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Walk into any Toyota showroom this fall, and you’ll face a choice that comes down to about five grand and a whole lot of soul-searching. The 2026 Land Cruiser arrives with just two options: the heritage-focused 1958 at $58,650 or the higher-spec standard trim at $63,540. Both pack the same hybrid muscle under the hood, but they couldn’t feel more different when you climb inside. Toyota’s betting that some buyers will pay extra for modern conveniences while others want that back-to-basics feel. Here’s what actually changes when you move up the ladder.

• The 1958 rocks classic round LED headlights that nod to Land Cruiser history, while the standard trim goes contemporary with rectangular LEDs and color-changing fog lights.
• Inside, you’re looking at an 8-inch screen and cloth seats in the 1958 versus a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen, digital gauge cluster, and ventilated seats in the upper trim.
• Off-road junkies get Multi-Terrain Select and stabilizer disconnect on the standard model, but the 1958 still comes with locking diffs and crawl control for serious trail work.

What You Get With Both Models

Let’s talk about what doesn’t change, no matter which trim you pick. Toyota dropped the same i-Force Max hybrid powertrain into both versions, pairing a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor that cranks out 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s the same setup you’ll find in the new Tacoma and 4Runner, and it works beautifully here. The eight-speed automatic feels smooth, and the full-time four-wheel drive means you’re always sending power to all four corners.

Both trims pull 6,000 pounds when you need to haul a boat or trailer, and they’ll get you 22 mpg in town and 25 on the highway. That’s a massive jump from the old V8 that barely cracked 13 mpg city. Ground clearance sits at 7.9 inches on both, and you get the same frame-mounted tow hooks, skid plates protecting your vital organs, and stubby bumpers for tackling rocks without scraping your undercarriage.

Where the 1958 Stands Out

Toyota designed the 1958 as a throwback to 1958 when the Land Cruiser first hit American soil. Those round headlights are fully functional LED units that work great and look fantastic. You also get the heritage Toyota grille badge instead of the modern logo. If you’re someone who appreciates automotive history and wants your truck to stand out from every other SUV on the road, this trim delivers.

The cabin keeps things simple with heated cloth seats, a heated steering wheel, and that smaller 8-inch touchscreen running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six USB ports mean everyone can charge their devices, and you still get Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with all the driver assistance features. The 1958 uses manual adjustments for the steering column and seats, but honestly, once you’ve got it dialed in, how often are you really changing it?

What you’re trading for that lower price is mostly comfort and convenience items. The interior materials feel cheaper, with more hard plastics visible throughout the cabin. Several reviewers mentioned this, and it’s worth seeing in person at auto dealers before you commit. The smaller screen works fine, but it can feel cramped when you’re trying to see map details or use split-screen functions.

What the Standard Trim Adds

Step up to the confusingly named “Land Cruiser” trim and things get noticeably more refined. That 12.3-inch touchscreen pairs with a matching digital gauge cluster, and the difference is night and day. You can see more map detail, the menus are easier to navigate, and the whole system feels more modern. The 10-speaker audio sounds much better than the base six-speaker setup, and you can opt up to a 14-speaker JBL system if you’re serious about your tunes.

The seats switch to ventilated SofTex material with power adjustments for the driver. On a hot summer day or during a long highway stretch, those cooled seats make a real difference. You also get a power-adjustable steering column, which sounds minor until you’re sharing the vehicle with someone who’s a different height than you.

This trim also unlocks options you can’t get on the 1958: 20-inch wheels, a head-up display, leather seats, a console cool box, wireless charging, and a power moonroof. If you want to load up your Land Cruiser with all the goodies, you need this trim as your starting point. The Premium package bundles several of these features together with driver’s seat memory and a 14-speaker JBL system.

The Off-Road Advantage

Here’s where the gap widens if you’re serious about hitting trails. The standard trim gets Multi-Terrain Select with modes for sand, mud, rock, deep snow, and more. This system automatically adjusts throttle response, traction control, and other parameters to match the surface you’re on. The 1958 can still handle serious terrain, but you’re doing more of the work manually.

The stabilizer disconnect mechanism is another big deal for hardcore off-roaders. When you activate it, the front stabilizer bar disconnects to allow much greater wheel articulation over rocks and uneven terrain. This lets one wheel drop into a hole while the opposite corner stays planted, keeping you moving forward. On pavement, the system reconnects automatically to maintain stability.

The Multi-Terrain Monitor uses cameras positioned around the vehicle to show you what’s directly in front of your tires, beside them, and behind you. When you’re crawling over boulders or trying to thread between trees, these views help you avoid expensive bodywork. The 1958 gets a standard backup camera but misses these additional angles.

Making Your Choice

If you’re buying a Land Cruiser primarily for its capability and heritage appeal, the 1958 makes sense. You’re getting the same powertrain, the same four-wheel-drive system with locking differentials, and crawl control that’ll get you through most situations. The round headlights look amazing, and you’ll save nearly five thousand dollars that could go toward recovery gear, upgraded tires, or actual adventures.

But if this is your daily driver and you want the refinement to match, the standard trim justifies its price. The bigger screens, better seats, improved materials, and advanced off-road tech add up to a more comfortable experience, whether you’re commuting to work or exploring fire roads. The ability to add options like the head-up display and leather seats means you can build exactly the truck you want.

Toyota’s platform sharing with the Lexus GX is shown here, too. The Land Cruiser undercuts that luxury SUV by tens of thousands while delivering most of the same capability. The standard Land Cruiser trim sits in a sweet spot where you’re getting serious equipment without entering luxury pricing territory.

Your Next Move

Before you decide, spend time in both versions. The 1958’s simpler cabin might feel refreshingly straightforward, or it might seem too basic for a sixty-thousand-dollar vehicle. The standard trim’s tech and comfort could be exactly what you need, or it might feel like overkill if you’re planning to cover everything in mud anyway. Both Land Cruisers will take you places most SUVs only dream about. The question is whether you want to get there with modern amenities or vintage style.

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