In the 1950s, the original Land Cruiser was first introduced and quickly gained a reputation for being a durable and reliable SUV. It became an iconic symbol of go-anywhere capability and was widely used by organizations like the United Nations in challenging environments. Over time, the cost of Land Cruisers increased significantly, reaching nearly $100,000 and facing tough competition in the market.
In the US, Land Cruisers disappeared from the market, much to the disappointment of their loyal fans. However, in 2023, Toyota announced the launch of a new Land Cruiser model, which recently went on sale in the US. As a result, fans were thrilled to see the return of this legendary vehicle.
I had the opportunity to test drive the new Land Cruiser for a week in Silicon Valley through a loan from Toyota. During my test drive, I also took my neighbor Julie, who had owned a Land Cruiser for two decades and absolutely loved it, for a ride. She shared her fond memories of her Land Cruiser and praised its reliability and performance.