So long, farewell Land Cruiser

[brian254]

It was a tough decision, but after nearly three months of thoroughly enjoyable ownership, I traded in my 2025 Land Cruiser 1958 yesterday for a 4-door Bronco Badlands with the Sasquatch package.

Let me be clear: there was absolutely nothing wrong with the LC. It’s a fantastic vehicle. But after reevaluating how I plan to use my rig going forward—specifically targeting more challenging off-road trails—the Bronco offered some significant advantages that ultimately swayed me. So here’s a breakdown of the factors behind the switch:

Key Advantages of the Bronco Badlands w/ Sasquatch Package​

1. Ground Clearance
   The Bronco offers 11.5 inches of ground clearance—compared to 8.5 inches on the LC—without the need for an aftermarket lift.
2. Fording Depth
   With a fording depth of 33.5 inches vs. 27.5 for the LC, the Bronco gives me more peace of mind for the local trails I frequent, some of which involve river crossings that came sometimes reach 24 inches after rain. Plus, there’s no hybrid system battery to worry about.
3. Tires
   The Sasquatch package comes standard with 35" tires—again, no lift required. I've heard of a few folks putting 35" tires on LCs, and some say they don't rub, and some say they do. No such issue with the 'squatch.
4. Locking Front Differential
   While the Bronco has a locking rear differential like the LC, it doesn’t have a center locker like the LC. However, it does have a locking front diff. For tougher trails, I consider the front locker more valuable.
5. Off-Road Modes
   The G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) system included in the Badlands trim offers multiple drive modes. I’m sure Toyota’s MTS system in the higher LC trims is also excellent, but the variety and tuning of the Bronco’s modes felt like a better fit for my intended use.
6. Removable Hard-Top
   This one’s a bit unfair—I knew the 1958 trim didn’t come with a sunroof, but after riding in a friend’s Bronco with the entire top removed, I was hooked.
7. Modular Steel Bumper
   Standard on the Badlands trim, it’s winch-ready and customizable with bolt-ons like brush guards and light bars. As far as I know, there’s no equivalent factory offering for the LC.
8. Price
   I feel like I got about 90%+ of what an LC LC with the premium package would offer - for roughly 80% of the cost. And to me, some Bronco features (like the removable top, tailgate-mounted spare, and significantly better approach/departure angles) just aren’t available on the LC at any trim level.
   

Final Thoughts​

It was genuinely gut-wrenching to hand over the LC yesterday. If it were up to me, I’d keep both—use the LC for highway trips, forest service roads, and light off-roading, and reserve the Bronco for the tough stuff. But alas, the boss (aka my wife) didn’t sign off on that plan.

I have nothing bad to say about the LC — except a few minor gripes, with the chief among them being:

• CarPlay doesn’t lower the audio system volume enough when making announcements or receiving calls.
• The traction control/VSC-off warning in 4LO comes back to block the gauge cluster every time it’s dismissed.

First-world problems, for sure.

The LC took me everywhere I wanted to go, both on-road and off, handled difficulty level 3/level 4 trails without breaking a sweat, and delivered a comfortable ride throughout. I’ve had mixed feelings about parting with vehicles in the past (not you, Jeep Grand Cherokee), but the sense of loss this time runs deeper.

I wish you all continued enjoyment of your excellent Land Cruisers!

 

[Nuke]

Agreed Brian, for hard-core off-roading you may have made the correct decision. Did you also consider a 2-door Wrangler Rubicon? We once owned a 2-door Wrangler, and it was superior with challenges such as mountain trails with severe switchbacks. Good luck!

 

[RideWithYanu]

Enjoy the new ride!

 

[supernova]

It was a tough decision, but after nearly three months of thoroughly enjoyable ownership, I traded in my 2025 Land Cruiser 1958 yesterday for a 4-door Bronco Badlands with the Sasquatch package.

