Toyota Land Cruiser

Model Years Produced: 2008 to 2021

Summary

The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of those iconic nameplates that sets the standard for everything else. Obscenely expensive for “just a Toyota” – base MSRP was over $85,000 when new – legend has it that every component in the Land Cruiser is engineered to last twice as long as those in a “normal” car, hence the price and why they serve dutifully in some of the harshest environments throughout the world. In the US, they’re sold as pseudo-luxury cars, with comfortable heated & ventilated leather seats, wood trim, and four-zone climate control to make taking the kids to soccer practice a breeze.

The reliability comes at a cost of technology and refinement, though. The Land Cruiser does not have all the advanced safety features of its competitors, nor does it feature Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Although it does ride nice, it still has a solid rear axle, which compromises handling even more than its other body-on-frame rivals and reduces cargo capacity. The gauge cluster is mostly analog with just a tiny screen in the middle. The V8 is big, naturally-aspirated, and very thirsty. Everything is simple, proven, and tough.

The Land Cruiser underwent a major mid-cycle refresh for model-year 2016. Toyota replaced the 6-speed automatic with an 8-speed, added a suite of safety features (forward collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert), upgraded the brakes, changed the axle ratios, updated the infotainment, and changed the exterior styling to be more masculine. Model year 2019 introduced the “Heritage Edition,” which was a limited edition appearance package. All Heritage Edition models are black with dark trim, gold wheels, and a roof basket, and the third row seating was optional.

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Verdict

Pros

• One of the most reliable vehicles on the planet
• Extremely capable off-road
• Rides smoothly and comfortably
• Excellent build quality
• Cabin is very nicely appointed, bordering on luxury car

Cons

• Bad fuel economy
• Less cargo capacity and rear leg room than its competitors
• No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

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Reviews

Consumer Reports

• URL: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/land-cruiser/2021/overview/
• Overall score: N/A
• Road test: N/A
• Predicted reliability: N/A
• Predicted owner satisfaction: N/A

SavageGeese

Other Outlets

• Car & Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/land-cruiser
• Motor Trend: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/land-cruiser/

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Specifications

All figures are as of 2021 model year.

• Transmission: Toyota 8-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Full-time 4WD standard w/ 2-speed transfer case
  • Electronically locking center differential standard
  • Electronically locking rear differential not available
• Base curb weight: 5815 lbs
• Max cargo capacity: 82.8 cu ft
• Seating: 2 rows (3 rows optional)
• Rear leg room: 34.4 in
• Towing capacity: 8100 lbs

Engines