Toyota Land Cruiser buyer’s guide

After a go-anywhere off-roader? Here’s what to look for

IN 2021 Toyota will celebrate 70 years since the first Land Cruiser went on sale. That model was developed for military use and appeared just six years after World War Two.

By the mid-sixties, Toyota introduced the Station Wagon to appeal to a wider audience, especially those who needed a practical vehicle to cope with the toughest terrain.

The Land Cruiser got ever bigger and more luxurious, with a V8 variant arriving in 1998, almost a decade after Toyota split the range in two: a full-sized model known as the Amazon in the UK, and a smaller ‘light-duty’ edition initially sold as the Colorado. Here we focus on the latter, sold simply as the Land Cruiser.

History

THE fourth-generation Land Cruiser ‘Colorado’ (codenamed J150 by Toyota) reached UK showrooms in December 2009, with a 171bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine and a five-speed automatic transmission only.

Buyers could choose between LC3, LC4 and LC5 trim levels, with seven seats fitted as standard to the latter two, whereas the LC3 had five seats, with a third row optional.

A facelifted model arrived in December 2013 with recalibrated suspension and extra safety features, while the trim levels were renamed Active, Icon and Invincible. A 174bhp 2.8-litre diesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission became standard fare in August 2015.

Further revisions in January 2018 brought a new entry-level Utility trim, a redesigned dash, an updated design and extra kit.

Which one?

EACH successive update brought a higherquality interior and more equipment; post2013 Land Cruisers are far more luxurious than earlier cars, and the 2.8-litre engine is usefully more efficient than the 3.0-litre.

Basic LC3s are scarce, and come with 17-inch alloys, climate and cruise control, Bluetooth and keyless go. But we’d go for a mid-spec LC4, which adds three-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, powered folding third-row seats, leather trim, electrically adjustable heated front seats, automatic headlights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear camera, navigation and uprated audio.

Top LC5 models get a suite of off-road tech, such as adaptive variable suspension with active height control, crawl control, multi-terrain monitor with steering angle display and multi-terrain select, plus a rear TV screen for DVDs and computer games.

Alternatives

THE Mitsubishi Shogun is the closest rival. It too puts towing and off-road ability ahead of luxury and refinement, but it is spacious (in rows one and two) and well equipped.

If off-roading ability is key, a Land Rover Defender might suit, but a better bet would be a Discovery or Discovery Sport. They have

far better refinement and a much more luxurious interior. The Volkswagen Touareg is another desirable 4x4 that’s superb at towing, luxurious and comes with some excellent engines – but only five seats.

If seven seats are essential, also think about the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Mercedes GL/GLS-Class. All are costly to buy and run, but offer a more luxurious take on the large SUV format, and are excellent at towing.

Verdict

WHILE the Toyota isn’t as plush as most of its key rivals, you get terrific off-road ability, generous equipment and superb reliability. Running costs are inevitably high because this is a thirsty car and insurance cover isn’t cheap, but routine maintenance doesn’t work out as especially expensive.

There are few available on the used market, partly because the Land Cruiser isn’t a big seller, and partly because owners tend to hang on to them. Those owners accept that the Toyota won’t be the most refined SUV around, but it combines usability with dependability like nothing else.