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Is The New Land Cruiser A Dud? | Ep. 325

Is The New Land Cruiser A Dud? | Ep. 325

TFL Car Chat Feb 23, 2026 69 min
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About this episode

The discussion centers on the new Toyota Land Cruiser's controversial shift from a large V8 powerhouse to a smaller, hybrid four-cylinder engine, and its rebranding in the U.S. as a Prado-like model. The hosts debate whether this downsizing and electrification dilute the Land Cruiser's legendary status or make it more practical and accessible. They compare it to previous generations and the Lexus GX/LX siblings, touching on off-road capability, weight reduction, pricing, and dealer availability. The episode also highlights community reactions, styling preferences, and the challenge of balancing luxury with ruggedness.

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Car

Toyota Land

"is the new Toyota Land Cruiser a dud. Oh, really? Well, that's what we're talking about on this episode of the TFL Car Chat TFL Offroad 4 by Chat."

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a big SUV that can drive on rough roads and is very tough. Many people use it for adventures and driving in places regular cars can't go.

Company

TRD Pro

"We try to create our own TRD Pro Land Cruiser."

TRD Pro is a special version of Toyota vehicles made for better off-road driving. They have stronger parts and look tougher.

Term

hybrid

"Well, and you think that with the fact that this being a hybrid, and it has a pretty large battery actually, that it would be heavier, but because they went from an 8 cylinder to a little force cylinder turbo, they did actually make a light."

A hybrid car uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to save fuel and pollute less.

Term

turbocharged engine

"Well, and you think that with the fact that this being a hybrid, and it has a pretty large battery actually, that it would be heavier, but because they went from an 8 cylinder to a little force cylinder turbo, they did actually make a light."

A turbocharged engine has a device that pushes extra air into the engine to make it stronger and faster without making the engine bigger.

Term

eight-speed automatic

"That's made it to an eight-speed automatic with the series of electric motors because it is a hybrid system,"

An eight-speed automatic is a type of gearbox that changes gears by itself to help the car run smoothly and save gas.

Car

Lexus Gx

"...bring in the sister vehicle to this, which is the Lexus GX, because for 70 and change, you are in the Lexus ..."

The Lexus GX is a fancy SUV that can go off-road but is also comfortable inside. It is good for people who want a strong car that feels nice to ride in.

Part

winch

"This, I think, at least here in Colorado, gets built out, people still, you know, lift them, Winches on them, they make them actually land cruiseries, traditionally..."

A winch is a tool on the front of a truck or SUV that helps pull the vehicle out if it gets stuck in mud or rocks.

Term

lift kit

"This, I think, at least here in Colorado, gets built out, people still, you know, lift them, Winches on them, they make them actually land cruiseries, traditionally..."

A lift kit is something people add to their trucks or SUVs to make them sit higher off the ground so they can drive over rocks and bumps easier.

Car

Toyota Tundra

"...y of those engines have been recalled famously in tundra, isn't that kind of thing? [SPEAKER_00]: So, you ..."

The Toyota Tundra is a big truck that many people use for work or towing. Some versions had problems with their engines, so some parts had to be fixed or replaced by the company.

Car

Ford Maverick

"... for remembering that God 42. [SPEAKER_00]: But a maverick is made out of tin foil and a little bit to bubbl..."

The Ford Maverick is a small truck that doesn't cost too much and can save gas because it has a special engine. It's good for people who want a truck but don't need something very big.

Term

fuel economy

""It's one of those two of the hybrid systems that's designed more for power than it is for fuel economy... The biggest issue is not the fuel economy for me.""

Fuel economy means how far a car can go using a certain amount of gas. Better fuel economy means you don't have to fill up as often.

Term

fuel tank

""It's the fuel tank. The tank is tiny. It doesn't have a lot of range, so that's a bummer.""

The fuel tank is where the car holds its gas. A small tank means you have to stop for gas more often.

Term

belt line

"[689.0s] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's got a really high belt line and relatively small windows, but in the Land Cruiser you get..."

