Toyota Land Cruiser “250” ZX

✕

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport

The Land Cruiser 250 has the potential to become a hugely popular model

The new Land Cruiser 250 fills the gap between the top-of-the-line Land Cruiser 300 and the tough Land Cruiser 70. It's easy to handle around town and is already expected to be a hit. — The new Land Cruiser 250 fills the gap between the top-of-the-line Land Cruiser 300 and the tough Land Cruiser 70. It’s easy to handle around town and is already expected to be a hit.

The Land Cruiser 250, which went on sale in Japan in April this year, is now being seen from time to time on the streets, perhaps due to production proceeding smoothly. The Land Cruiser 250’s hardware is based on the same GA-L platform as the higher-end Land Cruiser 300, and it also shares a wheelbase of 2850mm. There are no major differences in body size, with the only difference being that the overall length is 25-60mm shorter. However, while the 300 is mated to a V6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Land Cruiser 250 is unique in that it has a powertrain consisting of an inline 4-cylinder engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission (or a 6-speed automatic transmission).

In any case, the fact that it shares the same basic structure as the Top Land Cruiser is the 250’s biggest difference from its predecessor, the Prado. And yet, the fact that even the price range is almost identical to that of the 300 (though orders have been suspended since the summer of 2022) is, for better or worse, a hot topic for the 250. In fact, the base price of the top-of-the-line Land Cruiser 250, the 2.8-liter diesel “ZX” model that I test drove this time, is 7.35 million yen. In terms of the 300, the price difference between that and the V6 diesel ZX at the time of its release is only 250,000 yen, which makes me sigh in surprise at the recent rise in prices.

The coveted Wrangler is available for just 7.99 million yen

The Unlimited Sport is an entry-level model currently on sale at a bargain price of just 7.99 million yen, less than the usual 8 million yen price tag. It's a great value. — The Unlimited Sport is an entry-level model currently on sale at a bargain price of just 7.99 million yen, less than the usual 8 million yen price tag. It’s a great value.

With the Land Cruiser 250 now priced in the 7 million yen range, the Jeep Wrangler, another serious off-roader, is once again within striking distance. The current Wrangler was released in Japan in 2018 with a starting price of less than 5 million yen, but has since been forced to raise prices due to the record-low yen. The starting price temporarily rose to 8.7 million yen, but with a minor change in May of this year, the entry-level model, the Unlimited Sport, has been reinstated. It now has a starting price tag of 7.99 million yen, below 8 million yen.

The new Wrangler Sport has made some desperate efforts to cut costs, such as omitting the side steps, but the main equipment and main mechanisms are not shabby. The black fenders and 17-inch all-terrain tires are downgrades compared to the main “Unlimited Sahara” equipment, but in reality, rather than feeling cheap, it feels more like a tough off-roader.

While the Wrangler shows the efforts of the Japanese importing company, the Land Cruiser 250 has a larger body, seats seven, and is packed with features such as power leather seats, and is priced at 7.35 million yen… As expected of a Japanese car, or rather, as expected of Toyota, the bargain it offers almost brings tears to my eyes (laughs).

Electric power steering dramatically changed the character of the Land Cruiser

Furthermore, the two cars share the same structure of independent ladder frame with rigid rear suspension, but while the Wrangler has a rigid front and recirculating ball steering, giving the whole body a deliberately classic structure, the front of the Land Cruiser 250 has an independent double wishbone and rack and pinion. Furthermore, the power steering is also electric, a first for a Land Cruiser, making it more modern than the higher-end 300.

In serious off-road situations, the Land Cruiser 250 and Wrangler are (supposed to) offer comparable off-road capabilities, but in this test drive, which was mainly on paved roads, the refinement of the Land Cruiser 250 really stood out. The Wrangler’s engine is gasoline, while the Land Cruiser 250’s is diesel, but the Land Cruiser 250 clearly wins in terms of quietness. The Land Cruiser 250 has the quirks of a rigid vehicle when it comes to roads with a series of bumps and dips, but on well-maintained pavement, it delivers a ride quality that’s hard to believe is rigid. Despite not having variable dampers like the 300, this smoothness is likely due to extremely low friction loss in each part of the suspension.

The Wrangler’s dashboard is easy to use despite its rugged design.

The Land Cruiser 250 also boasts an excellent electric power steering system, with a completely smooth response that further enhances the car’s inherent riding comfort. The Land Cruiser 250 is also proud of its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which makes use of the electric power steering. When the Advanced Drive system is activated, hands-free driving is possible, and the stable, semi-automated driving is simply of a high level, with no sense of inertial weight.

Compared to the Land Cruiser 250, the Wrangler’s driving is nothing short of workhorse, but as you can see from its classic structure, this is also a deliberate character. Today’s Wranglers are also packed with the latest technology, including advanced ADAS functions, a direct injection turbo that shows flexibility unlike that of a gasoline engine, and a “4H Auto” mode that provides 4WD stability even on paved roads.

A fierce battle between the world’s best off-roaders

Despite being workhorses, both vehicles feature the latest generation of ADAS, making them easy to use in urban areas and on highways. Both are the world's best off-roaders. — Despite being workhorses, both vehicles feature the latest generation of ADAS, making them easy to use in urban areas and on highways. Both are the world’s best off-roaders.

As you can see, the two cars have contrasting characteristics in everyday on-road driving, but they share a common virtue that cannot hide their lineage as full-fledged off-roaders. That is, both have an excellent sense of the vehicle. The Wrangler’s upright, commanding driving position allows you to see all four corners of the body by sticking your head out the window. Meanwhile, the details of the Land Cruiser 250, such as the double-bubble front hood that allows you to instantly imagine the corners of the body, and the horizontal dashboard that allows you to intuitively understand the angle, are truly part of the Land Cruiser tradition. Both the Land Cruiser and the Wrangler are the world’s leading off-road brands. They are imbued with the real tradition of having survived all kinds of hellish situations.

REPORT / Hiromune SANO

PHOTO / Koichi SHINOHARA

MAGAZINE / GENROQ November 2024 issue

SPECIFICATIONS

Toyota Land Cruiser “250” ZX

Body size: Length 4925, Width 1980, Height 1935mm

Wheelbase: 2850mm

Vehicle weight: 2400kg

Engine type: Inline 4-cylinder DOHC diesel turbo

Total displacement: 2754cc

Maximum output: 150kW (204PS) / 3000-3400rpm

Maximum torque: 500Nm (51kgm) / 1600-2800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed AT

Drive system: AWD

Suspension: Front double wishbone, rear trailing link

Brakes: Front and rear ventilated disc

Tire size: Front and rear 265/70R18

Fuel consumption rate: 11.0km/L (WLTC mode)

Vehicle price: 7.85 million yen

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport

Body size: Length 4870, Width 1895, Height 1845mm

Wheelbase: 3010mm

Vehicle weight: 1990kg

Engine type: Inline 4-cylinder DOHC turbo

Total displacement: 1995cc

Maximum output: 200kW (272PS) / 5250rpm

Maximum torque: 400Nm (40.8kgm) / 3000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed AT

Drive system: AWD

Suspension: Front and rear coil rigid

Brakes: Front ventilated disc, rear disc Tire

size: Front and rear 245/75R17

Fuel consumption rate: 9.8km/L (WLTC mode)

Vehicle price: 7.99 million yen