Introduction

The Toyota Land Cruiser is among the few vehicles on the market with serious off-road capability, towing capability and people-hauling capability. The Land Cruiser seats up to eight people. It can transport large amounts of cargo over any kind of road or primitive trail, in any kind of weather, with speed, comfort and security. It can tow up to 8500 pounds with the right equipment. Plus, it offers a level of comfort and convenience that rivals luxury cars in this price range. The 2009 Land Cruiser looks pretty much the same as Land Cruisers have looked for years, but in fact the Land Cruiser was completely redesigned and re-engineered for 2008. This latest version boasts a suite of safety features, state-of-the-art electronics, more power with better fuel economy, and innovative engineering advancements that permit outstanding performance in contrasting circumstances. The one small change for 2009 is the addition of privacy glass for the rear door and quarter windows. More than just all-weather, the Land Cruiser offers legitimate all-terrain capability. Among the innovations making this possible is a brilliantly designed suspension that enhances performance on irregular terrain, yet does not compromise cornering or braking on paved roads. But the Land Cruiser's high-utility, capability-driven design does come at a price. Its impressive capabilities requires more expensive materials, extensive developmental testing, and more engineering innovation. That makes the Land Cruiser the vehicle of choice for well-heeled customers who have a cabin in the woods, an adventurous vacation routine, or perhaps a whole lot of highway and dirt road between the family home and a camping trip. For their investment, Land Cruiser owners enjoy an exceptionally secure, comfortable SUV that can make extreme use seem routine. Then there is the matter of quality. All Land Cruisers are built in small volumes in Japan. Production is shared between the Yoshiwara plant, in Aichi, Japan, (now manufacturing Prius, LX470 and 4Runner) and Toyota's vaunted Tahara plant, which mostly manufactures Lexus vehicles. These are Toyota's flagship manufacturing facilities. Standards at the Tahara plant, in particular, have been described in American newspapers as untouchable, approaching fewer than 10 defects per 1 million parts. As a result, the Land Cruiser's reputation for durability and long-term value is likely to be continued. It is normal for four-wheel-drive vehicles to require unscheduled repairs due to greater complexity, and exposure to dust, water, and vibration. However, in the case of the Land Cruiser, we would be surprised to encounter many significant problems beyond normal maintenance. Because of its iconic exterior design, Land Cruisers never look dated or go out of style. Used Land Cruisers are scarce and command high prices.

Walkaround

The Toyota Land Cruiser, with its upright bodywork and wide, flat hood, is unmistakably linked to the historic Land Cruiser line. Called Land Cruiser 200 internally, it was all-new for 2008. The exterior design retains the traditional distinct flare on the front fenders, horizontal four-slotted grille and rear liftgate of the previous-generation Land Cruiser. A slightly reduced, more sophisticated greenhouse and compound front headlamps are the most obvious differences, as is the lower, more fluid beltline as viewed from the side. LED tail lights are another contemporary touch. The effect is to replace dated styling cues with contemporary design, without stepping outside of the Land Cruiser lineage. There is no bling factor in the Land Cruiser design, which is solid, stable and grounded in every sense of the word. It is designed to be impressive more for what it is, than how it looks. This current Land Cruiser may look a lot like its (pre-2008) predecessors, but it's clear that every effort has been made to reduce wind noise and clean up the coefficient of drag. The wipers use an aero blade design for quiet operation, sweep a larger area, and retract low on the windshield to reduce wind noise. The mirrors are shaped and mounted so as to keep whistle to a minimum, and the rear tow hitch has a cover to clean up the rear bumper. Overall, it's just a little sleeker, which adds up to a more modern appearance. It's about 2.4 inches longer than the previous generation, which is mostly used to improve second row leg room.

Interior Features

Land Cruiser owners will feel perfectly at home, yet there is a modern, technical update to the cabin that integrates features that have trickled down from the Lexus LX 470. The overall sense is of conservative design tastes, with all features smoothly integrated, prioritizing value and quality over style. Every aspect of the interior reinforces a sense of security. Much of this feeling exists on an unconscious level, generated by an unusually quiet cabin, a distinct lack of clutter, and the characteristic scent of leather. While the interior is not opulent in design, there is nothing cheap or garish about it. Attention to detail can be seen in the stitching on the leather and the tight seams between the components of the dash and console. Front-row seats are medium-firm, supportive and highly adjustable. The driver's seat has 10-way adjustability with power lumbar support, and the steering wheel itself has power tilt and telescopic adjustments with generous range. Between the seats is a roomy center console, which has two levels inside. The Upgrade Package converts the center console into an air-conditioned cooler box. Chrome-accented Optitron style gauges are mounted in a deeply shaded instrument pod, flanked by a multi-information display and shift position indicator. Subdued gray leather trim with slim silver accents and wood grain moldings are used throughout the cabin. The front cabin is spacious enough, with ample legroom and headroom for all but the tallest drivers. Second-row seating is comfortable and well appointed. Third-row legroom and headroom is at a premium, however, so these seats are best occupied by smaller people. Access to the third row, via a tumble forward passenger-side seat, is not easy for adults. Most of the time, it's likely that the third-row seats will be folded sideways and stowed on their mounts to allow for cargo. It's an arrangement that looks makeshift, but works quite well in practice. The mounting setup holds the seats tightly, braced with straps so they don't vibrate, and with the seats stowed flat quite a bit of room becomes available. If you really need all the room back there, you can remove the rear row altogether. While the Land Cruiser is not as spacious as, say, a Suburban, it is versatile enough to accommodate 81 cubic feet of cargo with some preparation. The air conditioning system was designed to supply four climate control zones with 28 vents located throughout the cabin. First- and second-row passengers have individual controls, so they can stay comfortable if one side of the vehicle is exposed to the sun. The fan has seven speeds. The JBL audio system does not produce perfect surround sound, but with 14 speakers, it fills the cabin well. The head unit is a Pioneer item; the system is MP3 and WMA compatible. With the optional navigation system, which we had on our test unit, the audio system is controlled via the eight-inch navigation touch screen. We're familiar with the way the audio and HVAC controls work with Toyota navigation systems, but even if we weren't, the touch screen arrangement seems reasonably intuitive. Most every menu is accessible with one or two touches and there are no joy-stick controls that require push-and-turn sequences. Our only beef with the navigation system is that Toyota does not permit changing a route or any other input on the fly. You have to pull over and put it in Park. The optional nine-inch LCD rear-seat entertainment system plays DVDs and has audio/video jacks for video games. Keyless entry, an option we have come to adore, is available with either of the two available options packages. With the Bluetooth key fob anywhere on your person, doors click open at a touch of the handle.