The belt line is where the car's windows meet the body. If it's high, the windows look smaller and you can't see out as well.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"[703.0s] [SPEAKER_00]: So it feels a lot more airy and, look, being in an open cockpit is always a better experience than in my opinion, being in a Camaro. [710.8s] [SPEAKER_00]: And that form is more Camaro like the Land Cruiser."

The Chevrolet Camaro is a fast sports car from America that sits low to the ground and looks cool.

Car

Lexus LX

"And yeah, if I hit all the money in the world, I get an LX because it's triple locked, but you know, it's too nice to like beat up right away."

The Lexus LX is a big, fancy SUV that can go off-road very well. It has special parts that help it drive on tough terrain.

Term

differential

"you just broke the differential it's getting cheaper I mean it was a $12,000 because now it's an $8,000 like you could have bought a GX of the same generation"

A differential is a part that helps the wheels turn at different speeds when you go around corners, so the car drives smoothly. Some special differentials help the car grip better on rough roads.

Car

Land Rover Range Rover

"I mean, you can sound like it's like the difference between a Range Rover and a Land Rover and the Land Cruiser."

The Range Rover is a fancy SUV made by Land Rover. It can go off-road but also has lots of nice features inside, making it more comfortable and luxurious than some other models.

Car

Land Rover Discovery Sport

"The difference between a Discovery and a Disco Sport is the difference. I mean, they're really different, but let's not fight about that."

The Discovery Sport is a smaller SUV from Land Rover. It can handle some off-road driving but is also good for everyday city use.

Car

Land Rover Discovery

"The difference between a Discovery and a Disco Sport is the difference. I mean, they're really different, but let's not fight about that."

The Land Rover Discovery is a medium-sized SUV that can drive well on roads and rough terrain. It is bigger and has more features than the Discovery Sport.

Car

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

"But you're just called a Prado. It's a Land Cruiser, I mean. This is a Prado, though. No, no, no. Fair that gets to call it whatever they want. And it says Land Cruiser on it. So let's call it what it is."

The Land Cruiser Prado is a smaller version of the Land Cruiser that is easier to buy and drive. It is popular in places like Kenya.

Term

low range

"So do you want to go into low range or do you just want to stay in high range? Yeah, so we're going up our trenches course here. So I'm going to start in low range first."

Low range is a special gear in some cars that helps the vehicle move slowly but powerfully, which is useful when driving on rough or steep ground.

Car

Mitsubishi Lancer

"... So now we'll do it again. [SPEAKER_00]: Yep, and Lancers are does have standard center locker and standard..."

The Mitsubishi Lancer is a small car that can be fun to drive and good for everyday use. Some versions have special parts that help it drive better on slippery roads.

Car

Toyota Tacoma

""Did you say Tacoma?" "I did.""

The Toyota Tacoma is a type of truck that is good for driving on rough roads and for everyday use. People like it because it is strong and can handle tough conditions.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

"...EAKER_01]: affordable if you can call it that 392 Wrangler that they've come out with so far. [SPEAKER_01]: ..."

The Jeep Wrangler is a tough car that can drive on rough roads and dirt paths. The special 392 version has a very strong engine that makes it faster but also costs more money.

Term

horsepower

"...the suspension's got too much travel and it's too soft for the amount of horse power and torque that this power train has, it's hilarious."

Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is. More horsepower means the car can go faster or pull heavier loads.

Term

torque

"...the suspension's got too much travel and it's too soft for the amount of horse power and torque that this power train has, it's hilarious."

Torque is how much twisting power the car's engine has. It helps the car start moving and climb hills more easily.

Term

powertrain

"...the suspension's got too much travel and it's too soft for the amount of horse power and torque that this power train has, it's hilarious."

The powertrain is all the parts that make the car move, like the engine and the parts that send power to the wheels.

Concept

SUV

"that scout is delaying a launch of their new SUV until 2028."

An SUV is a kind of car that is bigger and can drive on rough roads as well as normal streets. It usually has more room inside.

Brand

Volkswagen

"It takes a long time to launch a brand new vehicle, and especially from a new company, even though the Volkswagen involvement should help."

Volkswagen is a big car company from Germany that makes many different cars and sometimes helps new car companies.

