There are people with long commutes, and then there’s Shane Somers, who managed to put more than 110,000 miles on his 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 in less than a year. His ownership report, shared with The Drive, paints a surprisingly positive picture of Toyota’s new turbo-hybrid 2.4-liter i-FORCE MAX powertrain, especially given the brand’s recent struggles with its turbo V6 engines.
Somers runs a business shuttling medicine and medical supplies between hospitals and nursing homes across Pennsylvania. Each day’s urgent delivery means hundreds of highway miles, making his Land Cruiser an unintentional long-term durability test for Toyota’s reimagined off-roader.
He says he chose the Land Cruiser because it’s “Toyota’s best vehicle for years since the ’50s,” and after this marathon of driving, it’s hard to argue with his experience. Despite the mileage, Somers reports “no issues with the vehicle and no rattles or anything falling off.”
What 110,000 Miles Looks Like
Somers’ 1958-trim Land Cruiser uses the 326-horsepower hybrid turbo four, paired to an eight-speed automatic and full-time 4WD. In 12 months, his maintenance record includes 22 oil changes, 22 tire rotations, three engine air filters, three cabin filters, two spark-plug services, and three sets of tires, plus a coolant and inverter service. He also performed two alignments.
That kind of regimen rivals commercial fleet schedules, yet the SUV’s drivetrain has remained solid. Fuel economy has averaged 23.1 mpg, nearly identical to EPA’s combined estimate of 23 mpg. As Somers notes, most of his miles are highway cruising, light work for a vehicle designed to conquer far worse.
If you’re curious how the new model performs in more typical use, Joe Santos shows you exactly what it is like, even outside the long-haul world, the latest generation is a comfortable ride, has good mileage, and plenty of power make it great for daily driving.
Why It Matters
The Land Cruiser badge has always stood for toughness and longevity, but this is the first generation to abandon a V8 entirely. That shift hasn’t sat well with traditionalists, especially after Toyota hinted the Land Cruiser could get its V8 back. Yet, early data points like Somers’ real-world test suggest Toyota’s smaller, electrified setup might actually be more reliable than its larger predecessors.
This particular Land Cruiser proves the downsized hybrid can handle serious miles without drama. Compare that to reports of oil-consumption or turbo issues in some V6 applications, and it becomes clear why the 2.4-liter hybrid is shaping up as Toyota’s best long-distance powertrain yet.
For buyers weighing trims, Kristen Brown, one of our contributing writers, dives into which setup best balances comfort, cost, and off-road performance.
Joe Santos
The Takeaway of 110,000 Miles
After relentless use, this Land Cruiser remains tight, efficient, and trouble-free. It’s the kind of evidence Toyota will quietly love, a customer doing real-world validation before the industry’s eyes.
Hybrid or not, the Land Cruiser still wears its durability badge proudly, and for once, the data backs it up.
