Few SUVs are as imposing on the road and off as the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Japanese automaker’s flagship vehicle comes packed with prestige, refinement, and a reputation for reliability. Under the hood is Toyota’s refined 5.7-liter V8, and four-wheel-drive is standard. The Land Cruiser includes seating for eight and Toyota’s full suite of driver safety aids. Lower-priced rivals are more advanced, but few can match this Toyota’s timeless style.
Pros: Off-road abilities befitting its rugged styling; Vast interior packed with standard features; Majestic ride height and road presence; Impressive reputation for dependability
Cons: Competitors offer more advanced tech features; Underwhelming fuel economy from big V8 engine; Many rivals have lower starting prices; Large dimensions make it a chore to park
Power comes from a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Power delivery is effortless, and the Land Cruiser accelerates rapidly for a vehicle its size. The engine mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 13/17/14 mpg city/highway/combined. Full-size SUVs are not known for being incredibly fuel-efficient. Still, in this time when many luxury SUVs offer hybrid engines and cutting-edge green technology, the Land Cruiser’s gas mileage is underwhelming.
Few rivals can match this Toyota’s rugged abilities. Technical details include full-time four-wheel-drive, 8.9 inches of ground clearance, a Multi-terrain Select controller, Crawl Control, and Off-road Turn Assist. Some competitors have height-adjustable air suspensions, but the Land Cruiser blends traditional components like a truck-based frame with exclusive technologies to give it nearly unmatched off-road driving skills.
The Land Cruiser has an impressive 8,100-pound towing capacity, making it an excellent choice for hauling boats, ATVs, cars, and recreational vehicles. Toyota includes helpful trailering technology to assist.
The Land Cruiser comes in two trim levels: Base and the recently added Heritage Edition.
Starting around $86,000, the Land Cruiser comes fully loaded, with the sole option being a rear-seat entertainment system. Notable standard features include an adaptive suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, a full-size alloy spare, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, parking sensors, automatic LED headlights, fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding mirrors, a sunroof, a power liftgate, roof rails, running boards, and a tow hitch. Inside, there are three rows of leather upholstery, automatic power windows, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, driver’s seat memory, folding rear seats, proximity keyless entry, push-button ignition, four-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, genuine wood trim, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient lighting. Tech features include a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a CD player, a nine-inch touchscreen, USB ports, navigation, and wireless phone charging.
The Heritage Edition costs about $88,000. It has two rows of seating (three rows are available), BBS forged alloy wheels, rugged trim accents, and more. As mentioned above, the lone optional package is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, featuring dual 11.6-inch monitors, RCA inputs, a remote, and two pairs of wireless headphones.
