Way back in 1957, the Land Cruiser became one of the first Toyota vehicles to be sold in the U.S. as a utilitarian vehicle that could go anywhere. It got a redesign 2016 with styling, drivetrain and multimedia enhancements, but still retains that “you can drive me anywhere” personality.
Unlike other SUVs and crossovers, the Land Cruiser is only available in one fully-equipped version. It competes with many luxury offerings from Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and shares many similarities with its premium cousin, the Lexus LX570. The starting price is $84,325.
Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual control for steep hills. You don’t expect sporty performance in a vehicle this large but the powertrain does confidently propel the 5,815-pound Land Cruiser down the highway.
The full-time 4WD system provided excellent grip, even as snow and heavy rains fell. The Land Cruiser is a beast over challenging terrain and trails.
Fuel efficiency isn’t great. EPA mileage estimates are 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway with a combined rating of 15 mpg. I got 15 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The Land Cruiser seats eight with its three rows of seating. The cabin is very upscale with top notch materials. The first and second rows are spacious and comfortable. As you’d expect, seating in the third row is tight and best for kids or small adults. There’s lots of tech for passengers in the second row, including a dual-screen entertainment system, display monitors, RCA jacks and HDMI inputs, and the second row seats slide and recline.
All Land Cruisers have a power moonroof that gives an airy feel to the cabin, quad-zone automatic climate control, USB ports and wireless smartphone charging.
The steering wheel is heated and there’s a handy cooler located between the two front seats. The JBL premium audio system with 14 speakers sounds great!
The good:
Great off-road capability
Luxurious interior with lots of tech including a dual-screen entertainment system in the second row
Toyota Safety Sense driver-assist technology includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beams.
The Land Cruiser can tow 8,100 pounds, more than many rivals.
The not-so-good:
Poor fuel efficiency
Not as much cargo space as competitors
Only available in one trim with no factory options
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $84,325.
The paint projection film is $395. Cargo tote is $49. Carpet floor and cargo mat set is $225. Alloy wheel locks are $80. Wireless headphones are $80 per pair. Seven pin to four pin adapter is $15. Glass breakage sensor is $229.
Delivery fee is $1,195, bringing the grand total to $86,663.
