WASHINGTON — Looking for a Luxury SUV that can go anywhere? There’s an exclusive group who drives the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser.
The Land Cruiser is really a legend that’s been tackling off-road trails and cruising Main Street for more than 50 years now. No longer a bare bones, go anywhere machine, it has grown up over the years, and now includes a healthy dose of luxury. Toyota might not sell many $84,820 Land Cruisers each year, but I imagine most are repeat buyers and after some time with this Toyota I understand why.
The Land Cruiser is also refreshed with some updated exterior styling; the front end is where it’s most noticeable. The grill is larger but luckily it’s not too big and it’s not a strange shape either. The headlights look more modern and the hood has bulges and creases more fitting for a go-anywhere look.
There are only 18-inch wheels so don’t look for large 22-inch rims on the Land Cruiser, keeping in line with the go-anywhere approach. The side profile is that of a large 8 passenger SUV which there is no real way of hiding, but small running boards and a chrome piece do their best to break up the large size a bit. The rear end styling is more up-to-date with tail lights and a rear roof spoiler. This isn’t as daring as some other Toyota products and I’m glad for that.
The brawny V8 stays for 2016, but a new 8-speed automatic helps deliver the 381hp very smoothly and sometimes you don’t even notice the shifts. The engine makes a nice noise when you really push the pedal down but otherwise it’s a very quiet customer most of the time. I couldn’t believe the smooth ride of this SUV that’s so off road capable. It’s almost hushed even at highway speeds.
The Land Cruiser is not the easiest to park in tight spaces, but the cameras and sensors make it a bit easier than in the past. It does give the feeling that it’s unstoppable. I drove this during that snowy and slick Wednesday night commute back in January. While other people were playing bumper cars, I didn’t lose traction with the Land Cruiser on some very slick surfaces. But I sure fell while pushing other stuck cars.
This big Toyota made it up roads when almost no one else could. The full-time 4wd system also has a low range, so you can tackle real off-road conditions. Gas mileage is 13mpg city/18mpg highway and combined 15mpg. I only saw 11.9 mpg but that commute during the storm was killer on mpg. It’s not a green car, to say the least.
The interior is simple luxury, not in your face or over the top, with simple to read gauges and a large NAV screen that’s easy to use. Comfortable heated and ventilated front leather seats are high quality. The second row also has heated seats, and two 11-inch screens on the seatback means movies on long road trips. The third row is ok for shorter trips or children, and when it’s not needed, the seats fold up and to the side, which eats into the cargo space. Also, the rear hatch isn’t power controlled. However, there are new safety features that help bring this ride into the 21st century.
The Toyota Land Cruiser, a SUV that still doesn’t compromise its go-anywhere roots, now with more modern touches, is able to better compete in a crowded luxury SUV market and bring back the loyal Land Cruiser buyers. If you want to be different from the crowd, look at the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser. I’m hooked on this throwback SUV that’s a bit more modern but sometimes it likes to get dirty.
