Often Persecuted by Thieves, Toyota Strengthens Security in the Latest Land Cruiser 250

JAKARTA - Toyota has made minor updates to the Land Cruiser 250 in the Japanese market, about two years after its debut. Although it looks minimal visually, the improvements are quite noticeable, especially in terms of safety features and theft prevention systems.

Reported by Carscoops, Saturday, April 4, this update is only temporarily valid for gasoline-powered variants, while the new diesel version will follow after December. In terms of appearance, there are no significant changes.

The typical silhouette of the Land Cruiser, which is square, is still maintained and still looks modern. The refresh comes in the form of a new color choice, namely Neutral Black which replaces Black (202), as well as a monochrome Sand color without a white roof combination.

This option complements the colors that have been available previously such as Platinum White Pearl Mica and Avant-Garde Bronze Metallic. Additional touches are also visible in the lighting sector.

The round-shaped Bi-Beam LED headlights that were previously only available on the First Edition variant can now be selected for the VX type. The design of this lamp gives a strong retro feel, different from the more slender rectangular three-projector LED lamp.

Entering the cabin, the improvement is more significant. The VX variant is now equipped with the Toyota Teammate Advanced Drive system which includes various driving assistance features, such as support during traffic jams, driver monitoring cameras, front cross traffic warnings, lane change assistance, to emergency steering assistance.

Comfort is also improved through the presence of an eight-way electric seat adjustment with memory for the driver. There is also a four-way adjustment for the front passenger seat which is now a standard feature.

Toyota also strengthened the vehicle's security system with the latest anti-theft technology. This is important considering that the Land Cruiser is often included in the list of the most frequently stolen cars in Japan.

The distance measurement system on the smart key ensures that the vehicle cannot be opened or started if the key is not near the car. In addition, the T-Connect My Start Lock feature allows owners to turn off the engine starter function remotely.

Behind the engine hood, the Land Cruiser 250 still relies on a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 160 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) and 246 Nm of torque. The power is transmitted through a six-speed automatic transmission with a permanent four-wheel drive (4WD) system.

For the Japanese market, Toyota opened reservations for the seven-passenger Land Cruiser VX Gasoline 4WD at a starting price of 36,200 US dollars. This figure increased by 2,100 US dollars compared to the previous model. Meanwhile, the higher-performance turbodiesel variant is scheduled to arrive after December 2026.