2024 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler continued to exude its iconic rugged aesthetic, characterized by a burly, body-on-frame design that remained consistent across its various models. Despite differing powertrains and off-road systems, the Wrangler's exterior maintained a uniform look, with only subtle differences like larger tires on the more robust Rubicon X and Rubicon 392 trims. This year, the Wrangler received a notable update with a redesigned grille, initially seen on the 2023 20th Anniversary edition of the Wrangler Rubicon. The new grille was shorter and wider, enhancing airflow to the engine bay. Additionally, Jeep integrated the antenna into the windshield, an improvement that prevented the traditional antenna from snagging on bushes and branches during off-road adventures. The Wrangler also offered ten new wheel designs, maintaining its customizable appeal.

The Wrangler was built for rugged adventures, featuring various roof options to suit different preferences. Options included a traditional soft-top, a full hard top, a hard top with a retractable sunroof over the front seats, and a power-retractable sunroof that extended sunshine throughout the entire cabin. The windshield could fold down, and the doors could be completely removed, adding to the vehicle's versatile nature. For those seeking a more standard setup, full doors, half doors, and Mopar tube doors were available.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser preserved its iconic look with a boxy design and a flat roof that echoed its heritage. The heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out across the front was reminiscent of the 40 series, while the round headlights on the base 1958 trim and the First Edition paid homage to the 20 series. The middle-grade Land Cruiser featured rectangular headlights that referenced the FJ62. All lighting was now LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The two higher trims boasted color-selectable fog lights from RIGID Industries, adding a contemporary twist.

For improved driver comfort, Toyota lowered the beltline to enhance visibility. All 2024 Land Cruisers came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch wheels available for the middle trim. The First Edition included additional off-road gear like a roof rack, a front skid plate, and mudflaps.

Inside, the base 1958 trim offered cloth seating surfaces, while the middle trim's seats were covered in SofTex. The First Edition featured real leather with unique trim-specific logos. Every trim included heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated front seats. The mid-grade tester's cabin was pleasant, incorporating elements of Toyota's current truck lineup with cushy seats, a padded center console, and attractive contrast stitching, emphasizing comfort alongside capability.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler offered varied engine options to cater to different driving preferences. The base option was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The same engine, in plug-in hybrid form, delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. For those preferring a traditional gasoline engine, the 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 generated 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The most powerful option was the 6.4-liter V8, boasting 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The Wrangler provided several transfer cases, each tailored to different levels of off-road capability. The Command-Trac 4WD system in Sport- or Sahara-trim Wranglers offered basic 4WD with low range, while the 392 trim featured the full-time Selec-Trac 4WD system. The Rubicon trim came with the Rock-Trac transfer case, available in either part-time or full-time 4WD.

Drivers could choose between an eight-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual transmission with the 3.6-liter engine. The 392 was especially notable for its speed, but the 4xe PHEV Wrangler stood out for its combination of power and efficiency, offering 21 miles of all-electric range.

During testing, the 4xe Rubicon exhibited impressive off-road capabilities, thanks to front and rear locking differentials and the new Offroad+ mode. This mode adjusted the throttle, traction control, and shift points for both sand dune driving in 4WD high and rock crawling in 4WD low.

The Wrangler’s solid front and rear axles provided excellent articulation, ensuring all four wheels maintained ground contact on rough terrain. Locking differentials further enhanced traction. Our tester’s BF Goodrich KO2 tires were durable and grippy off-road, with minimal road noise reaching the cabin.

The Willys trim level also impressed with its standard Offroad+ mode, 33-inch tires, a rear locking differential, and rock rails. While the Wrangler’s ride quality on pavement was less refined, the addition of sound deadening material for 2024 improved cabin quietness.

A noteworthy addition for 2024 was the optional WARN winch available on Rubicon models, featuring an 8,000-pound capacity and 90 feet of synthetic line.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, driven during a Toyota-hosted launch program, showcased its off-road prowess, although its on-road behavior required further evaluation. The Land Cruiser switched from a V8 to a hybrid powertrain, utilizing Toyota’s i-Force MAX system. This 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with a 48-hp electric motor and a 1.87-kWh battery pack, generated 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD, featuring an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case for high and low range.

The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on the mid-tier and First Edition models, could operate in either 4Hi or 4Lo. An automatic limited-slip differential, along with rear and center locking differentials, was standard. Testing revealed that locking the rear differential made navigating obstacles easier.

The Land Cruiser also introduced a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar, enhancing off-road articulation without compromising on-road stability. The 2024 model included an updated CRAWL control function, offering five speed settings for better precision. The system operated quietly, managing the vehicle’s braking and acceleration effectively over challenging terrain.

The transmission performed unobtrusively, ensuring a smooth driving experience on the curated off-road course.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler made significant strides in form and function, starting with an upgraded towing capacity. Previously limited to 3,500 pounds, the new full-float solid rear axle allowed the Wrangler to tow up to 5,000 pounds. However, this capacity was restricted to four-door Rubicon models with the 2.0-liter or 3.6-liter engines, automatic transmission, and 33-inch tires. Other models maintained the 3,500-pound towing limit.

Inside, the Wrangler offered heated seats and a heated steering wheel, though ventilated seats were unavailable. The 2024 model introduced 12-way power-adjustable front seats, designed to function even when submerged in up to 34 inches of water. The 4xe model featured a 30-amp Power Box, using the 17.3-kWh battery to power various accessories like blenders or portable refrigerators.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado platform, provided a spacious interior with two rows of seating. Front-seat headroom measured 36.1 inches, with 35.3 inches in the back. Leg room was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console, housing key off-road controls, was conveniently located behind the gear shifter.

The rear liftgate opened onto a cargo area with a raised floor, featuring a rubber mat for easy cleaning. However, the cloth seats in the middle trim were less durable. Total cargo capacity was 37.5 cubic feet. The cargo area included a 120-volt AC outlet powered by a 2400-watt inverter, as well as USB-C ports and illumination.

Comparatively, the Wrangler’s towing capacity of 5,000 pounds for specific models outperformed the Land Cruiser, but the Land Cruiser offered more cargo space with its 37.5 cubic feet.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen running Uconnect5, although navigation was optional. The cleaner graphics and user-friendly interface were significant improvements over previous models. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with numerous USB-A and -C ports. The upgraded system was notably faster, especially in accessing the Off-Road Pages, which provided crucial data like transmission temperature and battery charge.

The Trails Offroad feature allowed users to navigate over 200 trails for free, with an option to access 3,000 trails for $39.99 annually. Users could also record and share trails, adding waypoints and descriptions. Other new features included a wireless hotspot, dual Bluetooth phone pairing, and user profile storage.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system, standard on the two higher trims. The 12.3-inch center touchscreen display became indispensable on the off-road course, automatically activating at speeds below 10 mph. The larger screen was preferred over more expansive versions in other Toyota models, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The base 1958 trim featured an 8-inch center display with a six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim included a 10-speaker system with an option to upgrade to the First Edition’s 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler marked a milestone with the integration of first- and second-row side-curtain airbags. Forward collision warning was standard on all but the base model, while features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and park assist were part of an optional package. High Altitude and 392 models included these features as standard. However, lane-keeping and other highway assist technologies were not available.

The Wrangler had yet to be rated by the NHTSA or IIHS for 2024. The 2023 model received four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three out of five stars for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the four-door Wrangler “Good” in roof strength and head restraints but “Moderate” in frontal and side crashes.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, also unrated by the NHTSA and IIHS, offered promising safety features based on Toyota’s reputation and related platform ratings. The Tundra, for instance, earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. The Land Cruiser came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added advanced features like lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist, standard on the First Edition.