The Toyota Land Cruiser is big heavyweight 4x4, 4.7-metres long, 1.88-metres wide and 1.88-metres high and it will tow 3,000kg.
In its latest form it has a higher level of advanced but user friendly four wheel drive modes, handling and guidance features that help the driver tackle the most challenging routes.
At the same time new suspension and on-board monitors make it more comfortable and easier to manoeuvre through everyday urban traffic. The modern interior packaging provides versatile seating options and luggage space arrangements. There is generous space for up to seven on board.
The test version, the 60th Anniversary model, has three rows of seats, the middle row as a 40/20/40 seat design and the third row in the rear has two forward facing seats and on this version they are electrically operated making them really easy to put up and down in a few seconds. With all seven seats in use there are just 104-litres of boot space but this increases in stages as seats are folded to a mammoth 1,934-litres.
Access to the load area is through a side hinged rear door but the window section can be opened upwards separately to quickly put light objects into the load area. Most models enjoy a high specification of luxury features, including a surround sound premium audio system, triple-zone automatic air conditioning and a DVD/gaming entertainment package for rear seat passengers.
The usual facilities of electrically operated windows and door mirrors and cruise control, alloy wheels of course are all standard. Most versions have leather upholstery, electric heated front seats, rain sensing wipers and auto headlights, parking sensors, navigation system and much more.
The latest Land Cruiser retains its body on a chassis design for strength and durability but that ruggedness is offset by the new long-travel suspension system giving 215mm of ground clearance but wading depth is an impressive 700mm.
Ride characteristics and driving
The new, electrically modulated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System fitted to LC4 and 60th Anniversary models, optimises the effect of the front and rear anti-roll bars for better on and off-road performance. On-road the system works to minimise body roll, improve steering response and absorb the effects of driving over poor road surfaces.
On rougher surfaces when the uneven force is experienced between the front and rear wheels, the hydraulic linked valves between the dampers rapidly open and close to absorb the movement and balance the ride comfort.
An Adaptive Variable Suspension system is fitted to 60th Anniversary models allowing the driver to fine-tune the Land Cruiser's ride characteristics. Three settings are available controlled by a switch on the centre console.
These are Normal mode for everyday driving; Comfort mode for extra comfort when cruising and Sport mode for better body control and precise steering response when cornering. These selectable suspension settings are not rare these days but they work wonders to improve the handling and ride comfort of these big, tough and previously unforgiving 4x4s.
Some motoring pundits will argue the handling is too soft and the vehicle floats through corners rather than feel planted on the road. But that is how real customers like big 4x4s, capable, comfortable and cavernous.
For me the ride comfort was one of the notable highlights of my test drive. Yes there is still some body roll but given the vehicle's high ground clearance, size and weight, it is impressively stable without the jarring effect of potholes, or just huge off road holes. Even with the large 18-inch wheels the ride was impressive.
If customers want a more on-road focused SUV then the BMW X5/X6, Audi Q5/Q7 and Range Rover Sport are as sharp as needles in the handling department but they are not comfortable to ride in over poor road surfaces at speed.
Land Cruiser off-road
The Land Cruiser has permanent four wheel drive with a limited slip centre differential and rear differential with a diff-lock and there is a transfer box for high and low ratio selection. The torque split is normally 40:60 front to rear but the centre limited slip differential can vary this up to 30:70 to optimise grip.
When it comes to off-road technology the latest Land Cruiser is one of the best having all the functions and abilities that say the heavyweight Land/Range Rovers have but the controls are not as well laid out for easy and logical use. There is no centre control unit and closely positioned toggle switches close to hand.
There is a high/low ratio turn switch, two differential lock switches and crawl control positioned low down in the centre console and then there is the Multi-Terrain Select and 2nd gear start mode selector positioned in the steering wheel. The Multi-Terrain Select function is first class tailoring the optimum power and torque distribution to suit the various driving conditions.
There are four terrain modes, Mud and Sand, Loose Rock, Mogul (operates in low range only, maximum grip at low steady speed in very deep mud or snow off road), and Rock, (similar to Mogul but for crawling over big rocks at slow speed, independent slip ratio at each wheel and selective braking for each wheel).
In addition to that the vehicle has Active Traction Control which uses brake and engine control to supply and distribute the right amount of torque between all four wheels to maintain traction when pulling away or driving on low grip surfaces.
Another function found on the 60th Anniversary model is the Multi-Terrain Monitor. This is a system with four wide angle cameras that shows the driver via the navigation screen live images of the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle when moving forwards or rearward, on or off road.
This is not unique to the Land Cruiser in the heavyweight 4x4 class but it is a good indication of the technology and sophistication the latest model has available to it.
On this occasion I didn't drive the latest Land Cruiser off-road, but I have done in the past at its introduction and it really impressed working its way through tight and boggy forests, deep mud meadows and in and out of rivers.
I have driven it on another occasion in the Sahara Desert and it coped with sand dunes in a reassuringly way. What is even more impressive is the way that the Land Cruiser seems to remain reliable and durable in the hands of less sympathetic drivers in war zones, on safaris or dune-bashing.
Performance and economy
On road; comfort, trustworthy handling and effortless power delivery are the main praiseworthy points. It is a no-nonsense off-roader but it has been refined for improved on--road driving manners.
The revised, Euro 5-compliant 3.0-litre, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC common rail turbodiesel unit with particulate filter develops 188bhp and 420Nm (310 lb ft) of torque from 1,600rpm, compared to 171bhp and 410Nm in its previous form. This enables nought to 62mph acceleration in 11 seconds and a top speed of 109mph.
CO2 emissions are 213g/km and official combined cycle fuel consumption remains 34.9mpg. However on test, mainly driving on rural roads and with some 70mph cruising on motorways, the best fuel economy this vehicle achieved was 27.3mpg, not its best feature,
Finishing off the technical package, all five door Land Cruisers use a five-speed automatic torque converter gearbox with a sequential manual mode.
This worked well most of the time but occasionally the auto box would change down too early travelling downhill on-road, applying more engine braking that necessary. To rectify this, the shift lever needed to be put into manual mode and a higher gear ratio re-engaged.
As a heavyweight go anywhere 4x4 the Land Cruiser is impressive, as a roomy one it also fits the bill, as a collection of the latest easy to use off roading technologies it is one of the best available, in the UK it is top of the class for residual value retention and in the World it is the best selling 4x4 but overall it's not quite the World's best 4x4.
Toyota Land Cruiser MILESTONES
New Toyota Land Cruiser 60th Anniversary 3.0 D-4D Auto
Price: £51,385
Engine/transmission: 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel, 188bhp, 420Nm (310lb ft) of torque from 1,600rpm, 5-speed auto with manual mode, permanent 4x4 drive, high/low ratio, multi-choice all terrain settings, centre and rear differential locks, sophisticated variable rate suspension
Performance: 109mph, 0-62mph 11 seconds, 34.9mpg Combined Cycle (27.3mpg on test on-road), CO2 213g/km, VED road tax £580 First Year rate then £260 per annum, Benefit-in-Kind company car tax 35%. Insurance group: 35E
Dimensions/capacities: L 4,760mm, W 1,885mm, H 1,880mm, boot/load space 104 to 1,934-litres, braked towing weight 3,000kg
For: Comprehensive equipment and specification, advanced 4x4 selectable transmission/traction options, comfortable ride, roomy, power operated fold-up/down rear row seats, best UK residual values of all passenger cars, worldwide high reputation for built-to-last durability and ability
Against: Four cylinder engine looses out in terms of power and strength to more commonplace six-cylinder units in this class, not as agile on-road as some big 4x4s