Used Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon 4x4 1997 - 2002 review
Great if you live in the country
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Large SUV
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What's the used Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 1 January 2006
How we test cars
What's the used Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon like?
There is only one word to describe the Amazon - huge. In fact, it's only a few centimetres shorter than a Range Rover. Naturally, that translates into massive interior space, and the Amazon easily takes five passengers in complete comfort, although the two extra seats in the boot are a little cramped.
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Overview
Great if you live in the country
Pros
- Well built and spacious
Cons
- Sheer size may be off-putting
- running costs are huge
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Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£7,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.7 VX 5dr
£9,495
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£10,395
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£13,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.7 VX 5dr
£15,000
Toyota LAND CRUISER AMAZON
4.7 VX 5dr
RRP £43,115
£16,695
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.5 VX 5dr
£17,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD 5dr
£19,950
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD 5dr
£19,995
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As well as providing some MPV-style abilities, the Amazon also does a good job of combining good on- and off-road abilities. You can take it as read that anything with a Landcruiser badge will be superb away from Tarmac, but what will be more of a surprise is that the Amazon is also pretty good on-road. In particular, it's extremely comfortable and refined.
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Really, the only thing to count against it is its size. It can be awkward to thread through city streets and, even on the open road, you can never forget just how big it is.
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
How much does cost to run a Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon?
This is a big car with big engines - and the costs to match. Amazingly, although the contemporary Range Rover was more expensive as a new car, the Amazon costs more on the used market.
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True, the bills aren't too bad by the standards of big 4x4s, but even the most frugal engine, the diesel, returns just 25mpg on the combined cycle, and the V8 petrol returns a shocking 17mpg. Servicing is also pretty expensive, dearer than on a Nissan Patrol, although again, it's almost exactly the same as on a Range Rover. Likewise, the Amazon falls into groups 14 and 15 for insurance, which is on a par with rivals.
However, unscheduled repairs could be quite expensive. Warranty Direct tells us that, although Toyota labour rates are about average, repair costs on Toyotas (and on Landcruisers in particular) are higher than average.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon should I buy?
Choosing a Land Cruiser Amazon is a pretty simple job, as there are only two engines. And, unless you have particularly deep pockets, you'll prefer the 4.2-litre turbodiesel to the 4.7-litre V8 petrol.
Not only does the diesel cost several thousand pounds less to buy (partly because the petrol came in top-spec VX trim only), it's also more fuel-efficient.
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Originally, both engines were available only in lavish VX trim, but from early 1999, Toyota launched an Amazon with cheaper GX trim, and this is our favourite version. It's not quite as plush as VX - there's no leather or sunroof, and it has air-con rather than climate control - but you're hardly slumming it.
The only real difference between petrol and diesel is that the petrol has a standard automatic gearbox, but you may well find a diesel fitted with one as an option.
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
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Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
How reliable is the Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon ?
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£7,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.7 VX 5dr
£9,495
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£10,395
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD VX 5dr
£13,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.7 VX 5dr
£15,000
Toyota LAND CRUISER AMAZON
4.7 VX 5dr
RRP £43,115
£16,695
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.5 VX 5dr
£17,995
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD 5dr
£19,950
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon
4.2 TD 5dr
£19,995
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.