2018 Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is the de facto flagship of Toyota's lineup, with the highest price tag and the most luxury features of any vehicle offered by the brand. Its rugged body-on frame design means the Land Cruiser is something of an anachronism - the vast majority of SUVs have switched to lighter and more fuel-efficient unibody construction - but also makes it one of the most capable off-roading vehicles of all time.
Overview
From the windshield forward, the Land Cruiser is all-new. The overhaul includes a new grille, new lighting (including projector LEDs) and a new front bumper. In the rear, the Land Cruiser boasts new taillights (including LED brake lamps), full-width chrome molding and a new bumper.
Under the hood of the Land Cruiser is a potent 5.7-liter V8 that makes 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the 5900-lb SUV from zero-to-sixty in the mid six-second range. The muscular engine also enables the Land Cruiser to tow a substantial 8,500 pounds. A six-speed automatic transmission provides silken shifts and offers a wide spread of gears to maximize efficiency, though fuel economy is about what one might expect: 13 in the city and 18 on the highway, a product of the Land Cruiser's big motor and bigger mass.
Helping the Land Cruiser to tackle the trails like a Jeep Wrangler are a host of off-road features including a full-time 4WD system with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and a fully lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential, crawl control and hill start assist control. Tow hooks and mud guards round out the compliment of off-roading equipment.
Inside, there's the ambiance of old-world opulence: the seats and door panels are trimmed in soft leather, real-wood adorns the dash and steering wheel and fit-and-finish is impeccable. There's room for seven passengers in the three rows of seats, and cupholders (12) and storage nooks abound.
Standard and optional features
Amenities like heated, power adjustable front seats, a 14-speaker sound system with an integrated iPod jack, fog lamps, a power moonroof, auto-dimming, heated outside mirrors with power folding, front and rear parking-assist sonar, four-zone automatic climate control and Bluetooth smartphone connectivity are fitted as standard.
The Upgrade Package, once an extra-cost option, is now standard, a move that increased the Land Cruiser's price. The package includes almost everything a luxury-focused buyer could want: a voice-activated DVD navigation system with an integrated backup camera, a six-disc CD changer, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch display and two wireless headphones, multi-state second-row heated seats, a center console cooler box and headlamp cleaners.
With the Upgrade Package integrated into the list of standard features, the Land Cruiser offers no factory options.
Occupant safety
For safety technology, the Land Cruiser has ten airbags: dual front, front-seat mounted, front and rear side curtain and front knee airbags, to be precise. Traction and stability control systems and, of course, ABS are also fitted, as are electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart stop brake override technology.
Key competitors
Toyota's Land Cruiser is primarily intended to serve the role of a rugged off-roader more than the usual daily driven SUV, as such it competes against the Lexus LX with which it shares its platform with, and the Nissan Armada. Buyers can also look at Land Rover's Range Rover.
- Propulsion: Gas 5.7L V8
- Power: 381hp
@
5600rpm - Torque: 401ftâ‹…lb
@
3600rpm - Mileage: TBD MPG ( 13 city, 18 hwy)
- Transmission: 8-speed Automatic
- Seating: 8 seats
in
3 rows - Passenger Volume: TBDcu ft
- Length: 194.9in
- Wheelbase: 112.2in
- Height: 74.0in
- Weight: 5815lbs
- Cargo Volume: 16.1cu ft
- Front Leg Room: 42.9in
- Front Head Room: 38.3in
- Front Hip Room: 59.4in
- Second Row Leg Room: 34.4in
- Second Row Head Room: 38.9in
- Second Row Hip Room: 58.6in
- Third Row Leg Room: 28.3in
- Third Row Head Room: 35.8in
- Third Row Hip Room: 56.6in
- Drag Coefficient: TBD
- Drag Coefficient: 0.35