Toyota Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser has three rows that can accommodate eight people offering sufficient space and comfort to the front and middle seaters while inviting only smaller passengers to the last. Second-row passengers can recline and slide but the third row kills cargo space allowing a shy total of 16.1 cubic feet and 43 cubic feet with a folded last row. The interiors are wrapped in quality material but still overshadowed by the cabin standard of competitors. The infotainment package comprises of HD Radio, the Entune app suite, a premium 14-speaker JBL audio system, a 9-inch touch-screen display, satellite radio, navigation, Bluetooth, a USB port, wireless phone charging and Siri Eyes Free. It lacks support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Upgraded versions come with a dual-screen rear-seat DVD arrangement for entertainment.

The exterior attributes include light-pipe tail lights accompanied by vortex generators, LED stop lights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with Headlight-integrated LED, Tiltable and Slidable jam protected moonroof with added sunshade operable via a one-touch open/close system, strong mudguards in both front and rear, intermittent windshield (Aerodynamic and variable with rain sensing technology) and rear wipers.

Owing to its big size, the SUV tends to face a faint amount of body roll while passing by sharp curves. The suspension system, which consists of a double-wishbone with coil springs in the front while a 4-link with coil springs in the rear, offers stable handling of the vehicle and a smooth ride.

The Land Cruiser runs on a 32-Valve V8 engine with a volume of 5.7 litres having Dual Overhead Camshafts (DOHC) and Dual Independent VVT-i or Variable Valve Timing with intelligence. It attains a power of 381 hp at 5600 rpm and a torque of 544 Nm at 3600 rpm. The engine is wedded to an 8-speed automatic ECT-i or Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence which provides quick upshift including different logic for uphill and downhill modes. All models have a full-time Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) and an emission rating of ULEV-II or Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II.

The SUV is packed with the standard Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) features which comprise of the Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system, a Pre-Collision System including Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and Automatic High Beams (AHB). The car is also integrated with a Star Safety System which is a combination of six safety features specifically Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), 4-wheel Multi-terrain Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Smart Stop Technology (SST) and Brake Assist (BA). It has a total of ten airbags under its Advanced Airbag System and also Roll-sensing Side Curtain Airbags (RSCA) in all three rows. Other safety attributes include the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) system and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).

So, the Land Cruiser gets full marks for its ability to handle off-road trips comfortably and the obedient ride it provides but the SUV does not score well in fields of mileage and cargo space. It has a handsome cabin but fails to outshine its rivals. The graphics associated with the infotainment system also seems to be a little old-fashioned. Hence it is recommended that you consider both the pros and cons of this Toyota before making your final choice but the Land Cruiser is still a worthy contestant of the competition among large luxury SUVs.