Let me be clear: there was absolutely nothing wrong with the LC. It’s a fantastic vehicle. But after reevaluating how I plan to use my rig going forward—specifically targeting more challenging off-road trails—the Bronco offered some significant advantages that ultimately swayed me. So here’s a breakdown of the factors behind the switch:

Key Advantages of the Bronco Badlands w/ Sasquatch Package​

1. Ground Clearance
   The Bronco offers 11.5 inches of ground clearance—compared to 8.5 inches on the LC—without the need for an aftermarket lift.
2. Fording Depth
   With a fording depth of 33.5 inches vs. 27.5 for the LC, the Bronco gives me more peace of mind for the local trails I frequent, some of which involve river crossings that came sometimes reach 24 inches after rain. Plus, there’s no hybrid system battery to worry about.
3. Tires
   The Sasquatch package comes standard with 35" tires—again, no lift required. I've heard of a few folks putting 35" tires on LCs, and some say they don't rub, and some say they do. No such issue with the 'squatch.
4. Locking Front Differential
   While the Bronco has a locking rear differential like the LC, it doesn’t have a center locker like the LC. However, it does have a locking front diff. For tougher trails, I consider the front locker more valuable.
5. Off-Road Modes
   The G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) system included in the Badlands trim offers multiple drive modes. I’m sure Toyota’s MTS system in the higher LC trims is also excellent, but the variety and tuning of the Bronco’s modes felt like a better fit for my intended use.
6. Removable Hard-Top
   This one’s a bit unfair—I knew the 1958 trim didn’t come with a sunroof, but after riding in a friend’s Bronco with the entire top removed, I was hooked.
7. Modular Steel Bumper
   Standard on the Badlands trim, it’s winch-ready and customizable with bolt-ons like brush guards and light bars. As far as I know, there’s no equivalent factory offering for the LC.
8. Price
   I feel like I got about 90%+ of what an LC LC with the premium package would offer - for roughly 80% of the cost. And to me, some Bronco features (like the removable top, tailgate-mounted spare, and significantly better approach/departure angles) just aren’t available on the LC at any trim level.

Final Thoughts​

It was genuinely gut-wrenching to hand over the LC yesterday. If it were up to me, I’d keep both—use the LC for highway trips, forest service roads, and light off-roading, and reserve the Bronco for the tough stuff. But alas, the boss (aka my wife) didn’t sign off on that plan.

I have nothing bad to say about the LC — except a few minor gripes, with the chief among them being:

• CarPlay doesn’t lower the audio system volume enough when making announcements or receiving calls.
• The traction control/VSC-off warning in 4LO comes back to block the gauge cluster every time it’s dismissed.

First-world problems, for sure.

The LC took me everywhere I wanted to go, both on-road and off, handled difficulty level 3/level 4 trails without breaking a sweat, and delivered a comfortable ride throughout. I’ve had mixed feelings about parting with vehicles in the past (not you, Jeep Grand Cherokee), but the sense of loss this time runs deeper.

I wish you all continued enjoyment of your excellent Land Cruisers!

how much did it depreciate of in the 3 months of driving?

 

[Viktorv1961]

It's your decision. You earned it...

 

[jay3253]

My only concern (because I'm still trying to talk the accountant into getting rid of the 250 and importing a 100 or 105) is the resale value. If I can get at least close to what I paid and can find a 105 or a 100 diesel I'mall over it.

 

[brian254]

Agreed Brian, for hard-core off-roading you may have made the correct decision. Did you also consider a 2-door Wrangler Rubicon? We once owned a 2-door Wrangler, and it was superior with challenges such as mountain trails with severe switchbacks. Good luck!

I'm sure a 2-door (be it a Jeep or a Bronco) has a slight advantage when it comes to turning radius and breakover angle. And if the boss lady would allow me to own more than one vehicle at a time, I would probably have kept the LC and bought a 2-door for offroading. I am hopeful that the trail turn assist feature of the Bronco helps alleviate the length/wheelbase issue a bit.

 

[brian254]

how much did it depreciate of in the 3 months of driving?

You know, I can only say what the 'purchase price' was originally versus the trade value when I bought the Bronco. The new purchase price was $56,850 on a $62,063 sticker back in May. And, as unbelievable as it seems, I received $57,601 trade value when I bought the Bronco on Monday. I can't say that I 'made money' on the LC, as there are matters of sales tax and fees (dealer, tag, title, etc.), but the vehicle itself held its value for 90 days.