Car

GMC Hummer EV

"...y're definitely a lot more trim and athletic than Hummer EVs. [SPEAKER_01]: And a slightly more traditional co..."

The GMC Hummer EV is a big truck that runs on electricity instead of gas. It is very strong and can drive on rough land, but it is also a new kind of car because it doesn't use fuel.

Car

Ford Ranger

"...l kind of teach you about what the details on the Ranger Center are. [SPEAKER_00]: Like we don't actually ..."

The Ford Ranger is a medium-sized truck that can be used for work or fun. It has many useful parts and features that help it do different jobs well.

Car

G-Class Gwagon

"[SPEAKER_00]: So, a lot of interesting things going on. [SPEAKER_00]: We've also heard rumors that I don't know if it's rumored or confirmed, but that outie is going to be using this platform too for G-Wagon competitor. [SPEAKER_00]: Which would be pretty cool."

The G-Class is a fancy and tough SUV that looks like a box. It can drive on rough roads and is very comfortable and expensive inside.

Car

Jeep Cherokee

"...good. [SPEAKER_01]: Tommy's talking about the new Cherokee. [SPEAKER_01]: Did they let you drive me crazy?"

The Jeep Cherokee is a car that can drive well on regular roads and also on rough trails. New versions have new looks and features that make it more comfortable and fun to drive.

Car

Honda Crv

"...hing in the world, but compared to maybe RA4 or a CRV or another similarly sized crossover. [SPEAKER_01..."

The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that many people like because it is dependable and doesn't use too much gas. It is a good choice for families or anyone who needs extra space.

Term

traction control

"Because they've got a really good traction control program that exists, they can apply that to even some of their milder vehicles. And if the Cherokee is that way,"

Traction control helps keep your car's wheels from slipping when you press the gas, especially on slippery roads.

Car

Jeep Cherokee Grand

"Yeah, for sure So if you guys want to check out the Cherokee Grand Cherokee the drive-in-pression from Bargles up I think next week So I don't over to altifl.com. Those videos will be there."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a bigger SUV that can drive well on rough roads but is also comfortable for everyday use.

Car

Ford Bronco Sport

"I will say though, and I think it's probably going to remain this way for a long time would be my guess Bronco Sport, if you're looking for a really small soft rotor, as we call them, not off-roaders, but kind of across over with a few rugged features, the Bronco Sport is the best off-road by far. Yeah, it's really good. It's not even, it's not even the biggest shame, especially this one that you drove, which is the Sasquatch."

The Ford Bronco Sport is a small SUV that can handle some rough roads better than most small SUVs because it has special features for off-road driving.

Car

Jaguar Xjs

"... because they're like throwing it way back to the XJs of the 90s. [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have time for..."

The Jaguar XJ-S is an old fancy car that was made a long time ago. People remember it because it looked nice and was comfortable to drive.

Car

Jeep Cj2A

"...R_00]: So I'm working on restoring my little 1947 CJ2A [SPEAKER_00]: is you distribute your rusting? [SP..."

The Jeep CJ is an old, simple car made for driving on rough land. Many people like to fix and keep these old cars because they are special and have a long history.

Part

distributor

"But it's weird that, so one thing I didn't learn is the distributor that's in it is totally the wrong distributor, the old one. So the new one is technically the correct distributor. It's just exactly 180 degrees off."

A distributor is a part in some cars that sends the electric spark to the right cylinder at the right time so the engine runs smoothly.

Concept

off-roading

"we went off-roading in our land cruiser our new to us 100 series and what happened case Well, it didn't like it, that's for sure."

Off-roading means driving a car on rough ground like dirt or rocks instead of smooth roads. Cars used for this need to be strong and have special parts to handle the bumps.

Car

Byd Seal

"...a cut. [SPEAKER_01]: I got a I had the front main seal redone on my truck because I've done it once befo..."

The BYD Seal is a new electric car made by a company from China. It uses batteries instead of gas and can drive a long distance before needing to be charged.

Term

diff oil

"You got a lot of, you got a lot of diff oil in there, so you could just leave it leak forever and that's true, it can leak for a while."

Diff oil is special oil that helps the gears in the car's axle move smoothly without getting damaged.

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