2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota’s original all-conquering, go-anywhere SUV, the Land Cruiser is as comfortable taking kids to school as it is crossing the Kalahari desert or climbing Peruvian mountain passes. It can tow a boat or camper, and wade into more than two feet of water. The version sold in the United States is quite luxurious and priced accordingly. But 2021 is its final model year in the U.S., capping a run that began with the J25-series in 1958. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Land Cruiser evolved into a much more luxurious, and expensive SUV than the classic versions, and indeed the 2021 models start at a steep $87,030, which puts it in competition with newer and larger premium machinery. The Land Cruiser is as capable as ever, but the current J200-series dates back to 2008. It has loyal fans, but for the uninitiated, the Toyota badge and the Cruiser’s subtle styling don’t have the gravitas of a Mercedes-Benz star or the Lexus L. Its closest rival is its posher sister, the Lexus LX570.

Among premium-brand competitors, only the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz G-class is as hard-core in the dirt, but buyers of the similarly-priced Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, and Mercedes-Benz GLS don’t go mudding very often.

Toyota has already announced that the 2022 version will not be sold in the U.S., though a future revival is likely and the LX570 will continue. With sunset on the horizon, the 2021s get few changes.

Toyota offers the Land Cruiser in two forms, the base model and the Heritage Edition, the latter stickering for $89,360, with both prices including a $1,395 destination fee. Both models come lavishly equipped, with standard features that include a power moonroof and liftgate, navigation, four-zone automatic climate control, a Qi-compatible phone charger, heated and ventilated front seats, leather throughout the cabin, 14 JBL speakers, 18-inch alloy wheels and a suite of active safety gear.

The Heritage adds only Yakima Megawarrior roof rack, retro-themed grille and vintage Land Cruiser badges, Bronze BBS 18-inch wheels and contrasting bronze stitching on interior surfaces.

Though it’s not as deluxe inside as the QX80 or GLS, it’s clear that Toyota paid attention to detail with the Land Cruiser’s cabin. The space houses a boatload of premium materials, and the front seats are supremely comfortable. They are positioned to offer a wide-open view of the road ahead and either side and coddle passengers with great padding and support. The second row has plenty of space and nearly the same level of seating comfort.

Toyota’s infotainment software runs well on the Land Cruiser’s 9-inch touchscreen, but it’s not as intuitive as systems from Land Rover or Infiniti. There’s also no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a major omission.

The Land Cruiser’s third row is a little smaller than those in the Escalade or GLS, but only a fraction less roomy than the QX80’s, but all three are more than 10 inches longer than the Toyota. Though it’s a big V8 bruiser, the Land Cruiser is actually marginally shorter than a Kia Telluride stem to stern.

In cargo terms, there’s tons of space, but a little less than full-size SUVs. In three-row models, there are 16.1 cubic-feet with the third row in place, 41.1 with folded. Sans third row, there’s 53.5 cubic-feet behind the second row. With all seats folded, the Cruiser opens up to 82.8 cubic-feet in total. That’s similar to the GLS, a little smaller than the QX80, and far short of the much larger Escalade. It’s also shy of the 4Runner, which offers up to 89.3 cubic feet overall.

All Land Cruisers draw power from a 5.7-liter V8 shared with the Tundra pickup and larger Sequoia SUV. It produces 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The deep well of torque is very handy off-road and yields an 8,100-pound tow rating.

The Land Cruiser’s ride is smooth and comfy, which are characteristics not always applied to vehicles this rugged. Due to its size, there’s quite a bit of body roll and lean in the corners, but it’s not unmanageable and the vehicle always feels controlled. The suspension, built for the wild, soaks up shocks and bangs, making the Land Cruiser a smooth customer on pavement or off.

It’s in the rough where the Land Cruiser shines brightest. The suspension design is similar to the smaller Toyota 4Runner, but a much heavier duty version of the same concepts.

It can ford up to 27.5 inches of water. It has a 32-degree approach and 34-degree departure angles. It has a manually-locking Torsen differential. Toyota equips it with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, also seen on the 4Runner, to adjust the wheels for maximum articulation. There are also five selectable terrain modes to modulate throttle and brake responses and electronic crawl control. Toyota also includes terrain cameras that display side and forward views.

The only downside of all this capability, and the weight it brings, is dismal fuel economy. The big ‘Yota returns 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined, without anything being towed behind.

The Land Cruiser hasn’t been crash tested by NHTSA or the IIHS, though being a global vehicle, it earns five stars in crash-testing from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which carries out testing similar to those agencies. Toyota gives every model a slew of advanced driver aids. Blind spot monitoring, dynamic radar cruise control, forward collision warnings and automatic emergency braking are all standard. 

$90,000 is as expensive as a Toyota gets and the 4Runner offers much of the package at a lower price, but the Land Cruiser offers legitimate off-road capabilities and an interior that is far better than just “good enough.” It’s comfortable enough to daily drive, and brings enough space for the whole family and all of their gear.