New Toyota Land Cruiser: If You're Looking For Utility, You've Found It.
A Giant Among SUV's. In More Ways Than One.
New Toyota Land Cruiser
There’s something oddly comforting about knowing a vehicle exists that puts function ahead of fluff. No pretence, no marketing gimmickry, just good, honest engineering. The new Toyota Land Cruiser doesn’t want to be your daily driver or your electric dream machine. It wants to be your workhorse and while putting it through its paces in and around the Cotswolds, I fell rather hard for it.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first shall we. It’s huge. Physically, visually, unapologetically massive. At nearly five meters long and about two meters tall, winding this thing around any given UK town will either draw admiration from the general public or mild panic. The presence, I’m sure, is intentional and I love it. I liken it to being something between a Hummer to a scaled up Tonka truck.
The redesigned proportions give the Land Cruiser a more balanced, squared-off stance, which is a welcome evolution from the last generation, which always felt a touch awkward and a little lost in its own skin for me. This one now has purpose written all over it. And once you’ve finished admiring it, the next task is getting in.
You don’t so much as enter the Land Cruiser, rather you climb - and the grab handles are the first clue that this might take a bit of planning. I love a grab handle. There is something so unapologetically honest in the way that they set expectations. They’re there to do a job. No nonsense, no embellishment, just practical intent cast in plastic and metal.
Once in, you’re greeted by an array of buttons and switches that initially baffle and boggle. I think I stopped counting when I got past 60 but being an old school type, I actually quite like this. Minimalism has its place but in a car like this, buttons definitely rule. It makes me think that this is a machine that you command and it is built for people who get their hands dirty.
Take for instance the Mode Select, Drive Mode, Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), DAC Crawl, locking diffs (front and rear) and the new Stabiliser Disconnect Mechanism. Each one proudly gets its own button and rightly so. These features aren’t gimmicks, they’re proper hardware for serious terrain. And when you engage them, the dashboard responds with a flurry of charts and graphics that look more like Rally Raid than retail showroom.
That said, I wasn’t exactly testing it on the dunes of Namibia during my time with the Land Cruiser. My journey involved the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, muddy farm shop lanes and the occational Parish car park. But even in these conditions, it still impressed. The electric power steering makes for light work at low speeds and thanks to a 360-degree camera setup and parking sensors, manoeuvrability isn’t as daunting as its dimensions might suggest.
Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot monitoring are all present and actually work, at least that is, until it starts bonging.
The Land Cruiser bongs when you’re near the edge of your lane. It bongs when there’s a car approaching from the side at roundabouts. It bongs when there’s a car behind you. It even bongs when you’re gazing wistfully out at the countryside because, in the cars opinion, you’re not paying enough attention.
These systems are designed for safety, no doubt about that. But on the tight, hedge-lined lanes of England, it can become a constant symphony of warnings. Yes, you can turn most of them off but you’ll need a cuppa and a quiet hour to figure out how.
But when you are in ideal conditions, the Land Cruiser, well it just cruises. Under the bonnet sits a smooth 2.8-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder, producing 202bhp and 500Nm of torque through an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox. It’s no performance SUV as 0–62mph comes in at a top trump loosing 10.9 seconds, but that misses the point.
This is a two-and-a-half-tonne machine that will tow 3.5 tonnes, climb over mountains and then ferry the kids to rugby practice. It's function over form, with a low-range box, locking diffs and a ladder-frame chassis to back it all up.
The official combined consumption is 26.4mpg and CO₂ sits in at 280g/km, which again, isn’t the point. If you’re worried about emissions and looking for something a little kinder to the planet, there’s a hybrid version due later in the year. This version is about capability in a more rural setting, rather than something engineered to appease urban legislation or win over the eco-conscious crowd.
It seats seven in black leather, with genuinely luxurious touches. Heated and cooled front and outer second-row seats, a panoramic Skyview roof, a 14-speaker JBL sound system and a 12.3-inch digital display. There’s acres of space in the boot too, up to 2,000 litres with all the rear seats folded. And you’ll find power sockets, USB-C ports and an HDMI input. It’s practical, robustly finished and clearly built to endure decades of use.
But the highlight of the trip wasn’t just the vehicle alone, it was also where it took me.
The Lygon Arms, nestled in the heart of Broadway in the Cotswolds, is a masterclass in old-world English charm. With roots dating back to the 1300s and a guestbook that includes Cromwell and Churchill, it’s the kind of place that leans into its history without ever feeling dated. Original stonework, open fires and oak panelling sit alongside a spa, an award-winning restaurant and faultless service. The car felt entirely at home there, modern but respectful, unashamedly capable yet quietly luxurious.
And that’s really the whole point of this new Land Cruiser. It isn’t a poser’s SUV or a flashy urban crossover. It’s the grown-up, premium tool for those who need, or simply want, the real thing. It’s a vehicle that feels purposeful, from its grab bars to its locking differentials, but still comfortable enough to waft you around in style.
If you are looking for utility, you have found it.
Model: Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible 2.8
Base Price (OTR): £77,845
Propulsion: 2.8-litre Turbodiesel, 4 Cylinder In-Line
Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Transmission: 8-Speed Direct Shift Automatic
Output: 202 hp
Torque: 500 Nm
Kerb Weight: 2,335 kg.
0-62 mph: 10.9 Seconds
Top Speed: 105 mph
Fuel Consumption: 26.4 mpg (combined WLTP)
C02 Emission: 280 g/km (combined WLTP)
