Some of these SUVs are better suited for the road, while others provide superior performance to the J250 Land Cruiser. Either way, they are worthy alternatives.
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In 2024, we got the J250 Toyota Land Cruiser. This iteration of the Japanese 4X4 brought a lot of firsts. Some were welcomed while others received mixed reception. Some would argue that the Land Cruiser J250 lost some bling in favor of more utility, and while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, some of its other features, like the four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, are not to everyone's taste. While the 2024 Land Cruiser still offers great utility and off-road capabilities, here are some other SUV alternatives that offer great alternatives to Toyota's rugged SUV.
Lexus GX550
When talking about J250 Land Cruiser alternatives, the first to come to mind is the Lexus GX550. If you are not a fan of Toyota Land Cruiser's hybrid four-cylinder, the GX550 is, essentially, the same car with a twin-turbo V-6. To no surprise, its internal designation is also J250 since it shares the same body-on-frame chassis and general aesthetic. The V-6 engine found in the GX550 and other Toyota products was subject to a recall due to major issues, but Toyota assures it will not compromise the longevity of its models.
The Lexus GX can offer identical off-road capabilities to the Land Cruiser, especially in Overtrail trim, which trades some bling for mor ruggedness. Because of the bigger engine, the Lexus can also tow 2,000 pounds more than the Land Cruiser, and because there are no batteries in the trunk, you get third-row seating. The only downside compared to the Land Cruiser is fuel economy – 17 MPG combined (EPA) for the Lexus GX versus 23 MPG for the Land Cruiser.
Lexus GX550 J250 performance specifications
- Engine: 3.4-liter, twin-turbo V-6
- Output: 349 horsepower at 4,800-5,00 RPM, 479 pound-feet at 2,000-3,500 RPM
- Transmission and driveline: 10-speed automatic, 4WD
- Curb weight: 5,585-5,705 pounds
- Ground clearance: 10.9 inches
- Approach/Departure/Break-over angles: 26/22/24
- Towing capacity: 8,000-9,096 pounds
- 0-60 MPH: 6.3 seconds
Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai used to be the laughingstock of the automotive industry but the Korean marque has come a long way. In 2018, Hyundai introduced the Palisade as a three-row SUV alternative to the likes of Lexus, Mercedes, and Audi, at a fraction of the cost. This, combined with a reliable V-6 powertrain that shares a lot of similarities to the Genesis Coupe, makes the Palisade one of the best three-row SUVs from Asian carmakers.
At $36,650 starting MSRP, the Palisade is almost half the price of a Lexus GX or Audi Q7. Unlike the J250 Land Cruiser, though, the Palisade features a unibody construction, making it better suited for on-road driving. With up to 22 MPG combined (EPA), the Hyundai Palisade is very close to the hybrid Land Cruiser's figures. The real trade-off comes in towing capacity, off-the-line acceleration, and off-road capabilities due to the lower ground clearance.
Hyundai Palisade performance specifications
- Engine: 3.8-liter, naturally-aspirated V-6
- Output: 291 horsepower at 6,000 RPM, 262 pound-feet at 5,200 RPM
- Transmission and driveline: 8-speed automatic, FWD/ 4WD
- Curb weight: 4,259-4,506 pounds
- Ground clearance: 7.9 inches
- Approach/Departure/Break-over angles: 18.5/21.2 /17.9 degrees
- Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
- 0-60 MPH: 7.3 seconds
INEOS Grenadier
The current-generation Land Rover Defender could easily make this list, but I decided to put the INESO Grenadier instead, and for good reason. The INEOS Grenadier takes after the original Defender, by being an off-road vehicle first. Unlike the original Defender, however, it features enough modern tech to be usable as a daily driver, albeit not as refined as some of the other SUVs on the list.
The Grenadier is still very utilitarian, but now features a BMW straight-six, mechanical locking differentials, and a quick-shifting automatic. The INEOS Grenadier is British, but it is, actually, assembled in a former Mercedes factory in France while the chassis is manufactured in the Magna Steyr factory in Austria.
INEOS Grenadier performance specifications
- Engine: 3.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-six
- Output 286 horsepower at 4,750 RPM, 332 pound-feet at 1,750-4,000 RPM
- Transmission and driveline: 8-speed automatic, 4WD
- Curb weight: 5,875-6,032 pounds
- Ground clearance: 10 inches
- Approach/Departure/Break-over angles: 35.5/36.1 /28.2 degrees
- Towing capacity: 7,716 pounds
- 0-60 MPH: 8.2 seconds
Lexus LX600
The J300 Land Cruiser may have been discontinued, but the Lexus equivalent carries on. Lexus LX's latest revision came in 2021, and for North America, you can only get the more powerful LX600 variant. The full-size SUV still rocks the old, body-on-frame platform, but unlike the J250 Land Cruiser, it hasn't compromised on the luxury aspect. Sadly, the V-8 is no longer available, but there is a more powerful variant of the Lexus LX550's V-6 unit. Granted, you will have to pay upwards of $90,000 for one of these, which is a hefty sum more than the smaller GX.
Lexus LX600 (J300) performance specifications
- Engine: 3.4-liter, twin-turbo V-6
- Output: 415 horsepower at 5,200 RPM, 479 pound-feet at 2,000-3,600 RPM
- Transmission and driveline: 10-speed automatic, 4WD
- Curb weight: 5,666-5,908 pounds
- Ground clearance: 7.9-8.3 inches
- Approach/Departure/Break-over angles: 27.4/26.3 /28 degrees
- Towing capacity: 8,000 pounds
- 0-60 MPH: 6.9 seconds
Kia Telluride
After Hyundai launched the Palisade, it didn't take long for us to get an equivalent from Kia. The Kia Telluride is a technological twin to the Hyundai Palisade that's similarly priced. Really, it comes down to which design or which badge you prefer. Like the Palisade, Kia's Telluride can either sit seven or eight people, depending on whether you have chosen the whole second-row seat or the captain's chairs.
In case you wonder, the Kia Telluride is 0.2 inches longer (196.7 vs 196.9 inches) and 0.5 inches wider than the Hyundai Palisade (77.8 vs 78.3 inches). Fuel economy is near-identical, although the 4WD version gets 20 MPG combined, which is slightly less than the 4WD Palisade's 21 MPG. The Telluride features a unibody platform and low ground clearance, so don't expect mind-blowing off-road capabilities. Kia Telluride is a good alternative to the Land Cruiser, but only if you don;t plan on going off-road.
Kia Telluride performance specifications
- Engine: 3.8-liter, naturally-aspirated V-6
- Output: 291 horsepower at 6,000 RPM, 262 pound-feet at 5,200 RPM
- Transmission and driveline: 8-speed automatic, FWD/4WD
- Curb weight: 4,301-4,524 pounds
- Ground clearance: 8.0 inches
- Approach/Departure/Break-over angles: 17/22.4 /N/A degrees
- Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
- 0-60 MPH: 6.8 seconds
About the author
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.
Image sources: Lexus GX, INEOS Grenadier, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Lexus LX
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