 

[ultane]

Good luck with your Ford.

A while back, for several years, FMC operated in the red. Then they got a new CFO, and he promised to put FMC back in the black, over the weekend. He did…. Simply by denying valid warranty claims. DAMHIKT

Never again..

 

[ultane]

…. but the vehicle itself held its value for 90 days.

I wouldn’t plan on the Bronco doing that..

 

[brian254]

It's your decision. You earned it...

That's the way I see it. The wife is a bit skeptical of my assertion, but gave me another pass anyway. Haha

One can't argue that the Bronco doesn't look good, too.

 

[brian254]

I wouldn’t plan on the Bronco doing that..

No. That's why I bought a 2024 with 13k miles - wouldn't risk the depreciation hit on this one.

 

[OverlandMethod]

Is the road noise really a thing in your Bronco? I guess with the removable top it could be.
You hear things on the YouTubes about the LC and you know it's crap cuz you've got one. Maybe the trash talk about the bronco road handling and noise is similar talk.

 

[brian254]

Is the road noise really a thing in your Bronco? I guess with the removable top it could be.
You hear things on the YouTubes about the LC and you know it's crap cuz you've got one. Maybe the trash talk about the bronco road handling and noise is similar talk.

The LC is definitely the quieter and cushier of the two—no question about it. It also handles a bit better on the road than the Bronco. However, after I put Nitto all-terrain tires on the LC, it became more demanding in terms of directional stability. That’s the tradeoff with A/T tires. Ride quality is where the LC really shines. As Motor Trend put it in their December 2024 review:

“Despite [the 1958] being the entry-level Land Cruiser trim, it’s a MyPillow for your butt—conservative, cush, and covered in warm, fuzzy dark gray cloth. The overstuffed couch vibes match how it goes down the road—pleased and completely unbothered.”

The LC behaves is a pseudo-luxury vehicle, and its ride and handling meet that expectation.

The Bronco, on the other hand, is an off-roader that’s also streetable. It comes with some luxury-like features—power leather seats, a 360° surround-view camera system (with off-road views), lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, dual-zone climate control, and so on.

With the hard top installed, cabin noise at 50 mph on pavement isn’t bad (a YouTube video I watched showed it measured about 6 dB louder than the LC using a decibel meter). At 80 mph, the Bronco is clearly louder, but conversations are still manageable, and the B&O sound system (another luxury-like touch) easily overpowers the road noise. With the hard top off, though, it's a different story. You can still hold a conversation at 50 mph, but it takes more effort. At 80 mph? Forget it.

Ultimately, each vehicle is a tool designed for a specific purpose—and every specialized tool comes with tradeoffs. If a quiet, soft, smooth ride is what you’re after, the LC delivers, though its off-road abilities are more limited. If you’re drawn to light rock-crawling (if such a thing exists) or other challenging trail conditions, you’ll have to accept more noise, a stiffer ride, and so on.

As I’ve said before, I wish I could keep the LC for road trips and daily driving and have the Bronco for the trails—but that’s not in the cards. Now, if someone ever makes a vehicle that truly combines the best of both… I’ll be first in line.

 

[alkioth]

My wife was really wanting a Bronco OBXE for her play car, and she liked the one she test drove. What swayed her away from the Bronco were the crash test ratings. She opted for a used Wrangler Sport.

Lifted, 35s, looks great but isn’t so nice she obsesses over every little thing (like her GX).

Enjoy your Bronco — they look cool as hell.

 

[ultane]

As I’ve said before, I wish I could keep the LC for road trips and daily driving and have the Bronco for the trails—but that’s not in the cards. Now, if someone ever makes a vehicle that truly combines the best of both… I’ll be first in line.

I don’t know if you will keep us informed.. regardless, I wish you happy trails..

 

[RideWithYanu]

The Broncos definitely have a great appearance. I hope you enjoy yours!

 

[AgRN16]

It was a tough decision, but after nearly three months of thoroughly enjoyable ownership, I traded in my 2025 Land Cruiser 1958 yesterday for a 4-door Bronco Badlands with the Sasquatch package.

