2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

　　

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　You know about Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday. Well, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser pretty much lives every day as some sort of flashback. This big body-on-frame SUV is a throwback to 2008, which is the last time Toyota gave it a full redesign. Is rocking an SUV design that's more than 10 years old a good idea? It depends on what you want.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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

　　$257/mo  for Land Cruiser Base

　　Land Cruiser Base

　　4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $85,415 MSRPHeritage Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $87,745 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Capable of towing over 8,000 pounds and equipped with off-road hardware such as a locking center differential, the Land Cruiser is serious about being an SUV. Many of its competitors, especially in the luxury-three-row-SUV segment, are crossovers. They use car-based platforms that increase fuel economy and ride comfort, but they also limit towing capacity and off-road capability. The Land Cruiser makes no such compromises — and because it's so purposeful, the Land Cruiser is excellent at its stated purpose. It goes further off the beaten path than pretty much anything in its class.

　　On the downside, the Land Cruiser's old-school design results in serious drawbacks when it comes to on-road performance. Braking, steering and handling all suffer as a result of the Land Cruiser's size. And even though it's a relatively large vehicle, rear cargo space is lacking compared to the competition. What's more, the Land Cruiser's third row is rather small. Toyota now offers a two-row version of the Land Cruiser called the Heritage Edition, with some upgraded wheels and added exterior trim, but it's more expensive than the already-pricey base version.

　　In the end, we'd only recommend the Land Cruiser to buyers who want all the off-road capability it has to offer. Otherwise, it's a luxury SUV that's not as luxurious as lower-priced rivals, nor is it as modern or well-equipped. Check out vehicles such as the Audi Q7, the Land Rover Discovery or even the new Lincoln Aviator before you drive off the lot in a 2020 Land Cruiser.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Land Cruiser drive? The aging Land Cruiser's on-road performance is average at best. Its brakes are touchy, there's a lot of nosedive, and the steering is unnaturally heavy. The engine and transmission work fine on the highway, but some drivers might find the accelerator too sensitive at low speeds, and the transmission can get too "shifty" on long grades.

　　But get it off-road and the Cruiser shines brightly. Its suspension allows for loads of articulation as the Multi-Terrain Select System also seeks out every bit of traction from the ground. Crawl Control keeps the Land Cruiser pushing through soft and rocky terrain. If you want a seriously off-roadable full-size SUV, then this dinosaur may fit the bill.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Land Cruiser? On the inside, many competitors feature seats with fancy massaging and multi-way adjustability, but the Land Cruiser's relatively old-school seats still provide all-day comfort. It's also quiet, which reduces fatigue on long road trips. The four-zone climate control system works well, though accessing higher level controls, such as changing the rear seat settings from the front, requires some menu hopping.

　　The Land Cruiser rides well on highways and on off-road terrain, but it lacks a more advanced adjustable suspension that would help optimize the ride over more varied conditions, such as hard-edged bumps frequently found in snowy regions or on pothole-ridden roads.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Most drivers will find the Land Cruiser's driving position to be comfortable, but those long of leg might wish for a little more telescoping range in the steering wheel. The large door openings and multiple chunky grab handles help people climb in and out, and first- and second-row passengers will find lots of space once they're inside. The controls are easy to understand, but the reach to the centrally located touchscreen will be a tad long for most.

　　The large windows allow for generally good visibility, but the third-row seats cut into the rear view when in use. And though the standard surround-view camera has a helpful off-road overlay, its low resolution makes it hard to see fine details.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Land Cruiser's tech play lies in its standard active safety systems since its infotainment system is far less modern than those of some competitors. But its expert terrain-handling system is a true detective for traction, blowing many other off-road-capable SUVs out of the water. And its strong audio system features an easy-to-use rear-seat entertainment system.

　　As for smartphone integration, the Land Cruiser is limited to Bluetooth for audio and phone and USB for music sharing. Toyota's smartphone integration system, Entune, is fiddly to use, though it provides navigation, streaming media and destination-searching support.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? To ensure the Land Cruiser has a decent departure angle, the area behind the third row is small in size. You can stow the third row for more cargo space, but the seats fold up to the sides, making the cargo space narrow and restricting your view. The door pockets are narrow, and wider insulated bottles will be a tough fit. And even though the Land Cruiser is great on the highway, the shallow cupholders might not be sturdy enough to hold your favorite beverage. The second-row seatbacks can fold forward and match the height of the third-row seatbacks. But if you have a child safety seat in the second row, it will limit access to the third row.

　　On the flip side, the Cruiser's high 8,200-pound towing capacity puts it on par with many full-size trucks. And its split rear hatch provides a handy tailgate that acts as a cargo fence, bench or baby-changing station.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The official EPA estimate is 15 mpg combined (13 city/18 highway), which trails in a segment not known for fuel-sipping. Thanks to its thirsty V8, we averaged an underwhelming 13.2 mpg over 645 miles of city, highway and off-road driving, with tank averages ranging from 10 to 17 mpg.

　　There's simply no way to get a large body-on-frame SUV to be fuel-frugal with a big engine. The Land Cruiser can deliver its rated number, but only if you're light with your throttle foot.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Land Cruiser a good value? Though the styling isn't particularly exciting, the Land Cruiser is Toyota's premium SUV, and the construction and materials all reinforce that position. Even on the roughest road, you won't hear a peep out of any of the body panels or suspension parts. But for a similar price, you can get other SUVs that come with much more advanced infotainment systems and reduced compromise for off-roadability, such as larger cargo areas and a lower step-in height.

　　Toyota's warranty isn't anything special and is on par for its segment, but the brand's after-care support includes free scheduled maintenance for two years. And though its MSRP is high, when you consider Toyota's traditionally high retained value, you might come out ahead after three or four years of ownership.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　Yes, other SUVs may have a slight edge in on-road manners or infotainment, but the Land Cruiser is a go-anywhere, take-everyone, do-anything SUV. It's the original definition of a sport-utility vehicle, and the Land Cruiser name is a heritage brand on its own. Thanks to its torquey and smooth V8 engine, advanced off-road-oriented traction control system, and articulation promoting suspension, the Land Cruiser will get you and your family through snow, mud, gnarly trails, rain, and icy roads with comfort and confidence.

　　

Which Land Cruiser does zzdcar recommend?

Previously, the Land Cruiser was only available in one trim level, so recommendations were easy to make. This year Toyota added the Heritage Edition, which reduces seating capacity and adds some bronze-colored BBS wheels, special badges and a roof rack. We'd stick with the standard Land Cruiser, though, since it's functionally the same and has capacity for eight passengers.

　　

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser models

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser is a large luxury SUV offered in two trim levels: base and Heritage Edition (HE). Every Land Cruiser comes with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque that's paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system.

　　Standard equipment includes LED headlights, automatic high beams, Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (a decoupling stabilizer bar), roof rails, and an integrated towing hitch receiver and wiring harness. Inside, you get a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, 40/20/40-split second-row seats (they fold, recline and slide), 50/50-split third-row seats, a heated 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, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera system, wireless smartphone charging, a 9-inch touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, navigation, voice controls, Toyota's Entune smartphone app suite, and a 14-speaker JBL sound system.

　　The HE trim level removes the third row (reducing seating capacity to five) and the cooler-box center console. But it adds bronze BBS wheels, some darker exterior trim treatment, a Yakima roof rack, and unique badges.

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2020 Land Cruiser Highlights

Trim: BaseHeritage EditionBase

　　

Base MSRP	$85,415
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	14 MPG
Cost to Drive	$257/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles