Depreciation Will Hit This Toyota SUV The Hardest, And Here's Why It Could Be Good For You

The latest iteration of Toyota's Land Cruiser continues the legacy of the rugged off-roader. The J250 Land Cruiser features a few new features that make it more versatile than ever. While the Japanese four-wheel-drive SUV instantly became a smash hit, this may be short-lived. Many owners make a good case about trading in their J250 Land Cruiser for a different SUV, not necessarily from the same brand. There is a trend forming and here’s why this might be good in the long run, if you are interested in a slightly used Japanese SUV. 

Owners and prospective buyers, alike, clearly point out two things about the Toyota J250 Land Cruiser that aren't very appealing. 

The interior quality 

If you are coming from an older Land Cruiser model, like let's say 200 or 300 series, you will not be impressed by the J250 Land Cruiser's interior. The boxy design opens up plenty of cabin space, but no third-row seating is available. You have to go to the Lexus GX550 for that, which is more or less the same car, but with a twin-turbo V-6 engine and a much more luxurious interior.

Toyota went with a rugged, more utilitarian interior for the J250 Land Cruiser, but at this price point, most of the competition offers a much better interior finish. At the end of the day, the Toyota SUV offers a functional and spacious interior with plenty of standard equipment, but if you are looking for third-row seats and luxury, you'd be better off elsewhere. 

The Land Cruiser's hybrid powertrain isn't all it's cracked up to be 

There is a lot to be said about the 2.4-liter, turbo-four hybrid powertrain that powers the J250 Land Cruiser and a bunch of other Toyota models. With a combined output of 326 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 464 pound-feet at 1,700 RPM, the 0 to 60 mph sprint is dealt with in 8.0 seconds. With the hybrid powertrain, this 5,037-pound SUV can also tow up to 6,000 pounds. According to the EPA ratings, the Toyota Land Cruiser J250 averages 23 MPG, with 22 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. Many owners are happy with the miles per gallon they get from Toyota's boxy SUV, and even go beyond the official figures. 

On paper, the Land Cruiser I-Force Max is impressive, but many owners are not thrilled about the way power is being delivered. Whoever buys the Land Cruiser is not as interested in performance, but while some enjoy what the four-cylinder I-Force Max has to offer, others claim their J250 Land Cruiser hesitates on acceleration and the powertrain feels strained. I, myself, have experienced this while testing other large SUVs with downsized engines, and can confirm that the engine feels like it's working hard.  

For this reason, many prefer the relative smoothness (by comparison) of the twin-turbo V-6, despite the danger of catastrophic engine failure on some early Toyota and Lexus models. Granted, the 2.4-liter turbo-four engine has proven to be less problematic than the V35A engine, despite people still having reservations about the long-term reliability. 

The J250 Land Cruiser will become a hot offering on the used market 

It seems, while finding Toyota Land Cruisers for under MSRP is easy, there is a good reason for it. So far, this mostly goes for the base-model J250 Land Cruiser 1958 Edition, which lacks some of the appealing features buyers are after. According to TrueCar, prices are gravitating around the original MSRP, with many dealerships offering 2024 Land Cruisers for even less than that. Higher trims are still in the mid to high $60,000 range, but at the rate of people trading in their J250s for different SUVs, the J250 Land Cruiser could be a real bargain in the next two years. 

Another SUV that perfectly showcases Toyota's ability to retain value is the fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner. For 2024, the starting MSRP of the 4Runner was $41,350, and currently, you will struggle to find examples for under MSRP. The opposite in fact. A 2024 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium had an MSRP of $44,160, and currently, they are listed for over $46,000. Not so the case with the J250 Land Cruiser, which even new, can be found for under MSRP. 

If you are a Toyota dealer, a prospective buyer, or an owner, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Do you think Toyota's Land Cruiser J250 will not retain its value like other Toyota SUVs, becoming a future bargain? Let me know in the comment section below. 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.