Let me be clear: there was absolutely nothing wrong with the LC. It’s a fantastic vehicle. But after reevaluating how I plan to use my rig going forward—specifically targeting more challenging off-road trails—the Bronco offered some significant advantages that ultimately swayed me. So here’s a breakdown of the factors behind the switch:

Key Advantages of the Bronco Badlands w/ Sasquatch Package​

1. Ground Clearance
   The Bronco offers 11.5 inches of ground clearance—compared to 8.5 inches on the LC—without the need for an aftermarket lift.
2. Fording Depth
   With a fording depth of 33.5 inches vs. 27.5 for the LC, the Bronco gives me more peace of mind for the local trails I frequent, some of which involve river crossings that came sometimes reach 24 inches after rain. Plus, there’s no hybrid system battery to worry about.
3. Tires
   The Sasquatch package comes standard with 35" tires—again, no lift required. I've heard of a few folks putting 35" tires on LCs, and some say they don't rub, and some say they do. No such issue with the 'squatch.
4. Locking Front Differential
   While the Bronco has a locking rear differential like the LC, it doesn’t have a center locker like the LC. However, it does have a locking front diff. For tougher trails, I consider the front locker more valuable.
5. Off-Road Modes
   The G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) system included in the Badlands trim offers multiple drive modes. I’m sure Toyota’s MTS system in the higher LC trims is also excellent, but the variety and tuning of the Bronco’s modes felt like a better fit for my intended use.
6. Removable Hard-Top
   This one’s a bit unfair—I knew the 1958 trim didn’t come with a sunroof, but after riding in a friend’s Bronco with the entire top removed, I was hooked.
7. Modular Steel Bumper
   Standard on the Badlands trim, it’s winch-ready and customizable with bolt-ons like brush guards and light bars. As far as I know, there’s no equivalent factory offering for the LC.
8. Price
   I feel like I got about 90%+ of what an LC LC with the premium package would offer - for roughly 80% of the cost. And to me, some Bronco features (like the removable top, tailgate-mounted spare, and significantly better approach/departure angles) just aren’t available on the LC at any trim level.

Final Thoughts​

It was genuinely gut-wrenching to hand over the LC yesterday. If it were up to me, I’d keep both—use the LC for highway trips, forest service roads, and light off-roading, and reserve the Bronco for the tough stuff. But alas, the boss (aka my wife) didn’t sign off on that plan.

I have nothing bad to say about the LC — except a few minor gripes, with the chief among them being:

• CarPlay doesn’t lower the audio system volume enough when making announcements or receiving calls.
• The traction control/VSC-off warning in 4LO comes back to block the gauge cluster every time it’s dismissed.

First-world problems, for sure.

The LC took me everywhere I wanted to go, both on-road and off, handled difficulty level 3/level 4 trails without breaking a sweat, and delivered a comfortable ride throughout. I’ve had mixed feelings about parting with vehicles in the past (not you, Jeep Grand Cherokee), but the sense of loss this time runs deeper.

I wish you all continued enjoyment of your excellent Land Cruisers!

Were reliability/dependability/longevity not at all factors in your consideration to switch?

Best of luck with the F.O.R.D. Bronco!

 

[Altitude]

The Sasquatch Package is brilliant on Ford’s part in that it packages most of the wheel, tire, and suspension mods off-road customers would make, and offers them as OEM. Looks damn cool too.

Enjoy your Bronco. Certainly an appealing vehicle.

 

[basicxj]

My wife was the driving force for us getting our Jeep Wrangler(s). When the writing was on the wall for our Jeep and we began shopping for what was next, she was interested in the Bronco. I'll admit I have been watching them since seeing a Ford Bronco concept vehicle at a show years ago.

I tried to steer the wife towards the 4Runner, and we compromised on the Land Cruiser. While I do miss the ground clearance we had with the Jeep, that can be addressed if need be, and I have no regrets.

I have a friend who is on his third new Bronco, and he is currently in a Sasquatch edition. Good luck with your new ride, may it treat you well.