The Toyota Land Cruiser is a legend around the world and at the dealers of new and used cars for sale in Orange County particularly Toyota of Orange. However, over the years there has been less of a demand for the Land Cruiser since there is so much competition in a massive SUV segment. The latest Land Cruiser at the dealers of Orange County used cars is the 200 Series, and it dates back to the 2008 model year. Only 35,000 were sold in the United States, but the highest annual sales were in 2008 with 3,801 Cruisers driving off the lot.
Land Cruiser’s Availability
Over the years, the Land Cruiser’s availability has been an allusive issue for the North American Land Cruiser. This is because the worldwide capacity for the Land Cruiser can’t be escalated without constructing or retooling a new assembly location, which indicates to many at the dealers of used cars for sale that every market clashes over the same annual output.
Although a vehicle such as the Toyota Land Cruiser has a lot of capability and offers high levels of luxury, many status seekers are not willing to hand over the coins for its sky-high base price which was $86,780 for 2020 for a vehicle that has a Toyota badge. However, they are seeking a vehicle more for social recognition rather than for its practical purposes.
It’s Really The End Of The Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser has moved on to greener pastures in the U.S. after the current generation has gone through the last 12 years on sale without hardly any change. Not many of us are ready to let go of such used cars for sale in Orange County like this icon and there have been indications that Toyota is trying to work out a way to make a modern Land Cruiser for a future comeback. Hooray!
Today’s generation Land Cruiser made its debut in 2008, and it has been a fan favorite since then. On average, a new land Cruiser owner keeps their vehicle for over 11 years, which implies reliability and unmistakeable customer loyalty. In fact, it still wins against newer competitors in off-road tests. Hence the fact, the Japanese car company felt there was no need to drastically change anything on the Land Cruiser in a long time.
When Did The News Break?
There have been rumors circulating since October that the Land Cruiser would no longer be sold in the United States after the 2022 model year, and some sources have even stated that it would be gone after 2021.
Many of these sources have started to tease us with a comeback for the Land Cruiser as an extremely luxurious model with modern upgrades. Although this may not be Toyota’s plan and it won’t be confirmed for a while, the end of the Land Cruiser is most likely due to the vehicle’s current costly price. For instance, the land Cruiser starts at under $86,000 and gets 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway and it is only available in four colors.
What Can We Expect From The Comeback Land Cruiser?
There is already a lot of speculation on what we can expect with the new modern features on the upcoming Cruiser, which will most probably include gear that is not available on the current truck, such as good fuel economy, perhaps some type of integrated driver assistance systems that don’t involve tacked on cameras and even some advanced off-roading technology.
Also, many believe that the interior will have a subtle facelift as well. For instance, a lot of us won’t be surprised that there will be a digital gauge cluster, a replacement for the current hand shifter, better materials, and some improvement in the cargo volume.
To be further competitive, there will be improvements in fuel economy, and if you heard the rumors that the Land Cruiser may lose its current V8 engine, we are sad to let you know this could be true! For better fuel economy, the V8 engine will be replaced with a turbocharged V6 replacement and a future hybrid model is on the tables too. Last but not least, the upcoming Land Cruiser will be known as the 300 Series.
The End Of An Era
In the world of rugged off-road SUVs it’s a dog eat dog atmosphere, but the Toyota Land Cruiser still held its ground and has long been a prominent nameplate in this segment. The vehicle rapidly gained a reputation for being a more comfortable, spacious, and capable vehicle.
Many statements made it all clear how we all feel about the Land Cruiser. “The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for more than 60 years,” the statement read. “While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments.”
Although Toyota’s decision to discontinue the Land Cruiser is not a big shock to many of us, it is interesting at this current time. Many car collectors are paying big money for classic Land Cruisers at the moment since off-road SUVs are becoming more and more popular.
The Land Cruiser got a humble start in 1955 with the 20 Series, and it has been the longest-running Toyota out of all of the other models.
Although the Land Cruiser has been their longest selling vehicle, Toyota has plans to launch the all-new Tundra in December 2021 before bringing back the Land Cruiser to the United States. Along with the 2024 Toyota Tacoma which is due in 2023, these two are going to share the TNGA-F platform.
It goes without saying that many of us will be sad to see the Land Cruiser go, but we are relieved to hear that it’s only for the short term. We like to think of it as a long break to get itself together so it can become a better, stronger, and more efficient SUV for all of us!