The term SUV has become a catchall for all manner of off-road capable and off-road-capable-appearing vehicles. It is applied liberally to car-based crossovers and all-wheel-drive wagons, as well as the serious off roaders. But back twenty-some years before the term “sport-utility vehicle” was even coined, the Toyota Land Cruiser was blazing trails through terrain that most of today’s batch of “SUVs” couldn’t hope to tackle. In Toyota’s mind Land Cruiser’s core mission has always been to go off pavement, and this mindset is evident in its latest redesign for 2008.
With each passing generation — 2008 is the ninth — ever more attention has been paid to passenger comfort. Now as much a luxury vehicle as it is an off-road warrior, the Land Cruiser is not for the budget conscious. Its $63,885 base price places it within the top tier of luxury SUVs. The good news is, there is only one trim level and it’s remarkably comprehensive. The only factory options involve enhancing the audio/entertainment system and adding a DVD-based navigation system. Indulging yourself with the entire array will set you back another $7,245.
While making no apologies for its vehicle pricing, Toyota consistently delivers quality and better than average value retention. The level of craftsmanship is apparent inside and out. Fit and finish throughout the cabin is flawless.
More stylized than the interior of previous versions, the 2008 Land Cruiser offers superb utility and a modern design. The ascetics are pleasing without interfering with the functional simplicity that has been a hallmark of previous Land Cruisers. All controls are clearly marked and within easy reach of the driver. The optional nav system doesn’t require a Lewis and Clark-like intuition for finding one’s way to decipher. It’s clear and uncomplicated to program.
In addition to the usual power accessories, included in the base price are an audio system with a JBL-enhanced 14-speaker surround sound, six-CD changer and an input for personal music devices, four-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, and a sunroof.
The leather-covered seats are firm and supportive. A third-row seat increases occupant capacity to eight, but accessing that rear-most seat demands a fair amount of flexibility and actually sitting in it is best left to small children. Cargo room is less than generous. The 40-20-40 split second-row seat reclines, travels fore and aft and tumbles forward. The 50-50 split third-row seat can’t be entirely removed, but does fold up against each side of the cargo bay. With all seats in place there is 16.1 cubic-feet of cargo room, which expands to 82 cubic-feet when both rear seats are configured for maximum hauling capacity.
Although its footprint is virtually the same, the 2008 Land Cruiser is a couple of inches longer and a smidgen wider and taller than the previous iteration. It is also heavier by more than 250 pounds. Despite its increased mass, it’s more drivable. A new automatic suspension that Toyota calls the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System constantly monitors driving conditions. Through the front and rear stabilizer bars it softens or stiffens the suspension maximizing wheel travel off road and minimizing body roll during on-pavement cornering.
Bulking up hasn’t hurt the new Land Cruiser’s performance thanks to swapping out last year’s 265-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 for Toyota’s new 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8. Torque is also up by nearly 100 pounds-feet. This extra grunt is delivered to all four wheels through a new six-speed automatic transmission. The result is that not only is the new Land Cruiser quicker than the last generation, it can tow up to 2,000 pounds more for a total of 8,500 pounds. Low gearing is provided for the AWD system and engaged with the turn of a knob. New to the AWD system this year is the “Crawl Mode” that maintains a steady, low speed when off roading that requires zero input from the driver.
Anti-lock disc brakes are standard and the system includes traction control, stability control, emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Other safety features include front and second-row side-impact airbags, as well as side-head airbags for all three rows of seats. A tire pressure monitoring system and front/rear parking assist are also included as standard equipment.
When off-road competence is a key must have, the Toyota Land Cruiser has few peers. And not only is it an off-road overachiever, its pedigree is the result of a rich heritage of bullet-proof performance and is undisputed. Pedigrees, though, are historically costly and the Land Cruiser’s doesn’t come cheap.
For drivers who view their vehicle as an extension of themselves, one huge advantage to ponying up the big bucks for the Land Cruiser versus other luxury SUVs is that it is a bit of a novelty. You won’t see yourself coming and going at every intersection. Luxury and the highest of off-road capability is a rare combination, indeed.
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