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2026 Chevrolet Tahoe ReviewHands-on with Toyota’s Newest Cars
The Land Cruiser, Tacoma Hybrid, and Camry are all aiming to make a big splash with hybrid technology.
New Toyota’s are Ready to Take on the Competition
It’s rare that a car company introduces several new vehicles into the market during the same year. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what Toyota is doing as we speak. The Land Cruiser, Camry, are all new. The Tacoma is about a year old, but its hybrid drivetrain is just beginning to trickle toward dealers. Each of these vehicles has an updated drivetrain worthy of a deeper dive. Let’s take a look at the best that Toyota has to offer right now.
2024 Land Cruiser
Toyota fans everywhere are understandably excited about the new Land Cruiser. It’s boxy, rugged, heavily updated, and tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than the previous generation. On top of that, it comes standard across the range with Toyota’s i-Force MAX powertrain, a 326 horsepower turbocharged and hybridized four-cylinder that routes power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It also makes up to 465 lb-ft of torque which is great for towing and off-roading.
While we didn’t have the chance to drive this burly beast on public roads, we did have an opportunity to take it off-road. Frankly, that’s where it’s likely most at home, and on top of that, it’s wildly capable right out of the box. Toyota includes several off-road features as standard including crawl control, a low-speed cruise control, a sway-bar disconnect system, and a locking rear differential. On rough trails with lots of pitch and angle, the Land Cruiser did just that, cruised over the terrain without drama.
In addition, it’s worth noting that this isn’t a true rival to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco the way it might appear. It’s nicer inside and has a bit more tech to speak of. In addition, it’s full of driver safety aids that make it more valuable in our eyes.
2024 Tacoma i-Force MAX
Since Toyota teased this hybrid powertrain for the Tacoma back in April of 2023, we’ve been looking forward to testing it. At the time, it was unclear which hybrid engine Toyota would use. Now, we know that it’s the same one found in the Land Cruiser. It makes the same horsepower and torque as well which is a good thing. On top of that, it gets up to 24 mpg combined which is better than the outgoing Tacoma V6 while also offering more power.
On the road, the experience is a mixed bag. The additional power and torque are great. We didn’t get a chance to try towing with it but that task is likely much easier too. What’s frustrating though is the lack of sharpness to the inputs and drivetrain responses. A quick stab of the brake or throttle isn’t met with eager obedience. Instead, there seems to be a notable delay. That’s no big deal in most circumstances but it lasts when one removes a foot from a pedal too, resulting in more acceleration than intended at times.
Of course, off-road, the Tacoma i-Force MAX comes into its own. Much like the Land Cruiser, it’s available with all sorts of exceptional off-road equipment. The Trailhunter trim, new for this generation, is a true turn-key overland vehicle and proved just as capable as the Land Cruise on the same course. The TRD Pro is perfect for desert running and high-speed antics. We sent it over a jump at 40 mph and were shocked at how drama-free the experience was. On top of that, it managed to blitz through an off-road rally course as if it were built for it. It’s truly a truck built for when the road runs out.
2025 Camry
Finally, let’s talk about one of the most popular sedans ever. The Toyota Camry is a perennial all-star in the eyes of most and for this new generation, it’s a hybrid only. In addition, all-wheel drive is available with the hybrid across the entire lineup. It’s certainly sad to see the TRD version leave production but we have some good news overall. This new hybrid isn’t ‘bad’ to drive compared to some other hybrid sedans.
In fact, it’s pretty sharp from behind the wheel. The pedals and steering provide good feedback and the braking system is a notch above the outgoing Camry hybrid. In addition, it gets up to 51 mpg combined which is certain to attract a great many buyers for Toyota. The Honda Accord, a main rival, still drives better but it only gets up to 47 mpg combined while also making less power.
Toyota Goes Big on Hybrid
The big theme across all of these vehicles is clearly hybrid power. Toyota is leaning into more than at any time in history and it could very well be a turning point. This brand is built on reliability. For that to continue, these hybrid engines and the transmissions that go with them will need to stand the test of time. If they don’t, it could be the beginning of the end of Toyota’s dominance in the USA. If they do manage to be just as reliable though, expect all of these vehicles to go down in history as some of Toyota’s best.
