The Toyota Land Cruiser is no longer offered in the North American market, but you could enjoy this big SUV as a pre-owned model.
For decades, the Land Cruiser has been one of the most revered and admired off-road SUVs in the market. As SUVs transitioned to larger builds, this Toyota grew and added more features that put it much closer to being a luxury model than ever before. When you want the SUV that sat at the top of the Toyota lineup for years, you’ll want to take this big brute out for a drive.
Are There Reasons to Avoid the Land Cruiser?
Certainly, with every vehicle, there are a few reasons to avoid it and choose something else. When new, this big Toyota SUV was very expensive. You might find a better deal now, especially when the 2021 model year is what you see. The Land Cruiser isn’t efficient at all, offering 13 city/17 hwy mpg, and it has a small third-row seat compared to other full-size SUVs. As you would expect, compared to the current vehicle market, there are some modern features that you won’t find in this Toyota SUV.
What Makes the Toyota Land Cruiser Appealing?
This is a Powerful SUV
When you want the real deal and not something with hybrid or turbocharging added to the mix, the 5.7-liter V8 engine of the Land Cruiser is hard to beat. This impressive engine produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. This powerful engine attaches to an 8-speed automatic transmission to smoothly offer power to the wheels. When you want to feel the power, it’s hard to be the naturally aspirated feeling of this big Toyota SUV.
Off-Roading is a Possibility
Some full-size SUVs forget that you might want to take them out on the trails. That’s not the case for the Land Cruiser. This big Toyota offers a 4WD system that’s always working and ready to give you the desired drive. The full-time 4WD system ensures you don’t deal with tough conditions without the right gear. Take this beast on the trails and let it take you to your favorite wilderness location for some fun in the outdoors.
Does this Toyota Tow?
There’s plenty of power found in the Toyota Land Cruiser to ensure you have the power to pull a heavy load. The towing capacity of this big brute is 8,100 pounds, making it much easier for you to pull all the gear you need in a trailer behind this SUV. This number brings you closer to many trucks and makes it easy to bring your family and your stuff wherever you want to go. Go ahead, pull that big boat with the Land Cruiser, and head to the lake for some fun on the water.
The Cabin is Versatile
The rearmost row of seats is a bit small, but it’s still useful when you need to carry up to eight people where you want to go. If you only have five passengers in this Toyota SUV, you can fold this rear row and change the cargo space from 16.1 cubic feet to 41 cubic feet. When you need to use the entire cabin for your gear, there are nearly 83 cubic feet of space for your stuff.
The Infotainment System is Pretty Good
The Toyota Land Cruiser comes with a nine-inch touchscreen and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. This system comes with SiriusXM Satellite Radio and connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also an integrated navigation system to help you have the connection desired. Many models include wireless device charging, which can be extremely useful when you’re ready to take this SUV out for a drive.
Toyota Bakes in the Safety You Need
For many years, Toyota has offered a comprehensive safety package that makes it easy to stay out of trouble when you’re out on the road. The Land Cruiser brings a full package of features to monitor your driving, warn you of possible problems, and take some preventative measures when necessary. This big Toyota SUV can hit the brakes when you don’t, helping to prevent a front collision.
Everywhere You Look, You’ll Find LED Lighting
The Toyota Land Cruiser is as close to a luxury SUV as you can get, at least it was when it was new. That said, LED lights were more of a luxury, even two years ago. Toyota didn’t care; they put a ton of LEDs in this full-size SUV. You’ll find fog lights, projector-beam headlights, taillights, and interior lights that all use LED bulbs to provide the brightness desired.
Both Versions Offer Premium Materials
There were only two trims offered for the last of the Land Cruiser SUVs. This means you’ve got a plethora of impressive materials no matter which trim you find. You’ll be treated to perforated leather seats in either black or Terra colors. The Heritage Edition adds bronze stitching to the mix. Both models have a black headliner and a steering wheel that’s wrapped in leather. The steering wheel is heated, as are the front seats. This makes the Land Cruiser much more comfortable for you to step in and drive on a cold morning.
You Can See Everything Around this Toyota SUV
The Toyota Land Cruiser has a bird’s eye camera to give you an impressive top-down perspective of where you are in relation to other objects around this SUV. This makes it much easier to park this big SUV and stay away from obstacles that could dent or ding your Toyota. This feature makes a huge difference and allows you to take parking spots closer to the storefront.
Your Passengers Will be Entertained
The Land Cruiser has a comfortable cabin that’s great for long road trips, but it’s even better when equipped with the rear-seat entertainment package. This system has two screens that are 11.6 inches each. Use the RCA or HDMI inputs to connect your media devices to this system and enjoy the entertainment offered via wireless headphones.
Could a pre-owned Toyota Land Cruiser be the right SUV for you? If you want a big, strong, versatile, and spacious vehicle that reaches near-luxury levels of driving, you’ll be glad to choose the Land Cruiser and take it out on the road with your family for some fun and adventures.
