Remember those wild Toyota concepts from the 2023 Japan Mobility Show? The sleek electric Land Cruiser Se SUV and that compact EPU pickup that looked ready to take on the Ford Maverick? They might not stay concepts forever. Japanese outlet Best Car says Toyota is planning to bring both vehicles to American showrooms, possibly as soon as 2027, and here’s the twist: they’ll both wear Land Cruiser badges despite riding on unibody platforms instead of the traditional body-on-frame setup that Land Cruiser purists expect.
- Toyota may launch two new electric Land Cruiser vehicles in the US by 2027, including a compact pickup and a three-row SUV.
- Both models would use unibody construction rather than traditional body-on-frame, marking a major departure from Land Cruiser heritage.
- The pickup would compete directly with the Ford Maverick in the compact truck segment, while the SUV offers three-row seating for families.
A Pickup Truck Wearing the Wrong Badge?
The EPU pickup would measure about the same size as the Maverick and focus more on city driving than rock crawling. Best Car describes it as “a stylish pickup” rather than a vehicle built for rough roads. That’s a weird direction for a nameplate that’s spent decades building its reputation in the harshest conditions on Earth, but it makes sense if Toyota wants a piece of the compact truck market that Ford basically created from scratch.
What’s interesting is that the EPU concept Toyota showed in 2023 was already set up for America. It had left-hand drive and speed gauges in MPH instead of KM/H, which strongly suggests the truck was designed with US buyers in mind from the beginning.
The Three-Row Electric SUV
The Land Cruiser Se would be the bigger sibling, offering three rows of seats for up to seven passengers. Think of it as somewhere between a Toyota RAV4 and a Highlander in purpose, but with the Land Cruiser badge and electric power. Both vehicles would likely offer hybrid and full electric powertrains, giving buyers choices beyond pure battery power.
Production Plans Point to Kentucky
Reuters reported back in September that Toyota plans to build two new three-row electric SUVs at its Kentucky plant. Building them in the US would help Toyota avoid the steep 25% chicken tax tariff on imported pickups and make the vehicles eligible for federal EV tax credits. The company is spending $1.3 billion to retool its largest plant worldwide for electric vehicle production.
Why Unibody Construction Matters
Using a unibody platform instead of body-on-frame construction is a big deal for Land Cruiser. Every previous truck and SUV with this badge has used a ladder frame chassis, which gives them serious off-road capability but makes them heavier and less refined on pavement. Switching to unibody means better ride comfort, improved fuel economy, and easier packaging for batteries.
But it also means these new Land Cruisers won’t be able to handle the same punishment as their predecessors. You won’t see anyone crossing the Sahara Desert in an electric unibody truck. These are lifestyle vehicles designed for American buyers who want the rugged look without the rough ride.
Will Toyota Actually Do It?
Toyota showed silhouettes of three upcoming EVs during the European bZ reveal earlier this year, and they looked a lot like the Land Cruiser Se and EPU concepts. Companies don’t keep teasing the same shapes unless they’re planning to build them.
Here’s the thing about automotive rumors from Japanese publications like Best Car: they’re often accurate, but timing can slip. Toyota hasn’t confirmed anything officially, which means plans could change based on market conditions or tariffs. But 2027 isn’t that far away, so we should start seeing test mules on public roads soon if these vehicles are really coming.
What This Means for Buyers
If these rumors pan out, American truck shoppers will have another option in a segment that desperately needs more competition. The Maverick has been a sales success, but it’s often hard to find at dealers. A Toyota with Land Cruiser credibility could shake things up, especially if it comes with Toyota’s reputation for reliability.
For SUV buyers, a three-row electric Land Cruiser would fill a gap in Toyota’s lineup between the smaller bZ models and the massive Sequoia. Families who want electric power and seven seats without spending Rivian money might find exactly what they need.
Toyota has seven new EVs planned for the US by mid-2027, and the pieces are definitely in motion. Whether the Land Cruiser name ends up on these vehicles or Toyota decides to create a new sub-brand is still anyone’s guess, but the evidence keeps stacking up. The compact truck market is hot right now, and if Toyota can deliver an electric or hybrid truck in this segment with the Land Cruiser badge, it might be exactly what buyers are looking for.
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