually can?t cull astatine the trader erstwhile the car is astatine precocious demand.

PIO 20 Inch wheels that decision the intent of this conveyance - atleast for me

I attempted to revert to the archetypal 18-inch wheels astatine an further cost, but the trader did not person them available. By that time, my kid had fallen successful emotion with the 20-inch instrumentality design, truthful I decided to support them until my archetypal tyre change.

Mine is simply a mediate trim, which had minimal PIOs. However, for the basal 1958 trim, the PIOs importantly accrued their price, bringing it dangerously adjacent to the mediate trim price. As a result, the 1958 trim remained disposable astatine dealerships for immoderate time, erstwhile the mediate and archetypal editions were pugnacious to get. The bully happening astir my dealership was that they didn?t adhd immoderate unwanted accessories, which would person required maine to negociate their removal. Considering the waiting play I had already had, I decided to judge the car arsenic it is.

Two features that I peculiarly admit successful the Premium Package, which I would person different had to bid separately, are the sunroof and broadside steps. The car sits overmuch higher compared to my Highlander, making it much hard for my kids and woman to get successful and out. The broadside steps the drawback grip adjacent each doorway to marque introduction easier.

The Premium Package besides includes a 14-speaker JBL dependable system, which doesn?t substance overmuch to me, arsenic I lone request a basal euphony system. The console cooler is different diagnostic I person mixed feelings about. While it tin besides relation arsenic a console container erstwhile the cooler is turned off, it lone has abstraction for 4 half-liter bottles. I similar the archetypal console container without a cooler, arsenic it is heavy capable to clasp a 14-inch laptop.

Normal shaped Toyota keyfob with Landcruiser writtern

No default default Sunroof, its an further Option

Other features successful premium bundle are Digital Key capability, integer rearview mirror, wireless charging, leather-trimmed memory/power driver's seat, Head-Up Display, Lane Change Assist, Front Cross-Traffic Alert and Traffic Jam Assist, Semi-automatic parking, distant commencement and goes on.

View from Inside, Dashboard view

It?s bully that they kept a batch of carnal controls successful the LC compared to the GX550.

The operator and beforehand rider get power-adjustable seats.

The car features full-time four-wheel thrust with a torsion differential successful the center, debased range, cardinal and rear differential locks, a beforehand stabilizer barroom disconnect, CRAWL control, and multi-terrain select. This full-time 4WD setup is precise utile successful snowy oregon slushy conditions, arsenic it eliminates the request to manually prosecute the 4WD mode erstwhile needed if the operator is inexperienced.

Diff locks and Multi-Terrain Select are disposable connected each trims, portion the sway barroom disconnect and CRAWL Control are lone disposable connected higher trims.

Let maine commencement by noting immoderate of my observations successful examination to my existing vehicles, the Highlander and the Duster 110 VGT. This is the archetypal ladder-frame SUV I?ve owned, and I was expecting a somewhat floaty driving experience, which it so has, but is comparable to my Duster. It offers a much planted and smoother thrust than the Gen 5 4Runner and absorbs astir uneven patches with ease.

The conveyance features stadium-style seating and offers bully visibility around. The steering switched from Power steering to EPS successful this procreation to incorporated information and car parking features. There are 2 sensors supra the steering file that show your attention, beeping if you look distant from the roadworthy oregon if your eyes look sleepy. This diagnostic tin beryllium disabled if needed. The trailer brake controller comes modular with a tow hitch receiver and connector. The hitch is utile for maine to transportation bikes during trips. The vertical plan of the dashboard matches the vehicle's exterior character. Chunky cogwheel selector with offroad functionality buttons and thrust mode selector nearby. Customizable metre console which is expected astatine this era. Soft interaction vanity lights. The car features a situation camera with a dedicated button. When you prosecute reverse, the car adjusts the rearview mirrors to supply amended visibility and past returns them to their archetypal presumption afterward. It besides moves the spot backwards and set steering file erstwhile you parkland an unfastened the operator broadside roadworthy which I find it annoying and disabled it from the infotainment screen. The beforehand seats are power-adjustable, portion the rear seats are not.

Second enactment Seating

Rear clime control

Boot Space: The hybrid artillery stays 3 inches supra the mean level height.

Mine is equipped with achromatic leather seats and a 12-inch touchscreen with the caller Toyota infotainment strategy that began appearing connected immoderate models from 2022. This strategy includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, the backmost spot has roof-mounted AC vents, that were not precise communal successful earlier Toyota ladder-frame SUVs.

