Although its wheelbase is unchanged, the new Land Cruiser is 3.7 inches longer overall and almost a half-inch
wider than its predecessor. That adds up to more room within. This is most apparent in the second row of seats,
where legroom has been expanded by almost an inch. Full-size domestic competitors offer more leg and knee room
in the second row, but we think most buyers will find the Land Cruiser's modest expansion enough to make the second
seats habitable by adults.
The third-row seat--optional (for about $1500) in the Land Cruiser, standard in the LX 470--continues to be
quite cramped, though it is suitable for children.
In addition to more room, the Land Cruiser looks more up to date inside, thanks to a contemporary dashboard
design that closely resembles the one used in Toyota's smaller 4Runner. Control layout is typically Toyota--logically
placed, well marked, and easy to use--and there's plenty of stowage for small stuff, including a glovebox capable of
swallowing something bigger than a pair of gloves.
The seats, leather-clad in the Land Cruiser we tested, are firm, supportive, and nicely adjustable, and of course
you get that commanding view of the road that sport-utility owners love so much. The only downside to the foregoing
is the hood, which doesn't fall away much from the windshield to the front of the vehicle. Shorter drivers may find
themselves doing a little neck-stretching to keep track of obstacles close to the front bumper. Being able to see
the fenders is a benefit when picking your way along a narrow mountain trail, however.
Getting up to that commanding view entails a little more of a climb than it does in an Expedition or Chevy Tahoe.
That's the price of real go-anywhere ground clearance--9.8 inches minimum--and we think the tradeoff is worth the
small inconvenience.
As you'd expect of a vehicle in this price range, the Land Cruiser comes very well equipped--air conditioning,
excellent audio, power everything--and interior materials are first-rate. The only major options are leather, a
power moonroof, and a premium audio system. Our test vehicle had them all.
And as you'd expect of a Toyota, the Land Cruiser's assembly quality is beyond reproach.
Our first hands-on encounter with the new Land Cruiser occurred in the wilds of southern California's Anza-Borrego
Desert, and included more trundling around in rocky off-road terrain than most folks are likely to do in a lifetime of
ownership. We were also able to drive the new Cruiser back-to-back with its predecessor.
Two enduring impressions emerged.
First, this vehicle can keep going in territory that would stop its U.S. rivals cold. Although the independent
front suspension led Toyota to drop the Cruiser's locking front differential, it clawed its way through deep sand
and clambered over small boulders without hesitation.
When something did scrape, we were confident that all the vulnerable mechanical elements were well protected.
And on one particularly steep, rutted uphill, the new Cruiser breezed up on its first run, while the old one required
three attempts to get to the top.
The second impression is the difference the extra power makes, not only in basic acceleration, but--even more
important--in passing performance. There's real grunt under the hood now, and quiet, high-tech grunt at that.
Although Ford was first to introduce overhead-cam technology to truck engines, the Land Cruiser has the first
truck V8 to offer the efficiency of four valves per cylinder. The result is a small increase in fuel efficiency,
despite the larger displacement and higher output.
As for on-road dynamics, there's not much to choose between this Land Cruiser and its predecessor. We'd like a
little more road feel in the steering, but basically what you get is the deliberate reactions that go with lots of
mass and a high center of gravity. Though predictable, the Land Cruiser will never be a slalom champ, something
that's also true of its rivals.
Ride quality, however, is distinctly more supple than it was in the previous Land Cruiser. Braking performance is excellent, and interior noise levels are lower.