2011 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
2011 Toyota Land Cruiser
By Tim Saunders, 24th October 2011
The Range Rover is the longest established luxury 4x4. Right?
Wrong.
It was launched in 1970 but the Toyota Land Cruiser was actually introduced 19 years earlier.
60th anniversary edition Toyota Land Cruiser
This came as quite a surprise to me. Admittedly there have been quite a few different versions starting off with the rugged Jeep-like open top AK in 1951 - in fact I was the proud owner of a remote control version when I was younger. The BJ and FJ models between 1951 to 1955, followed. Over time the Land Cruiser has evolved to become an ultra-luxurious, highly capable off-roader. The current 200 series was launched in 2008.
In recognition of its 60 years in production Toyota has introduced a special 60th Anniversary model, available in either 3-litre diesel or 4.5-litre V8 versions.
New 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 3-litre model tested comes complete with triple-zone climate control air conditioning, Toyota‘s Easy Flat rear seat system with third row seats (powered), leather upholstery, HDD navigation system, multi-terrain Select system, Crawl Control, JBL 17-speaker premium audio. Oh, and did I mention the cool box underneath the central armrest in the front? It‘s not far off the size of a mini fridge and operates in conjunction with the air conditioning.
The Land Cruiser is a gargantuan beast. It seems to dwarf other vehicles considered to be competitors such as those Chelsea Tractors from Mercedes and Volkswagen.
But it is much more than just a bit of eye-candy, it has been built for a proper purpose. Toyota is targeting demanding, affluent owners who require a vehicle that‘s smart enough to be parked outside their offices (which they‘ll probably also own), can happily tow their boats and trailers and off-roads to its heart‘s content. Parkers, the car experts, writes that it is “amazingly capable in difficult terrain”. A vehicle for farmers or property developers perhaps – those who don‘t want to appear too flamboyant and have a bit of taste... From the outside it is perhaps a little staid but it certainly doesn‘t blend into the background.
60th anniversary edition Toyota Land Cruiser
I particularly like the boot because it can either open as a complete door for easy loading or if something light like a gym bag needs to be thrown in the glass can be opened separately. The rear wiper is neatly concealed, too.
It‘s no surprise to learn that the Toyota Land Cruiser is so popular in the Middle East with Sheikhs who drive these uncomplaining beasts through sand dunes in the baking desert for a bit of fun.
Inside the Land Cruiser are luxurious black leather seats and such a high driving position that useful side steps are provided to easy entry. There‘s a bit of wood effect too on the steering wheel and door inserts, which is a nice touch. Equipped with five-speed automatic gearbox and cruise control, it is capable of returning around 30mpg. Initially it feels a little bulky but it doesn‘t take long to really warm to it. In a past life I used to horse ride and sitting so high up reminds me of those days – the commanding driving position giving a great sense of security. It‘s an intimidating brute too, other drivers moving into the centre lane of the motorway when they see it in their rear view mirrors. It happily cruises at the national speed limit.
Ancestor of the Toyota Land Cruiser, 1951 Toyota BJ
The week of the test was a challenging time on Britain’s roads, heavy congestion delaying my daily commute. One particular challenge was presented when an oversized mobile home was being transported on the back of an oncoming lorry. All the traffic had to move onto the pavement to make way – the Land Cruiser making very light work of this task.
“Off-roaders that are truly capable off-road are becoming harder to find with most 4x4s designed primarily for tarmac roads than muddy tracks,” says Parkers. “But the Land Cruiser sticks to its traditional roots as a vehicle that has the ability to go pretty much anywhere. On difficult terrain it’s hugely impressive, helped by sophisticated and genuinely useful off-road systems, allowing it to tackle seemingly impassable ground. It’s supremely refined, incredibly well equipped and most models come with seven seats as standard. Add in Toyota’s excellent track record for reliability and build quality and the Land Cruiser is a safe, if not necessarily exciting, choice.”
At a glance - Toyota Land Cruiser
New price range:
£31,550 - £61,950
The 3-litre diesel Land Cruiser 60th Anniversary is priced £49,950 and the Land Cruiser V8 60th Anniversary at £61,950
Used price range:
Under £1,000 - £42,069
Road tax: £580
Engine: 3-litre diesel
Economy: 27.7mpg to 34.9mpg
Top speed: 109mph
Power: 161bhp