Roof Mounted AC vents

The U.S. spec has lone 2 rows of seating owed to the hybrid artillery located successful the rear floor. Still the non-existent third-row passengers besides get cupholders, abstracted AC vents, and USB chargers. One precise utile feature, particularly for me, is the 2,400-watt inverter that comes standard, which tin powerfulness appliances similar a microwave, a freezer oregon electrical kettle. This is peculiarly adjuvant for camping and roadworthy trips. The 2nd enactment is fixed and cannot beryllium adjusted guardant oregon backward, but the seating space is adjustable. There is simply a flimsy hump successful the level that mightiness impact the comfortableness of the mediate passenger, which is expected successful an SUV similar this. Rigid LED DLR is colour changeable betwixt achromatic and amber.
The 2nd enactment doesn?t fold level to supply comfy sleeping abstraction for overlanding. The spot is 4 inches higher than the rear erstwhile folded, but you tin easy set it with an aerial mattress.

Boot space

2400W Electric Outlet that tin powerfulness 120v equipments.

A tiny retention down the Hybrid battery

Another retention down Second Row

Windshield Angle

Rear Glass Opening

Full Sixe Spare Tire and Tow hitch (Covered)

The Drivetrain: - i-force Max 2.4T
The motor is simply a 2.4L inline four-cylinder turbo with a hybrid centrifugal sandwiched betwixt the motor and the transmission. The 8-speed torque converter shifts moderately fast, overmuch quicker than the 6-speed torque converter successful the 2015 Highlander. The modulation betwixt the electrical centrifugal and the interior combustion motor is not noticeable during mean driving conditions. However, successful stop-and-go postulation astatine single-digit speeds, you tin consciousness it. It's not arsenic atrocious arsenic a mild hybrid oregon motor start/stop strategy seen successful immoderate different cars. This is due to the fact that the motor shuts disconnected much often during dense postulation crawling and restarts with the throttle much often than the i-CVT strategy successful different Toyotas. I-CVT hybrids tin thrust connected electrical powerfulness unsocial up to astir 20 MPH, but this i-Force Max could lone thrust up to single-digit speeds and remainder successful assisted mode.

Even though it?s not arsenic accelerated arsenic its 3.4T successful its Lexus cousin, GX550, the turbo lag is compensated with the thrust from the electrical motor. As a result, it pulls astir similar a diesel from a standstill, with highest torque of 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) disposable astatine 1,700 RPM. It requires lone a flimsy throttle to scope 80 mph road speeds. The motor feels similar a much almighty mentation of the Duster 110 VGT, with nary turbo lag, and the dependable wrong the compartment is besides similar. Although the caller Highlander and Grand Highlander besides usage this engine, it sounds much truck-like successful the LC. Managing astatine metropolis velocity 30-45 MPH initially felt a spot tricky for maine arsenic the car accelerates with a flimsy throttle input. I was utilized to dense ft needed for Highlander successful akin situation. Because of the Hybrid, it gives astir akin MPG connected metropolis and road use.

This car is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3 (TSS3), which includes Lane Keep Assist. Compared to TSS2, TSS3 much actively steers you backmost into your lane if you effort to power lanes without a crook signal.

LC adjacent a Wind Farm

Front View

The time aft I brought it home, I drove to Santa Cruz with a afloat load of passengers, navigating curvy, hilly highways. It has somewhat much upwind sound than my Highlander, which is expected for this boxy shape. Toyota recommends premium substance for this car, but I person seen connected immoderate forums that radical are utilizing regular fuel. The substance vessel is lone 17Gallon which is smaller by immoderate standards that gives astir 300 miles scope approximately.

I americium inactive exploring its features, particularly the tech features. I americium readying to swap the 20-inch wheels with the 18-inch OEM ones, and I saw that immoderate radical are doing it connected the LC forums. This is the lone modification successful my caput close now.

The Highlander was successful specified bully information adjacent aft 9 years that I wasn?t initially inclined to merchantability it. I tried to person my woman to support it for her use, but she doesn?t privation to thrust a large car and decided to fto it go. The time earlier the sale, it reached its scheduled work mileage, and I didn?t privation to skip the work adjacent if I americium selling it. So, I did the service, placed the ad, and the archetypal idiosyncratic who came to spot it ended up buying it.

Cup holders, USB charging ports, and AC vents for the non-existent third-row passengers.

Driver and Front rider get Power controls

Here is my feeling aft replacing the Highlander with an LC:-

What I miss:
? The 3rd enactment for occasional usage and the immense legroom successful the 2nd row.
? The smooth, quiescent 3.5L V6 motor and its resonant dependable astatine precocious throttle.

What I don?t miss:
? The lazy, slow-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission.
? The state guzzling successful the metropolis and successful traffic, with substance system dropping arsenic debased arsenic 12 MPG.

What I summation with the LC:
? The fulfillment of my 35-year-old tendency to ain a ladder-frame SUV, inspired aft seeing a Pajero SFX for the archetypal clip arsenic a kid sometime during precocious 90?s
? An off-road susceptible SUV for my photography and roadworthy trips. While I whitethorn not get into superior off-roading, it provides a reassuring consciousness of capableness erstwhile I spot an unpaved roadworthy ahead. (Yes, I request amended tires and wheels).

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