Toyota Land Cruiser (2009-2023) - Interior, design and technology

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.

Few cars can match the Toyota Land Cruiser for road presence. It’s marginally shorter than the Land Rover Discovery, but it’s taller, and while the distinctive step in the Land Rover’s roofline is a neat design touch, the Land Cruiser is pure 4x4, thanks to its ‘two-box’ design and tall ride height.

Bulging wheelarches, chunky roof rails and running boards – essential to help smaller occupants get on board – only add to the rugged look, while the 2014 facelift added full LED lamps front and rear. These include super-bright daytime running lights, and when you combine them with the huge five-bar chrome grille, the Toyota looks imposing – although you’d struggle to call it pretty.

Come 2018, and the car was revised again, with its new grille and headlights set higher to improve the car’s off-road ability; and, Toyota added a dip in the centre of the bonnet to give the driver better visibility. In the UK, the Land Cruiser features a spare wheel under the boot floor, although in some markets it still comes with the spare hanging off the back door.

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Inside, the Land Cruiser delivers the kind of old-school luxury you’d expect from a Lexus LS. Top-spec Invincible models get plush leather, while wood trim on the wheel and dash is designed to give an upmarket touch, although this looks a bit dated. At least the 2018 facelift brought in a new-look and a more ergonomic dashboard that incorporates Toyota's latest infotainment systems

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Land Cruiser features Toyota's Touch 2 multimedia system, with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota updated the system in 2020 with new software and a customisable home screen, which allows owners to arrange their most frequently used functions in a similar way to a smartphone.