Toyota Land Cruiser (2009-2023) review

Just so you know, this is an older review of the 2009-2023 Land Cruiser. If you are interested in information about the latest Toyota Land Cruiser, or news about the latest Toyota models, please follow the links provided.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a very capable and reliable 4x4, but in spite of its legendary strengths, most drivers will find it simply too agricultural compared to contemporary rivals like the Land Rover Discovery.

Wholesale revisions in 2018 don’t go far enough to help the Land Cruiser compete with the wide range of luxurious SUVs and crossover models now available. Almost without exception, those rivals offer a degree of refinement and on-road dynamism that the Land Cruiser was never intended to match. Further updates in 2020 included an engine power upgrade and extra standard kit.

If you need genuine off-road ability with a little added luxury, it’s still a great choice, and the latest updates make it better than ever. Put it this way: you wouldn’t pick any of the Land Cruiser's rivals over the Toyota for a trek through the African bush.

Few cars for sale are as capable off-road as the Toyota Land Cruiser. The big SUV has built a reputation over more than 60 years as an unstoppable 4x4 that's only equalled by one other car - the Toyota Hilux pickup.

The UK Land Cruiser isn't the biggest version in Toyota's global line-up. While other markets get larger V6 and V8 models, the UK car is the slightly smaller model known as the Land Cruiser Prado in other countries. However, it's still one of the biggest 4x4s for sale in the UK, with the range now spanning functional Commercial versions to luxury top-spec models.

There aren't many traditional 4x4s like the Land Cruiser for sale today, with the only other models to feature a similar body-on-frame set-up being the latest one-tonne pickup trucks. A price range from around £42,000 to £58,000 means the Land Cruiser rivals more modern SUVs such as the Volvo XC90, Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLE.

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Where the Land Cruiser stands out is its availability in 3- or 5-door body styles, although the range has now been pared back to include just Active and luxury-spec Invincible models. It's worth remembering you can only specify a three-door model with the entry Active trim. 

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloys, a reversing camera and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while top-of-the-range Invincible versions add bigger 19-inch wheels, a JBL audio system and Toyota's Multi-Terrain Select system.

The Land Cruiser Commercial (offered in Utility and Active spec), is based on the 5-door body, but only has two seats and a vast load area in the back.

The Land Cruiser Active has the option of either five or seven seats, while Invincible models are limited to just the seven-seat configuration. All cars are powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine which produces 201bhp and 500Nm of torque, via a six-speed automatic transmission,