Facelifted Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial priced from £51k
The new Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial gets an increased towing capacity and some added creature comforts...
On sale September Price from £51,729 (excl. VAT)
In the event that your business is located at the base of a mountain, or in the middle of the desert, then you’ll need a car that’s capable of making deliveries in the toughest conditions – and the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial might be at the top of your shortlist.
That’s because it’s based on one of the most rugged SUVs out there, the regular Land Cruiser, only this version does away with the rear seats to create space for whatever cargo your business requires you to transport. Following on from the arrival of the fifth-generation version of the regular car last year, the Land Cruiser Commercial has received a refresh in order to keep it competitive against the few other commercial SUV rivals which are out there, including the Land Rover Defender Hard Top and Dacia Duster Commercial.
It’ll be powered by the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine as found in the regular model, partnered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. That’s also the same system as in the Toyota Hilux pick-up, but the Land Cruiser Commercial is designed for buyers who have more modest requirements.
Pumping out 201bhp and 369lb ft of torque, we found that setup to be a bit sluggish on the open road in the regular car, and the engine isn’t the most pleasant-sounding. That said, it should be pretty capable, with all-wheel drive permanently equipped.
In the future, the Land Cruiser Commercial will be updated to accommodate Toyota’s 48V mild hybrid system, now available on the regular Land Cruiser and the Hilux. And while that electric assistance should theoretically bring your fuel bills down, that isn’t the case in the Hilux, which recorded almost 2mpg less than the regular model under official testing. That’s likely down to the fuel-guzzling automatic gearbox.
The Land Cruiser Commercial gets a towing capacity of 3500kg – up 500kg on the previous model, and now on par with its closest rival, the Defender Hard Top.
Now solely available as a five-door, long wheelbase version, the Land Cruiser Commercial’s load space measures 1090mm high, 1685mm long and a maximum 1286mm wide. As such, it gets 2000 litres of cargo space, which is more than a Defender 90 Hard Top, but slightly less than the Defender 110 Hard Top. In that cargo space, the Land Cruiser comes equipped with a 220-volt power outlet.
You do get some added creature comforts compared with the outgoing Land Cruiser Commercial model, including 18in alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and automatic dual-zone air conditioning. The infotainment touchscreen still measures 9.0in, but it comes equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.
And if you’re planning on straying from the beaten path, you might be pleased to know that the Land Cruiser Commercial comes kitted out with various off-road systems, including crawl control, hill-start assist and downhill assist.
The new Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial is due to arrive in September. Prices will start at £51,729 excluding VAT, which undercuts the Land Rover Defender Hard Top by almost £6000.
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