Toyota Land Cruiser V8 4x4 full 9 point review

  • Performance

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad Although the big Toyota is no ball of fire, it's no slouch, either. Its 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel engine develops 479lb ft of pull, which not only makes it ideally suited for off-roading, but pulls the 2.7-tonne car along with a reasonable amount of purpose, too.

  • Ride & Handling

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Land Cruiser V8 has the hardware and ability to go wherever you point it in the rough stuff. It's pretty polished on the road, too, but this is a huge car and it feels it around town. It's not a bad cruiser and the ride is generally comfy, but the soft handling isn't a match for that of more road-focused 4x4s.

  • Refinement

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad There's little wind noise at speed, but the diesel engine can get raucous when pushed hard. That's fine off-road, but it can become a bit tiresome on the motorway. Those huge tyres kick up some road noise, too.

  • Buying & Owning

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Not only is the V8 very expensive to buy for private customers, but company car drivers will also be stung with tax bills charged at the maximum rate. The V8 diesel engine can average nearly 30mpg, which isn't bad considering the size of the car it's propelling, but it will still be hugely expensive to run

  • Quality & Reliability

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership The Land Cruiser V8's build quality is first-rate, as you’d expect from any Toyota, let alone one that’s sold as a Lexus in some countries. It’s reasonably posh, too, even though it doesn’t feel as plush as some similarly priced rivals. It's built to withstand tough treatment in extreme conditions, so reliability shouldn't be an issue; and, if you do have any concerns, the fine five-year warranty should reassure you.

  • Safety & Security

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Land Cruiser V8 comes with stability control as standard, and no less than 14 airbags dotted around the cabin. You also get various other safety systems, including seatbelt pre-tensioners and active head restraints, which protect your neck from whiplash injuries. There are also ISOFIX child seat mountings.

  • Behind The Wheel

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin You sit way above most cars, so the view in front is superb. All cars have a steering wheel that is adjustable for rake and reach, as well as a height-adjustable seat, so the driving position is always comfortable. However, the dashboard is cluttered with buttons, which are spread across the width of the console, and aren’t always easy to use.

  • Space & Practicality

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin You’d expect a car this size to have lots of space, and the Land Cruiser V8 doesn’t disappoint. Only if the front-seat passengers set their chairs all the way back could any one of the three middle-row passengers complain about legroom. The car can accommodate up to seven people, and with the back row of seats folded up against the sides, the boot is huge.

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin The standard kit list looks like that of a luxury car, and includes 20-inch alloy wheels, four-zone climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, a DVD player, 14 speakers, satellite-navigation and leather upholstery. You'd expect plenty of toys for the price, though.

Land Cruiser V8 rivals

Land Cruiser V8 used rivals