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Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 D-4D Auto LC5 road test report

3.0 D-4D Auto LC5

Toyota’s now legendary Land Cruisers have always been spacious, rugged, dependable and very capable if somewhat spartan off-roaders. But with the advent of this new fourth-generation Land Cruiser the model either retains or improves upon all those virtues while also becoming significantly quieter, more refined, more sophisticated and generally more civilised throughout.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 D-4D Auto LC5

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TOM SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

The 4-litre V6 petrol option has now been dropped, so the only Land Cruiser engine now is the 3-litre, 16v, double overhead cam D-4D diesel. Producing 171bhp along with a chunky 410Nm of torque from as low as 1,600rpm, it’s linked to a 5-sp sequential auto and can accelerate from 0- 62mph in 11.7secs and hit a 109mph top speed. It’s no supercar in a straight line but the motor is both tractable and flexible and has more than enough grunt, either for the motorway or a steep, muddy incline.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

No doubt about it, the new Land Cruiser represents a vast improvement over the last model I drove. In my test of the previous model I wrote ‘Hurried driving on-road elicits squealing tyres and a fair amount of body-roll, while ride comfort isn’t terrific either’ and ‘the Land Cruiser’s steering feels ponderous‘. I can now report that on-road the new model drives much more like a car than a tractor, and its greatly improved handling qualities are enhanced further by items such as Variable Flow power steering and, in the case of the top-spec LC4 and 5 variants, an electrically modulated ‘Kinetic Dynamic’ suspension system. Off-road, and aided by a plethora of new high-tech systems, I’d wager that LC is probably the most capable big 4x4 SUV on sale.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

As alluded to at the top, Toyota pick-ups and 4x4s have long had an unmatched global reputation for ruggedness and reliability. And as a manufacturer Toyota continues to shine in any number of customer satisfaction surveys, eg. 4th equal in the ’09 JD Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study. Land Cruisers are traditionally as tough as old boots and Toyota has been building them since 1951 so it knows by now how to make ‘em last. Additionally, this latest model has a vastly improved and much more contemporary and attractive dash and interior.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The new Land Cruiser hasn’t been subjected to Euro NCAP’s crash testing procedures, but it’s not short of safety equipment which includes: two-stage driver and passenger airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front, side and full length curtain airbags, multi-terrain ABS, traction control, stability control, active front headrests, a head impact protection structure and ISOFIX child seat mountings. Security features include smart entry, auto-relocking, glass break sensors, reinforced locks and latches plus a perimeter and microwave alarm system with engine immobiliser. The LC4 and LC5 versions also have high intensity headlamps with adaptive front lighting.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

Cars don’t come much more spacious or practical than the 7-seater Land Cruiser, and this new version is even more capacious than before. There’s ample space and comfort up front while the new second-row seats have a 40:20:40 split-folding and reclining configuration and can slide independently through a 135mm range for extra legroom or loadspace as required. There are also two proper third-row seats with integral headrests that can be folded completely flat (at the touch of a button) into the loadspace floor. Oddments stowage abounds, including a refrigerated coolbox large enough for four half-litre bottles.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

At £44,795 otr for the top-spec LC5 variant there are less expensive 4x4s, and 34.9mpg (combined), CO2 at 214g/km, band K VED (£215) plus group 33E (1-50 scale) insurance won’t make it seem any cheaper, but so far I’ve hardly touched upon the technology and gadgetry that the LC5 comes packed with. Here’s just some I’ve not yet mentioned: downhill assist control with hill-start control, adaptive variable suspension/active height control, four external cameras multi-terrain monitor with tyre angle display, a parking monitor system, 3-zone climate control, a 17-speaker, 605-watt 7.1 surround sound audio system with 10GB music storage, a rear seat DVD entertainment system, Bluetooth, HDD navigation, leather upholstery, a sunroof and so the list goes on. Yes, there are prettier 4x4s, but this is definitely the Daddy.

Submitted: 24/11/2009 15:40:00

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