Josh’s Cars of Japan - Land Cruiser Review

[rjmh]

We bought a 1958. Have had it two weeks and put on a little over a 1000 miles. First Toyota. The LC fitted our requirements perfectly. A capable rugged reliable vehicle that is as at home on a highway as it is on a forestry road.

The video that convinced me was “The car care nut” review on you tube.

To me the cloth seats and hard plastic were a feature -I have an active dog.

I am really impressed with the drive train and we are getting better that the advertised fuel economy. It is a different drive train and there is a lot going on. It sounds and behaves completely differently from any drive train I have experienced. I think that really unsettles many reviewers. It does its job very well- lots of torque on demand, reasonable power without turbo lag, and impressive city economy if you drive it like a hybrid.

There are times where it gets a little lost between the two motors and its gear selection. I have found that changing the driving mode or simply putting your foot in it corrects that. While the vehicle is a smooth cruise, the drive train is a time busy which is not is smooth.

This is one soft ride much more Ford than Porsche. The biggest compromise is the soft suspension which means it handles like a body on frame truck. It is not a vehicle that wants to be hustled.

However it is a vehicle that is very comfortable, very capable both on and off road which to me fits the Land Cruiser reputation, and reasonably economical to operate. Our build quality is excellent and I have no doubt it’s is rugged enough, and durable for our use.

We did take a bit of a leap of faith in buying a year one model, and with the supposed added complexity of a hybrid powertrain, but hey real risk is owning a German car out of warranty.

 

[Watufaka]

Geez C'mon man, he even complained about not seeing a cone in front of the car. This guy doesn't even look like he off roads. Complained also about the steering feel! Really? I love the steering feel. Next he will complain about how high he has to step up to get in.

 

[FirstLC]

Last December I got sick of the many small nuisances of my GLS 450, I went to the local Lexus dealership to check out a GX 460. I test drove it, and yes it was lovely and well-built.. it's a tank, but I wasn't sold despite having driven it and the Toyota badged LC Prado for long stretches in Dubai.

I test drove the LX 600 F-Sport for a giggle. The difference was night and day. Despite being a heavier, larger vehicle the LX had better power delivery and handled better.

The LC 250 doesn't feel like the LX, but the drivetrain is far more nimble than Josh makes it out to be in this review. I've driven the GX and the LC 150, and I have to objectively say, the 250 is better. It's not perfect, but it's fit for purpose. It's an offroad vehicle you can use as a daily driver. It's good looking and functional without pretensions, and I suspect that's what we were all looking for from Toyota.

Cars have evolved, they're lighter, and they user smaller engines, that doesn't mean they're not built well. I think that's where his review falls short.

BTW, his watch reviews are pretty good. I'm a watch guy, and I have a lot of the same pieces, but I suspect for different reasons.

 

[Esquire]

First of all, he was driving a rental car, likely been abused. Secondly, Ive read and watched reviews and some had some criticism, but mostly good stuff, but this guy complained about everything, which makes me wonder.

Bottom line, I love my LC FE. I don't care what he says since I bought my car just in case I need to head to the hills

Last December I got sick of the many small nuisances of my GLS 450, I went to the local Lexus dealership to check out a GX 460. I test drove it, and yes it was lovely and well-built.. it's a tank, but I wasn't sold despite having driven it and the Toyota badged LC Prado for long stretches in Dubai.

I test drove the LX 600 F-Sport for a giggle. The difference was night and day. Despite being a heavier, larger vehicle the LX had better power delivery and handled better.

The LC 250 doesn't feel like the LX, but the drivetrain is far more nimble than Josh makes it out to be in this review. I've driven the GX and the LC 150, and I have to objectively say, the 250 is better. It's not perfect, but it's fit for purpose. It's an offroad vehicle you can use as a daily driver. It's good looking and functional without pretensions, and I suspect that's what we were all looking for from Toyota.

Cars have evolved, they're lighter, and they user smaller engines, that doesn't mean they're not built well. I think that's where his review falls short.

BTW, his watch reviews are pretty good. I'm a watch guy, and I have a lot of the same pieces, but I suspect for different reasons.

Agreed and well-written.

Engineering is evolving on vehicles and that is a positive in my opinion.

The new Land Cruiser is a complete package. It is sharp, quick, nice size, smooth, reliable, holds its value, and is somewhat exclusive.
The prior model Land Cruiser was great. However, let's face it, it was very old technology, very outdated and ho-hum looks inside and out, and horrible efficiency. The 5th gen 4Runner as well.

