WE LIKE
1. Excellent off road ability
2. Practical and robust
3. Improved road manners
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Expensive if you want all of the off-road kit
2. Noisy diesel engine
3. Cheap interior plastics
The Toyota Land Cruiser isn't your typical 'Chelsea Tractor'. Unlike the favoured 4x4s of the well-heeled denizens of west London, the Land Cruiser is generally bought by drivers who actually have a need for a large and capable off-roader. It's therefore highly likely that this latest version will be greeted with high expectations for its 'go-anywhere' abilities.
The latest iteration has been beefed up, its slightly chunkier look accentuated by more aggressive wheel arches, a deeper bumper and a more emphasised chrome grin. It's longer than the outgoing model by 45mm, despite retaining the same wheelbase. Only one engine is available in the UK - a large 3.0-litre turbo diesel sending 171bhp and 302lb-ft of torque through a full-time all-wheel-drive system and five-speed automatic gearbox.
If the previous Land Cruiser was good in the wild, this latest one is superb. It's been kitted out with a raft of off-roading tech - however, the serious stuff is only available on the top-spec LC5 model, which gets multi-terrain select, locking rear diff and active height control for the rear suspension. It also gets a new Crawl Control system with a choice of five different 'crawling' speeds to keep the car at a suitable pace, depending on the terrain. It does so in an altogether smoother and steadier way than anyone's right-foot would hope to achieve, allowing the driver to concentrate on the steering. Unlike basic hill descent control systems, it will also work uphill and even in reverse.
Another new feature is a Steering Angle display that helps to show which direction the wheels are pointing via a screen on the dash. A camera on the front of the vehicle shows the path ahead with perfect clarity and, if you get lost in a field, the sat nav map also shows a Hansel and Gretel-type trail of where you've been, so you'll always be able to find the way home.
On the road, the Land Cruiser is very capable and its adaptive damping system does help to keep most of that SUV-style 'bounce' under control. However, it isn't as refined or a luxurious in the cabin as some competitors: this car has been designed to be a workhorse, and it shows.
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User reviews (4)
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Russ23 July 2010
Have had one for 2 years and had some tough 4x4 done in it ..living in australia means you need a dependable car , think nearest service 400miles and you get the picture...there marketed as unbreakable over here ! has never let me down ...comfortable as well ..go to a fishing hole up north (1600k's one way) and can do it without stopping ...just an awesome vehicle ...bit thirsty but small price for the size of it . go buy one
Report as inappropriateRichard Wilson01 December 2010
Can't believe this 150 series LC4 has the same basic engine as my '53 LC4 (although looking under the bonnet - I did not recognise much of it at all) - its so much more quiet and feels much more refined and responsive - no pronounced diesel lag like the old model - its amazing how much has improved in the last 7 years - much more so than when changing from the Colorado to the new LC4 at the time. The ride is a little firmer, but none the worse for that and the steering lighter but good - and so many gizmos (to go wrong I hear you already saying), the satnav is a breeze to operate, put in the post code & your done! - & at last an average/current MPG thing,. eco mode and lots of other displays/information .. It even lights up the floor underneath the car. Its a beautiful black which I had supaguarded - and looks the business. 10 months old, owned by Toyota - and I reckon I got a right result on the price - and on the price for my old green LC4 - which I admit was looking very dated - especially in that colour! I know its very early days - and undoubtedly problems will arise - but in the meantime I just can't get over how much better this car is - and according to UK / Australia and other reviews I've read (and I've read hundreds), much better off and on road than the old model (but one would expect that after seven or so years in the making!) - not that I will be doing too much off roading- but good to know its not sacrificed its ruggedness for good looks and road appeal.
Report as inappropriateKen30 December 2011
Had the new LC5 model for a year now,fantastic car,all round.Need to get Lc5 model for the adjustable suspension device-gives excellent cornering and handling.Much better than Lc3/Lc4 without it,
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