Toyota's smallest Land Cruiser may cost as little as $25,000 but there's a catch
Published on Mar 13, 2026 at 10:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Mar 13, 2026 at 1:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The smallest Toyota Land Cruiser yet could soon become one of the cheapest ways into the famous off-road nameplate.
Early reports suggest the compact SUV might start at around $25,000.
That’s dramatically less than most vehicles wearing the Land Cruiser badge today.
However, while the price sounds appealing, there’s an important catch for many buyers.
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Toyota’s smallest Land Cruiser yet could cost around $25,000
Toyota introduced the new Land Cruiser FJ in late 2025, revealing the smallest four-door Land Cruiser the company has built.
The compact SUV made its public debut during the Japan Mobility Show, and reservations have already opened in Japan, while production recently started in Thailand.
Despite its smaller footprint, the model still sticks closely to the Land Cruiser formula.
It measures about 180 inches long and rides on Toyota’s long-running IMV platform, the same architecture used by vehicles like the Hilux pickup and Fortuner SUV.
The platform isn’t brand new, but that’s partly why the vehicle can stay affordable.
IMV has been refined for roughly two decades and is known for being tough and simple to maintain in demanding environments.
Under the hood, the Land Cruiser FJ keeps things straightforward with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed transmission.
Even with the simpler setup, it still includes proper off-road hardware, such as a center differential lock, a rear differential lock, and hill-descent control.
Pricing has not been officially confirmed, but Japanese outlet Best Car reports the SUV could cost between ¥4 million and ¥4.5 million.
Converted to US currency, that would place the starting price just above $25,000 and potentially around $28,500 at the higher end.
For context, the Land Cruiser sold in the United States starts at $57,600, meaning the smaller model could cost less than half as much.
The catch is where it actually goes on sale
As appealing as that price sounds, there is a catch: the Land Cruiser FJ will not be available everywhere.
Toyota does not plan to sell the model in the United States or Europe.
The main reason comes down to regulations.
The IMV platform was developed primarily for global markets such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and it does not meet the requirements needed for US certification.
Europe faces a different challenge, as the region’s strict emissions standards make the simple 2.7-liter engine difficult to sell there.
Instead, the compact Land Cruiser will focus on markets across East and Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where durable, straightforward off-road vehicles remain especially popular.
There is still a possibility the lineup could expand later.
While Japan will launch with the 2.7-liter gasoline engine, the vehicle’s shared DNA with the Hilux means a diesel version could potentially appear in other markets down the line.
But for now, the world’s cheapest Land Cruiser will remain out of reach for buyers in the US and Europe.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
