Toyota’s Land Cruiser 200 Series has already undergone two renovations, but at least here in the United States, it will not live to see a third.
Steven Ewing / Roadshow
In August, the Roadshow revised the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser, and we conclude, “the old guard still has it.” Despite its high price and advanced age (today’s 200 series has been in dealerships since 2007), Toyota’s SUV with body and body remains charming. Unfortunately, it looks like the charm is coming to an end: according to a new report from Car and Driver, 2021 will be the last year for Land Cruiser in the United States.
The Land Cruiser has earned its legendary bones as a durable and capable off-road for more than 60 years. Here in the United States, the model has evolved from something similar to a glorified agricultural implement to a leather lining Land Rover Range Rover rival. In other parts of the globe, the Land Cruiser lives in similar shapes and more utilitarian configurations, including pickup trucks enjoyed by farmers and freedom fighters.
In today’s new car market, SUVs with four-wheel drive and iconic nameplates are reviving somewhat. Can you predict what Toyota would do in the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Broncosteps by pressing the Land Cruiser reset button. This would return the truck to its roots and reincarnate it as a continuation of FJ Cruiser, a model that left the American market in 2014. But despite FJ’s growing status as a collector’s item, that strategy doesn’t seem to be where Toyota is going with our Land Cruiser. Rumors persist that the company plans to relaunch a North American Land Cruiser as an even more luxurious and sophisticated model than today’s SUV, which is already starting to cost $ 86,880 (including a $ 1,365 delivery fee).
It is also not immediately clear whether the 200 series SUV will continue to be manufactured and sold in other global markets. The Roadshow contacted Toyota for comment and will update this story when we hear more.
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With the Land Cruiser pending departure, it looks like Toyota will have the same old-fashioned and less fit for off-road Sequoia as your most expensive SUV.
As for what comes next, if anything, Toyota isn’t exactly sharing. The Japanese automaker issued the following statement:
“The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for over 60 years. Although it was discontinued in the United States after the model year 2021, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate Land A rich off-road history. Cruiser road. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments. ”
This sounds like a big tip to us that the final chapter of Land Cruiser in the United States has not yet been written.