25/11/2024 We’re testing a truly iconic car this week. The Toyota Land Cruiser is famed the world over for its durability, reliability and off road ability. There isn’t a farmer on the island who doesn’t have one, or want one! The horsey set love them even more than the loyal trades people who swear by the model. So no pressure with the new one Toyota!
The latest generation remains a true 4X4 with a construction that is a cabin built on to a ladder chassis underneath (Toyota’s GA-F platform). On the surface, the new model is a station wagon five-door – the three door- SWB version is no more. Land Cruiser’s exterior nods to past versions but manages to look quite technical and modern. Flared arches and full length doors are mandatory in this class.
Inside, the change is dramatic. There is a well put together dash and new digital displays with lots of buttons – most of which can do remarkable things. During our test I think we used all of them! Seating is comfortable and the general cabin ambience created could be described as confident.
While the Europe is pushing us al towards electrification, when the going gets tough EVs are not yet up for the rough and tumble of real world working – for now. Under the bonnet is a 2.8 litre four-cylinder diesel that delivers its drive through an automatic gearbox – no more manuals in Ireland. It develops 204hp and 500nm of torque. As a true off road all-wheel-drive vehicle there are the obvious features like a high and low ratio gearbox, lockable differentials, hill decent control and numerous other driving aids that ensure the car can go almost anywhere.
Off-road the Land Cruiser is astonishing. It is immensely capable thanks to numerous technologies that the driver can employ to ensure attraction is never lost. If traction is lost the tech can find it again – easily. A particularly interesting feature that’s new in Land Cruiser is the ability to set a crawl speed where the vehicle will drive itself at a select speed (up to single digits in kilometres per hour) to drive, climb or descend under the car’s control. This feature would be extremely handy for example if you were towing a trailer out of a wet field with an incline where human drivers need to be very delicate on the accelerator in order to maintain traction.
The passenger version gets a feature which allows for extra axle articulation at the front end of the car by electronically disconnecting the front stabiliser bar. The bar engages again automatically above 30 km/h. On the road, the bar helps reduce body roll at speed when cornering. In the Atlas mountains in Morocco we were able to tackle a off-road course that tested the land cruiser to its limits.
The Land cruiser gets a comprehensive amount of ADAS and safety systems including more three letter acronyms than you can shake a stick at: Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), Emergency Steering Assist on Pre-Collision system · Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS), Active Traction Control (A-TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Driver Monitor Camera (DMC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Lane Trace Assist (LTA), Brake Assist (BA), plus Pre-Collision System with Intersection Collision Avoidance support, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian (Day & Night) & Cyclist & motorbike (Day) Detection, Pre-collision system enhanced with Emergency Steering Assist, Front-to-front oncoming car & motorbike (Day) detection on pre-collision, Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS), eCall emergency call system and Safe Exit Assist.
Toyota Ireland is bringing a modest number of passenger Land Cruisers to the market. The large diesel powered full size SUV comes as a seven seater for Ireland, with the rear two seats folding flat to the floor. It gets all the bells and whistles and the Platinum grade costs from €140,830. This is pricy, but for a full size diesel powered SUV not too bad (considering Irish taxation). Toyota says there is a limited and declining market for this type of vehicle but is happy to take orders. The Irish operation is going to concentrate on selling factory supplied commercial (N1) Land Cruisers.
These feature two seats up front and a large cargo deck where the rear passengers and boot would usually be found. A part-solid bulkhead behind the front seats provides cargo occupant separation. Pricing is expected to be circa €70,000 including VAT. Commercials arrive towards the end of Q1 2025. Toyota expects sales of circa 1,300-1,500 Land Cruisers in 2025. While the N1 commercial gets nearly everything the passenger cruiser gets in terms of running gear, the disconnect-able stabiliser bar system is not available in the commercial. The commercial also gets a smaller 9 inch display (12.3 passenger). The Land Cruiser is certified for towing 3.5 tonnes. A tow hitch is a cost option.
To say the new Toyota Land Cruiser is anything other than brilliant as a workhorse would be a lie. Toyota says this Land Cruiser has gone back to the origin. Its development engineers employed ‘On- Site Kowashikiri’ where components are tested to breaking point in order to improve their design to ensure the latest Land Cruiser (250 series) is next to indestructible. From where we managed to take it in Morocco I can safely say the new Land Cruiser continues to be one, if not the most, astonishingly capable SUVs you can buy. Michael Sheridan