This Josh character of Japan has no credibility with me since he is knocking new models based only on the fact he has the prior model.
He doesn't own the new model and has only driven one for a few miles.

That's like me saying I hate the brand new Porsche 911 997.2 GT3's because the arm rest is not as nice as my arm rest in my 2016 911 997.1.
And the fact all new 911's are turbo charged (since 2017) and my 2016 is not turbocharged....so the new ones are horrible and mine is superior. Engineering change is good.

I'm a watch guy as well. I like all brands. I'm a Sub guy, a Tudor guy, a Tag guy, and a Breitling guy. I don't hate AP and Patek because I don't own one. AP's and Pateks are arguably better watches than what I have. I'm rambling.....

 

[trek805]

I find myself scratching my hard plastics now cuz I like the sound when im listening to rap....... is this wrong

 

[bluescruiser]

Geez C'mon man, he even complained about not seeing a cone in front of the car. This guy doesn't even look like he off roads. Complained also about the steering feel! Really? I love the steering feel. Next he will complain about how high he has to step up to get in.

The cone thing was hilarious, the driveway was sloped upwards skewing his line of sight. I shut it off after that

 

[DoMoCruiser24]

The satisfaction with this vehicle will vary widely from person to person based on their unique past vehicle portfolio.

Value: I drove a Rivian R1S for a week and those go for 100k. I think the LC is worth the $65k compared to the Rivian. More importantly, it’s 4th quarter 2024, your dollar isn’t the same value as it was in 2014. Time to get with the program.

Power delivery: I have driven Turbo vehicles predominantly and vastly prefer them to naturally aspirated engines, the power delivery is very familiar to me with the added bonus of the e-motor boost in lower rpm range.

MPG: Many factors will contribute to your outcome, the most significant of which is the weight of the driver’s foot. I live at 2900ft elevation and consistently get 21mpg city going uphilll (40 downhill), 24mpg highway. It’s as easy as limiting turbo use for me

The LC is not all sunshine and rainbows, however as I have reservations regarding the thinner gauge steel used for the mounts on the underside, the location of the spare tire is also a pain and will be apparent when you actually need to access it (especially in hot weather), the gas tank size is definitely a legitimate point but not that big a deal for families that need to make regular stops on longer trips anyway. At least you don’t have to wait 45 minutes to charge your vehicle.

 

[ghettomedic]

I saw this clowns review. The cone and the acceleration got me laughing. There are plenty of people on YouTube that genuinely understand cars and do unbiased reviews. This guy on the other hand not so much.

 

[MtBiker19]

This guy knew exactly what he was going to say and pick apart before he hit record.
I'm perfectly content with my LC-LC Premium and it works perfectly for my needs. There is a learning curve to the various ways it creates power (staying out of the turbo, utilizing the turbo and when to leverage the electic) and how that combination will impact fuel mileage. If I drive like an old man- and actively hypermile, I've recorded hour+ trips at 26.9 MPG. If I drive like I stole it... the MPG shows it. Its a tool like any other- and as an operator of said tool- there is a learning curve. No vehicle is perfect at every task, the LC does a lot of those things extremely well... and if I ever decide to change my mission for the vehicle, its a perfect blank canvas to specialize in any other task. Does it do everything better than a 5th gen 4Runner absolutley. (I drove one for 12yrs and a 3rd gen for 3yrs before that). My major complaint with the LC250 is- who in their right mind approved the size of the fuel tank and what was their reasoning.

 

[trek805]

Guy from temp agency at Hino plant designed fuel tank. Obviously

 

[Altitude]

I don't agree with that at all. I think he's great and very objective with all of his reviews

Except this one, apparently.

Objectively this isn’t a review of the LC250, it’s a comparison of the LC250 with a GX460, making points that wouldn’t likely be of consequence to anyone not making that exact comparison, nor to many who are. It felt like he was setting the LC up to fail in a few situations, like the cone.

As to interior materials quality - that’s a boxing match Toyota doesn’t enter into; at Land Cruiser and Lexus price points other brands are far superior and they know it. Me, I don’t care if the plastic down by my ankles isn’t soft touch, there’s no drawback there. It might be more durable.

Further, Defenders for example have great materials inside but them your car breaks down and you’re driving a rental for two months while the dealer waits for parts. So - priorities.

Sadly, contrarianism draws clicks. To wit, we’re all sitting here talking about this dude’s dumb video.

 

[LandcruiserNut]

Another review, really?