2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byJames Riswickzzdcar Contributor

　　James Riswick is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What’s new

　　The 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser is unchanged.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　The 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser is a vehicle intended to go literally anywhere. Any terrain, any climate, any country — it can handle it. Warning stickers inside are even printed in English, Japanese, Russian and Arabic, driving the point across that it can be used by any adventurous driver.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$249/mo  for Land Cruiser Base

　　Land Cruiser Base

　　4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $84,565 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Its immense capabilities stem from a stout body-on-frame chassis, full-time four-wheel drive, Toyota's bag of off-road tech tricks and a strong V8 engine. All of this is further backed up by a legendary and hard-earned reputation for reliability based on decades of service in every corner of the world.

　　So whether you're traversing a glacier in Iceland or oven-baked sand in Death Valley, the Land Cruiser will get the job done. It also does this while cosseting you in a leather-lined, fully loaded cabin that makes this Toyota a fully fledged luxury vehicle.

　　However, if the only terrain you intend to cross is the local interstate and perhaps a Costco parking lot, the Land Cruiser doesn't make any sense. It gets only 15 mpg in combined city and highway driving, which is terrible even by full-size SUV standards. It's big, heavy and has slow steering, reducing its maneuverability and compromising its on-road handling relative to a large crossover.

　　Then there's the cabin — the second row is mounted a bit too low for comfort and its otherwise hilarious degree of recline is reduced to almost nil when the third-row seats are folded up against the cargo area walls. And, yes, that means the third row doesn't fold into the floor. It, therefore, still takes up cargo space when not in place, and when it is, it's not as if many humans will be able to comfortably fit back there or easily reach it. "Compromised" would be the word to sum it up best.

　　But, for a select few, the 2018 Land Cruiser is an absolutely perfect tool for their adventurous lifestyles.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

　　The 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most off-road-capable SUVs you can find. It's also suitably luxurious. But poor fuel economy, mediocre interior versatility and a high price limit its broader appeal.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser (5.7L V8 | 8-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	8.5
Comfort	8.5
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

8.5

　　The Land Cruiser is near the top of the class in most performance categories. Power is ample, and braking power is excellent. This SUV is also highly capable off-road, as you'd expect. It's also surprisingly nice to drive around town.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　There's plenty of power from the big V8. It propels the Land Cruiser from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 7.4 seconds. Gas pedal inputs are easy to judge, which helps the driver maintain a smooth ride off-road.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brakes are powerful, though you have to push the pedal down quite a bit before you get much slowdown. Toyota tuned it this way to help smooth out braking when off-roading or towing, but it does require extra anticipation during normal driving.

　　

Steering

8.5

　　Remarkably precise steering compared to other SUVs of this size. It's generally easy to feel what the front tires are doing, and there's a handy tire direction display that helps in low-speed off-roading situations.

　　

Handling

9.0

　　Body roll is minimal even on tight mountain roads thanks to the Land Cruiser's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). As big traditional SUVs go, this one feels surprisingly stable and agreeable on asphalt.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　Overall, the Land Cruiser is an easy SUV to drive. Initial throttle response is touchy, which can make it hard to execute smooth takeoffs. The transmission also wants to upshift into top gear as soon as possible to save fuel, which can be a little annoying.

　　

Off-road

10.0

　　As big SUVs go, this is one of the best off-road. It has full-time 4WD with a lockable center differential, a KDSS stabilizer-bar disconnect system for extreme articulation, hill descent control, crawl control and active Multi-Terrain Select that finds traction even with the stock all-season tires.

　　

Comfort

8.5

　　All-day seat comfort and a quiet ride are two of the Land Cruiser's strongest points. Considering its capabilities off-road, this Toyota is surprisingly comfortable on the road. The cabin is subject to jostling by strong crosswinds, though, and bigger bumps can be unsettling.

　　

Seat comfort

8.5

　　Front seat comfort is excellent. The driver's seat is supportive and highly adjustable. Passenger seats are nearly as accommodating, though the second row is a bit low. The third row is too small for comfort.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The Land Cruiser rolls smoothly over most road imperfections. There is some bounce over larger dips, but nothing dramatic or more than expected. Driving over sharp-edged bumps can shake the cabin, but this is the exception, not the rule. In general, there's little to complain about.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.5

