There is a reason why the second part of this vehicles name is “Cruiser” – it’s a smooth ride that begs for unpaved roads. It’s no wonder the Land Cruiser’s origins lay in 1940s Japan when the Imperial Army, who was occupying the Philippines, first laid eyes on a Jeep and sought out to produce a superior vehicle. These early Land Cruiser iterations heavily resembled a Jeep but they had the ability to tackle a variety of terrain with certain prowess all it’s own. When it would eventually become a consumer vehicle in the 1950s, it made a name for itself by proving that it was more than it’s off-road roots. The Land Cruiser, it turns out, could cruise asphalt as easily as rocky hills.
In 2016, Toyota refreshed the Land Cruiser with new stylings, most notably a bold new front fascia, and a new 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i) for the 5.7 L V8 engine. For 2018, not much has changed, but that isn’t a bad thing. The Land Cruiser is still a beast, on and off road, and its modern touches should turn some heads. Still, with a hefty price tag attached, does it differentiate itself enough from its luxurious big brother, the Lexus LX?
How the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Kicks Ass
Big is Beautiful – Big is indeed beautiful and the Land Cruiser has curves in all the right places. It’s not overwhelming but inside there is more than enough room for passengers and cargo. There’s a certain presence to its hulking shaping but I never felt like I couldn’t manage the vehicle in tight spaces or around sharp corners. And I had fun finding things to fit comfortably in the rear cargo area. My favorite is this surprisingly heavy, stone pot, complete with vegetation.
Understated Class – There is an understated classic feel to the stylings in the 2018 Land Cruiser. It’s original and modern, with curving bulges that scream sleekness. I love the wide chrome bar, complete with embossed name plate, that stretches across the back of the vehicle. The narrow, rectangular headlights and slightly protruding grill have the most in common with Toyota’s truck line but here in the Land Cruise the front facia feels well balanced in comparison to the rest of the body
Talk About a Plush Interior – The 2018 Land Cruiser has plenty of bells and whistles to rival most luxury brand SUVs. A generous amount of
From the leather bound seats to the hard plastic dash, build quality feels top notch and with plenty of room throughout the cabin, these creature comforts are easy to indulge. I’m not a huge fan of the infotainment and temperature control layout in the dash. The weird, ear-shaped air vents that flank the entertainment unit throw me off. Still, I’d take this configuration over other “ear-shaped” vents like those found in the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Off-Road Capabilities – For a vehicle this size, the Land Cruise is one heck of a smooth ride. I didn’t scale a mountain side or traverse any extreme off-road terrain but even on the hilly, unpaved roads on the outskirts of the city, the ride quality didn’t suffer. Toyota only offers the Land Cruiser in one flavor – All Wheel Drive – so it begs to be driven over challenging terrain or even a leisurely mountain trail. Handling was solid but there was a very subtle disconnect in the wheel and the road, meaning I sometimes felt like I floating slightly off the ground. Again, this was subtle and I doubt anyone except car nerds like myself would notice. Even despite that small gripe, the Land Cruiser drives spectacularly.
Where the Land Cruiser Makes me Cringe
The Way the Third Row Seats Fold Up – Instead of collapsing in on itself to create a flat surface, the Land Cruiser’s third row of seats fold up and to the side. Its awkard and cuts into the available cargo room that removing these seats should provide.
Tears at the Gas Pump – The Land Cruiser is a beast – at 5,800 pounds before passengers and cargo, it is no lightweight and to power
No Customization Features – Toyota doesn’t give you many variations of the Land Cruiser to choose from and in this modern age of customization, that’s a little weird. There may be a method to this madness, however: the Land Cruiser already serves somewhat of a niche market and most of the amenities that I loved about the vehicle already come standard, save for the leather trim and the backseat entertainment system ( a moot feature in the iPad era).
Cost Versus the Brand – Starting at nearly $84K, the Land Cruiser is mighty expensive. While I would argue that you get a ton of value for that cost, its harder to make the argument of opting for the Land Cruiser over it’s
Cruising Down the Boulvard
If you’re in the market for a large vehicle that is both comfy and can tackle some decent off-roading, then the Land Cruiser is certainly up to the task. The fuel economy and the high price are points to consider, but admittedly it’s easy to fall in love with this gentle giant once you spend some time with it. Its the pinnacle of large-sized SUV ingenuity.
