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. Itās a fantastic vehicle. But after reevaluating how I plan to use my rig going forwardāspecifically targeting more challenging off-road trailsāthe Bronco offered some significant advantages that ultimately swayed me. So hereās a breakdown of the factors behind the switch:
Key Advantages of the Bronco Badlands w/ Sasquatch Package
- Ground Clearance
The Bronco offers 11.5 inches of ground clearanceācompared to 8.5 inches on the LCāwithout the need for an aftermarket lift.
- 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, thereās no hybrid system battery to worry about.
- Tires
The Sasquatch package comes standard with 35" tiresāagain, 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.
- Locking Front Differential
While the Bronco has a locking rear differential like the LC, it doesnāt 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.
- Off-Road Modes
The G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) system included in the Badlands trim offers multiple drive modes. Iām sure Toyotaās MTS system in the higher LC trims is also excellent, but the variety and tuning of the Broncoās modes felt like a better fit for my intended use.
- Removable Hard-Top
This oneās a bit unfairāI knew the 1958 trim didnāt come with a sunroof, but after riding in a friendās Bronco with the entire top removed, I was hooked.
- Modular Steel Bumper
Standard on the Badlands trim, itās winch-ready and customizable with bolt-ons like brush guards and light bars. As far as I know, thereās no equivalent factory offering for the LC.
- 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 arenāt 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, Iād keep bothāuse 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) didnāt sign off on that plan.
I have nothing bad to say about the LC ā except a few minor gripes, with the chief among them being:
- CarPlay doesnāt 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 itās 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. Iāve 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!