Land Cruiser lovers lamented when Toyota made the decision to exclude the 300-Series from the North American market. Sure, you could get a version of it if you opted to shuffle into a Lexus dealer. But that’s not the truck true Land Cruiser fans were hoping to find. But the lack of a Land Cruiser here didn’t last long as Toyota has introduced the 250-Series truck for this market. And I have to say, it’s pretty damn good.

In terms of power, Toyota fits this with the Force Max powertrain that you’ll also find in a handful of Tacoma models. It features a pair of electric motors and a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Output is rated at 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, and this is a full-time 4WD vehicle as it should be.

All new Land Cruisers arrive with a locking center and rear differential as standard kit. The top-spec First Edition I drove in the video above is equipped with the optional front stabilizer bar disconnect. The torque feels great on and off the road. The suspension is nicely sorted. And the entire affair feels perfectly right-sized for trail duty.

Toyota has laid out a compelling strategy with its off-road SUV offerings. You have the Land Cruiser and the Sequoia TRD Pro. Climb to the Lexus side and you have the new GX and then the LX600. It’s a clear path with something different at each price point. My favorite of that entire bunch remains the GX Overtrail. But the Land Cruiser is a bit less expensive and plenty capable.

I can’t wait to see more of them out on the trails with better tires, aftermarket upgrades, and some trail scars.