TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 1958 A NOD TO ITS HERITAGE

By NITISH S. RELE – MOTORINGFLORIDA@GMAIL.COM
In 1958, the very first and sole Land Cruiser was sold in the United States. At that time, SUVs were a novelty but over the years, the off-road ride with its unmistakable appearance and spirited feel has carved a niche for itself. After discontinuing in 2021, the midsize SUV is back and what a revival it is for the head-turner!
Sharing the I-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain with the Tacoma pickup, the Land Cruiser is equipped with a 2.4-liter inline-4 cylinder turbocharged engine that cranks out 326 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 465 pounds-feet of torque @ 1700 rpm. It is mated to a 1.87 kWh battery and 48-hp electric motor. The 8-speed auto gearbox is quiet and graceful. An independent coil spring double wishbone front and a leaf spring rear suspension grips the blows of potholes and cracked roadway effortlessly. You can count on the electric power rack-and-pinion steering for a solid and communicative feel. And 6,000-pound capacity should be plenty to tow.
Call it a square body shape (boxy is more like it) if you want but the look definitely harkens back to its heritage with retro-inspired round LEDs sandwiching the iconic TOYOTA heritage black grille with an integrated light bar. Shorter (by 1.2 inches) and narrower (4.4 inches) than its predecessor, the Land Cruiser has plenty of space for five to sit in comfort. An 8-inch infotainment screen atop the dashboard with the traditional volume button will be much appreciated by its hardcore fans. The three-spoke, manual tilt/telescoping steering column conveys a robust touch. The metal-look, especially on the 7-inch instrument panel, looks classy too. H4 and L4 dials in the center console allow the driver to switch as per different road conditions. Six-way manual front heated seats are standard along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The seats may be trimmed in fabric, but they are spacious and cozy. Also included are dual auto a/c, push-button start, 60/40 rear seat, six-speaker sound system and wireless phone charger.
Safety features include dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, stability and active traction/hill assist controls, all-wheel-drive with two-speed transfer case, blind-spot monitor with rear-cross traffic alert, electronic locking rear/center differential, multi-terrain monitor, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system. Crawl control acts as a low-speed, off-road cruise while Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 fetches a pre-collision system to detect pedestrians, lane trace alert with steer assist and dynamic cruise control.
Cherish the squarish and rugged look of the Land Cruiser? Then you will love this 1958 edition. The midsize SUV is a throwback to the good ole days but with modern-day high-tech comforts and items, sophistication and styling. Alongside its off-road prowess, this elegant ride makes cruising the rough terrain heck of a lot of fun!
LAND CRUISER 1958
Tires: 245/70R18
Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
Length: 193.7 inches
Height: 73.2 inches
Width: 84.2 inches
Weight: 5,038 pounds
Fuel capacity: 17.9 gallons
City: 22 mpg
Highway: 25 mpg
Base price: $55,950
Web site: www.toyota.com