First Drive: Toyota’s new Land Cruiser is here to provide no-nonsense driving
The Land Cruiser has always been the choice of those drivers after an assured off-roader, but is that the same for a new one? Jack Evans finds out.
What is it?
Translating all of that into a modern-day vehicle is tricky. Not everyone is on a cross-continent adventure, after all, so this new Land Cruiser has a job to deliver a rounded driving experience and one that can match with the likes of the Land Rover Defender and Ineos Grenadier. We’ve been seeing what it’s like.
What’s new?
But underneath, we’ve still got a traditional body-on-frame setup which is often seen as the go-to for rugged off-roaders, but which is a design that often doesn’t offer the more car-like refinement that modern SUV buyers often require. But you can tell that Toyota hasn’t pulled any punches when it comes to the Land Cruiser’s off-road tech; numerous driving modes, permanent four-wheel-drive, a low-range gearbox and a handy disconnect setting for the anti-roll bar to help boost wheel travel are all included to ensure that this car gets you where you need to be – no matter the conditions.
What’s under the bonnet?
It’s linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, too. Toyota claims a 0-60mph time of 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 105mph alongside fuel efficiency of 26.4mpg. Toyota has already confirmed that a mild-hybrid engine option will join the range soon too and bring ‘smoother, quieter, yet more responsive performance’, according to the brand.
What’s it like to drive?
With just 201bhp the diesel engine sure isn’t the most powerful – and isn’t as pleasant as the straight-six options you’ll find in both the Grenadier and Defender – but it does actually get the Toyota up to speed in good enough time, albeit in quite a noisy fashion. The gearbox is slushy and a little dim-witted, however. More irritating though is the Land Cruiser’s near-endless number of assistance systems. Fortunately, you can switch the traffic sign recognition off with the steering wheel controls, but other ones – such as the feature which alerts you when a car is behind – are simply too distracting to be useful.
How does it look?
It’s available in a selection of cool-looking colours, too, with the blue shade of our test car giving this Toyota an even bolder look out and about.
What’s it like inside?
The Land Cruiser is now a seven-seater as standard, too, adding an extra layer of practicality to this car. The rearmost seats are relatively squashed in terms of headroom, but legroom is surprisingly decent. Boot space is good enough, too, and while there’s not a lot of it with those rearmost seats in place, a handy 566 litres is there when they are. The handy glass pop-out section on the tailgate is a really useful feature, too.
What’s the spec like?
At around £74,995, the Land Cruiser will still be an expensive proposition – even in Invincible specification. That said, you do get boatloads of equipment including dual-zone climate control, a full infotainment system and reversing camera alongside all of that off-road-focused technology. That price does still put it in the same league as its Ineos and Land Rover-made rivals, however.
Verdict
Toyota’s Land Cruiser has a heritage that many other cars would love to have. This latest model helps to continue that and still feels as true to its off-roading roots as ever. It’s certainly not as comfortable or refined as its contemporaries, but it’s got more than enough on its side to help contrast this shortcoming.
It is expensive – but then so are the cars it is going up against. If you want a rough-and-tough off-roader with some added luxuries then the new Land Cruiser will fit the bill – providing you can get hold of one.
