Our Verdict
What's New
- Land Cruiser Heritage Edition (available on two-row models only)
- Offered in two exterior colors: Midnight Black Metallic and Blizzard Pearl
Pros & Cons
- Incredibly capable on and off-road
- Torquey 5.7-liter V8 engine
- Comfortable interior
- Enormous price, with a potentially big dropoff in resale value
- Fundamentally unchanged since 2008
- Limited configuration options
REVIEW
2020 Toyota Land Cruiser: As Capable As Ever
Only a handful of cars command a cult following in the off-road community on par with the Toyota Land Cruiser. The other longtime dirt-kicking darlings that come close include the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender. Like its German, American and British counterparts, the Land Cruiser started life as a military vehicle, entering the fray around the middle of the 20th century and soldering on through multiple iterations and evolutions.
In 2020, the Land Cruiser finds itself in a precarious position. It’s still a wildly capable machine both on-road and off, but in the U.S., it only comes in one trim: fully loaded. The Land Cruiser is burdened with a near-$90,000 price tag, which hasn’t really budged in over a decade. The Land Cruiser’s biggest obstacle isn’t any steep off-road ascent or deep, fast-moving water crossing. It’s the burden of proof that it’s worth the hefty price tag.
As an SUV, the Land Cruiser does everything it’s tasked with incredibly well. It easily fits eight passengers, and although the third row—which folds up to the sides unlike most rear seats that fold flat—still eats up a decent amount of space when not in use, there’s still ample room for bulky cargo like sporting gear or grocery bags.
While the 5.7-liter V8 (also found in the Tundra) doesn’t return the best fuel economy at 14 combined mpg, there’s rarely a situation the engine doesn’t handle comfortably. Urban driving plummets the fuel gauge, but low-end torque comes on between street lights. Off road that same accessible torque (combined with a suite of electronic suspension and traction systems) helps the Land Cruiser tackle almost any terrain.
The Land Cruiser’s problem is that Toyota seems to be neglecting it, and the justification for keeping the $85,000 MSRP disintegrates by the day. Inside, the interior is, without a doubt, cavernous. Unfortunately, space is not what defines what defines luxury.
In 2008, leather interiors, large infotainment displays, advanced driver-assistance safety technology and driving modes were top-of-the-line, especially in the off-roading segment. Now those features are standard fare and it takes a lot more than electronically adjustable suspensions to impress. Sadly, the Land Cruiser, with its mild, mostly cosmetic refresh in 2016, now looks severely outdated. The “rear-seat DVD system” listed on Toyota’s Land Cruiser model page is highly illustrative of its passé tech.
As iconic as the name may be, the Land Cruiser has slipped into redundancy in the American market. Consumers in the market for a luxurious SUV with a ,000 budget can look to Land Rover and Mercedes for more modern options. For Toyota loyalists, the Lexus LX is, for all intents and purposes, just a rebadged Land Cruiser. If an off-roading Toyota is the goal, the Tacoma and 4Runner are priced tens of thousands of dollars less to buy, own and repair.
Hence, the Land Cruiser has become one tough sell. A two-year-old Land Cruiser with low-mileage might be a better choice with a $20,000 price slash. Especially since the 2020 model hasn’t really changed in a decade. The Land Cruiser is still a wildly competent, iconic SUV, but it’s its own worst enemy.
Warranty
3 Years/36,000 Miles
5 Years/60,000 Miles
5 Years/Unlimited Miles
2 Years/Unlimited Miles
2 Years/25,000 Miles
Specs & Safety
Toyota Land Cruiser Specification
Toyota Land Cruiser Safety
NHTSA: Not Rated