Overview

True off-roaders are few and far between in the days of two-wheel drive SUVs and crossovers with barely any more ground clearance than a hatchback, but if there’s one that’s stood the test of time it’s the Toyota Land Cruiser. 

The Land Cruiser we get in the UK is the smaller of two variants – known as the ‘Prado’ in other markets, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s some low-fat alternative without the capabilities of its bigger brother. This is a true old-school off-roader, with a separate chassis for strength, permanent four-wheel drive for security, and a stout diesel engine that all combine to give it true go-anywhere ability.

Of course, those factors affect its performance on the road as well as off it, but the latest Land Cruiser – updated in 2020 with a more powerful engine and some nods to creature comforts on the inside – doesn’t embarrass itself here, despite being based on the same basic platform that’s been sold since 2009. With seven decades of history behind it, the Land Cruiser is every bit as much of a household name as the Land Rover Defender or the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (née G-Wagen) and has a legendary reputation for solidity, dependability and reliability in some of the harshest environments in the world.

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The Land Cruiser is available with three or five doors, and in trims ranging from the basic to the downright luxurious. Most long-wheelbase models come with seven seats, and there’s also a van-alike Commercial model (which we’ve reviewed here) for buyers who value load capacity over seating.

If you don’t need the big Toyota’s off-road ability then plenty of other seven-seater SUVs are available that will, in all honesty, fill your needs more effectively. A SEAT Tarraco, Kia Sorento or Mercedes-Benz GLB all offer better on-road manners and greater efficiency, while costing less to buy and being more practical to use on daily trips round town. None of these can match the Land Cruiser’s ability or ruggedness, however.

• Land Rover Defender review
• The best SUVs to buy
• Pickup truck group test

Over the next few pages we’ll score the Toyota Land Cruiser in 10 areas before giving it an overall rating. We take into account the driving experience, interior practicality and quality, and what it’ll cost to own and run.