　　Some V8 rumble can be heard during acceleration, but we enjoy the sound. At cruising speeds, engine noise is nearly imperceptible. The cabin is well-isolated from wind noise and road noise.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Four-zone climate control is standard, and the air conditioning is powerful. The front seats are cooled and heated; the rear seats are heated. You can control the rear zones from up front, but it is not easy to customize the rear fan speed or temperature from the front. Use the rear controls.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　The large door openings and chunky grab handles help people climb in and out, and they'll find lots of space once they're inside. The controls are easy to understand, but the centrally located touchscreen may require a reach.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　The most oft-used levers, switches and knobs are well-placed and clearly labeled. The center stack is nicely laid out, too, but the cabin is so wide that the touchscreen and many nearby centrally located controls require a long arm or a good stretch to reach.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The usual SUV difficulties apply. You'll climb up and in, but there are grab handles and running boards to help with this. The doors open wide, and the openings are big.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The Land Cruiser has a tall, commanding driving position, and the highly adjustable seat and tilt wheel should help most settle in nicely. But long-legged drivers may wish for more seat travel and steering-wheel telescopic range.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　Generous head-, legroom and elbow room in the first two rows of the cabin. Middle-row occupants may have it best with a sliding and reclining split bench and a flat floor that lets them sprawl however they want. The third row is less roomy, especially in the legroom department.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　The large windshield and side windows give excellent outward views all around. But the Land Cruiser's front corners are far off and can be difficult for shorter drivers to judge. Thankfully, a surround-view camera is standard. The rear window is partially blocked when the third row seat is deployed.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　Interior materials consist of quality leather, soft-touch surfaces and aesthetically pleasing graining throughout. No squeaks, rattles or odd panel gaps. This is an exceedingly well-built automobile.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The nonremovable, side-folding third row is a big hindrance to capacity, but this is still a decent-size cargo area. It has good towing features and a strong tow rating. The split liftgate is handy for tailgating and loading, but it can make accessing deep cargo difficult. A fair trade-off.

　　

Small-item storage

6.5

　　The door pockets are deep but narrow. Larger insulated bottles will be a tough fit. The front-seat cupholders are shallow; avoid top-heavy insulated mugs. The standard cold box under the front center armrest is deep with a shallow tray integrated into the lid. The glovebox is deep and has a shelf.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　Cargo capacity is 16.1 cubic feet with all seats in use. The third row splits 50/50 and hugs the sides; the middle row splits 60/40 and tumbles forward, resulting in a flat, narrow load floor. The small lower tailgate can be used as a cargo fence or a bench, but it can lengthen the reach inside.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　Anchor points are easy to find, but they're deep underneath leather flaps. Outboard seats have easily accessed top tethers, but the middle-seat tether point is at the bottom of the seat back. A seating position with an installed seat will disable tumble-forward access to the third row on that side.

　　

Towing

9.0

　　The maximum towing capacity is 8,200 pounds, near the top of its class. Tongue weight limit is 850 pounds. The integrated tow hitch mates to four- or seven-pin connectors. Electronic trailer sway control comes standard. The large side mirrors help greatly.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　Phone integration isn't as smooth as it could be, but the audio system is strong and the optional rear seat entertainment system is impressive. The advanced driver safety aids are useful.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The 14-speaker JBL system sounds crisp, with a bias toward the treble range. The touchscreen interface is basically the same as the upgrade unit found in other Toyotas, but with a larger display. The colors do not wash out in direct light, but the graphics are not as crisp as in newer systems.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.0

　　Phones can connect via Bluetooth or USB, but full integration requires the installation and use of Toyota's Entune app. There is one USB port, one audio jack and a Qi wireless charger in a small cubby. The wireless charging pad isn't big enough for large-format phones.

　　

Driver aids

8.5

　　Standard gear includes all-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, blind-spot detection, parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system. Off-road driver aids include multiterrain, four-wheel active traction control and crawl control.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　Toyota's standard voice recognition system is acceptable as long as you're using the right commands in the correct sequence. Siri Eyes Free is a compromise that lets you interface with Siri without the graphic elements of Apple CarPlay.

　　

Which Land Cruiser does zzdcar recommend?

　　The 2018 Land Cruiser comes fully loaded apart from a rear-seat entertainment system. It's likely something you can skip if you use tablets and other devices to keep your family entertained.

　　

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser models

　　The 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser is an eight-passenger luxury SUV offered in one fully loaded trim level. Every Land Cruiser also comes with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. It is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system.

　　Other off-roading components include a locking center differential, Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS, a decoupling stabilizer bar), Crawl Control (a low-speed off-road cruise control), Multi-Terrain Select (off-road vehicle settings), hill start assist, skid plates and tow hooks.

　　Standard exterior equipment includes 18-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting, automatic high beams, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, automatic wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, roof rails, running boards, and an integrated towing hitch receiver and wiring harness.

　　Inside, you get a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, four-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory functions, 40/20/40-split second-row seats (folds, reclines and slides), 50/50-split third-row seats, a heated power-adjustable steering wheel, and a cooler box under the front center armrest.

　　Tech features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, a surround-view parking camera system, wireless smartphone charging, a USB port, a 9-inch touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, a navigation system, voice controls, Toyota's Entune smartphone app suite, and a 14-speaker JBL sound system with a CD player and satellite radio.

　　The only factory option is a rear-seat entertainment system that includes two display screens mounted to the front seatbacks.

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2018 Land Cruiser Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$84,565
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	15 MPG
Cost to Drive	$249/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles