Toyota Land Cruiser May Be Dead In America After All

Oct. 09, 2020 10:21 AM ET by Aaron Brzozowski Off-Road / 11 Comments

The SUV, a favorite among off-roading enthusiasts, is reportedly being discontinued after 2021.

We've got some bad news for fans of the Toyota Land Cruiser: the big, luxurious four-wheel-drive SUV, which is a favorite among off-roading enthusiasts, will be discontinued after the 2021 model year. That's according to Motor Authority, which says that an anonymous dealership source confirmed the news after it was originally reported - and later, deleted - in a post on an off-roading web forum.

"It's a punch to the gut for all of us enthusiasts who love the product," the source told Motor Authority, making it clear that no one in the industry believes there's any chance the model line will be revived later.

2020-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Front Angle View

2020-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Rear View Driving

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a giant in the 4x4 community, serving both as Toyota's longest-running nameplate, and as the second-longest-running SUV nameplate in the industry, after the Chevrolet Suburban. Toyota conducts much of its testing for the model line in the harsh, inhospitable Australian outback, ensuring that each iteration of the Land Cruiser released by the Japanese automaker can withstand some of the harshest, most severe conditions on planet earth.

The Land Cruiser's upmarket stablemate, the Lexus LX, will reportedly live on past 2021, but with a twin-turbo V6 under the hood instead of the current V8.

2020-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Front Seats

Previously, it was expected that a new 300-series Toyota Land Cruiser would arrive next year to replace the current 200-series model, and we have no reason to believe it won't still go on sale in certain global markets - especially Australia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, where it remains a very popular 4x4. But like the Lexus LX, the next-generation Land Cruiser may forego the inefficient 5.7L V8, trading it in for a twin-turbo V6 instead.

The Land Cruiser's final year on sale in the US will see the return of the Heritage Edition model. Originally introduced for 2020, the Heritage Edition will add a new third-row option, and silver and gray join white and black to round out the roster of available exterior color options for the 2021 model.