Toyota Land Cruiser 250 Upgrades Anti-Theft and Driver-Assist Features

Toyota launched a minor update of the Land Cruiser 250 in Japan on April 3, focusing on enhanced safety and anti-theft features. This update applies only to gasoline models, with the diesel variant expected to arrive after December. Exterior styling largely retains the original boxy, rugged design. The new model introduces a "Neutral Black" paint option replacing the previous black finish and offers a desert-themed color scheme without the white roof, while continuing to offer existing colors such as "Platinum White Pearl Mica" and "Avant-Garde Bronze Metallic." The dual-beam circular LED headlights, previously exclusive to the launch edition, are now available as an option on the VX grade. Inside the cabin, the VX grade gains an advanced driver-assistance system featuring traffic jam assist, a driver monitoring camera, front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and emergency steering assist. Comfort enhancements include an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function and a 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. Addressing the model’s persistent presence on Japan’s high-theft vehicle lists, the updated Land Cruiser 250 strengthens its anti-theft capabilities with new features such as key-proximity-based restrictions on unlocking and engine start, along with remote engine-start disable functionality. The powertrain remains unchanged, continuing with a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower and 246 N·m of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Pricing for the gasoline-powered, four-wheel-drive, seven-seat Land Cruiser 250 VX starts at ¥5,779,400 in Japan, an increase of ¥329,400 compared to the previous version.