Baby Toyota LandCruiser looking imminent

It certainly seems so, judging by recent reports out of Japan claiming Toyota is planning to launch a shrunken LandCruiser spin-off as soon as next year, with one outlet even rendering the would-be compact off-roader.

The car in question will be a production version of the 2021 Toyota Compact Cruiser EV concept, according to Best Car Web and Magazine X, and will be underpinned by a dedicated ladder-frame chassis as per the bigger 70 Series workhorse, 250 Series Prado and 300 Series LandCruisers.

Perhaps the most interesting element of the reports, however, is news that the all-new global model is set to come with internal combustion power, rather than the concept’s battery-electric powertrain, in the name of mass-market appeal and value.

That’s not to say an electric version won’t come later (even Suzuki is working on an electric Jimny), but there is some conjecture around whether the baby LandCruiser will be petrol- or diesel-powered.

Odds are the final specification will come down to consumer preferences in different markets, for example petrol in the Middle East, diesel for Australia and/or hybrid for Europe.

Theorised powertrains range from the Corolla’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder four-cylinder petrol engine right the way through to the HiLux’s 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

Any of the current Toyota powertrains within that range would provide the baby LandCruiser with a significant advantage over the Jimny’s puny 75kW/130Nm outputs, but a diesel engine would certainly highlight the Suzuki’s biggest short-coming: low-end torque.

However, the Toyota could end up needing those extra kiloWatts and Newton-metres because it’s said to be roughly the same size as a Toyota Corolla Cross – making it significantly bigger than the upcoming Jimny 5-Door but still considerably smaller than the next-generation Prado it will likely resemble.

Of course, towing capability will probably suffer as a result of its smaller stature and powertrain, but that’s never been the point of compact off-roaders – the point is to get as far off the grid as possible in a smaller, nimbler, more efficient and lighter package than a full-size 4x4 wagon. Even if many of them never will.

Toyota is yet to announce a vehicle of this kind officially but did tease a sub-Prado off-roader’s silhouette during the former’s global reveal in Japan earlier this year, which suggests some sort of confirmation will come soon.

Time will tell.

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