Item: Used Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-present
Rating: 3
Author: Steve Huntingford

There’s only really one body-on-frame alternative to the Land Cruiser and that’s the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mitsubishi/shogun-sport/4x4/used-review/n18963">Mitsubishi Shogun Sport</a>. While it is the newer car, it is more raucous than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota">Toyota</a>. But, it does have better smartphone integration in its favour.

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<h3 dir="ltr">EGR</h3>

 
Some models that use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-adblue-and-does-your-diesel-car-need-it/n16545">Ad Blue</a> have a problem with the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve that prevents the Ad Blue NOx treatment system from working correctly. Vehicles affected by this recall are to be inspected by a Toyota dealer and have any parts found to be faulty replaced.

The Land Cruiser is a bit too niche to have featured in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, unfortunately. However, you can take some comfort in the fact that<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota"> Toyota</a> as a brand finished in a great third place position overall, out of 31 car manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798"> What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

LAND CRUISER

Ideal for peacekeeping duties, but a bit out of its depth on the road and not as luxurious as rivals. Very dependable, though.

Used Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-present

Running a hefty off-road car is never going to be an inexpensive endeavour, and the same is true for the Land Cruiser. Earlier cars with the 3.0-litre engine are the thirstiest with only 34.9mpg fuel economy according to the NEDC figures, and 213g/km emissions. Later 2.8-litre models with the improved gearbox reduced consumption to 38.2mpg and 194g/km.

If you’re buying a Land Cruiser registered after 1 April 2017, then you’ll be charged under a different road tax system based on a flat rate fee, plus an additional charge if your car cost more&nbsp;than £40,000 when new. Find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs here</a>.

Land Cruisers that are over five years old qualify for a 20% discount on routine servicing and MOT costs if you sign up to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota">Toyota</a> 5+ club. If you don’t, then an intermediate service is £250, a full version is £395.

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Ideal for peacekeeping duties, but a bit out of its depth on the road and not as luxurious as rivals. Very dependable, though.

An early Land Cruiser from 2010 with plenty of miles on it starts at around £15,000. Examples that have a lower mileage than average&nbsp;are pricier at £20,000, while facelifted 2015 cars with the smaller 2.8-litre engine are £28,000. The Land Cruiser received a further facelift in 2018 and if you want one of those, be prepared to spend at least £34,000.

 
Check the value of a used Toyota Land Cruiser with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

If your budget can stretch to it, go for a later 2.8-litre diesel because it will come with the improved six-speed automatic or manual gearbox for better motorway cruising, and it’ll be marginally better for daily running costs.

Of the various specifications of Land Cruiser offered over the years, it would be the mid-range Active car we’d recommend. The interior of this Toyota isn’t the plushest around and therefore doesn’t benefit from the wood and leather fitted to top of the range Icon and Invincible models. Basic Utility models are rather cool if you like the look of steel wheels, but Active gets you all the kit you really need without setting you back too much money.

However, if you’re going for an earlier car with the 3.0-litre engine, then go for an LC4 model, although be aware that it probably come without sat nav.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota">Toyota</a> Land Cruiser: 2.8 Active

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

The high sidewall of the tyres used on the Land Cruiser means that the alloy wheels should remain unscathed from kerb damage, but jagged rocks that you may encounter while driving off-road can cut into the rubber. These cuts might look innocent, but they increase the risk of a blow out at speed.

The spare tyre is located under the floor of the car at the rear. There will be a security lock on it from the factory, but it’ll be worth inspecting it to make sure it all works correctly, otherwise, an opportunist thief might relieve you of&nbsp;it.

Despite some impressive approach, break over and departure angles, you should still check underneath for signs of off-road damage. Also, make sure any thick mud has been washed off the chassis; otherwise it’ll trap moisture and cause corrosion.

A UN peacekeeping tour and the morning school run do have a number of things in common, if you think about it. The roads taken in both case will be crumbling and full of potholes, there’ll be a long convoy of cars taking very important people to the same place and parking will be at a premium when they get there. Used examples of large SUVs that can cope with both scenarios are few, but there is one that’s perfectly suited to either situation: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/toyota">Toyota</a> Land Cruiser.

Now it’s in its fourth generation, the Land Cruiser is a mainstay of traditional body-on-frame off-roaders, that also have long-travel suspension that’s perfect for keeping the tyres in contact with the ground while traversing arduous terrain. Except for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mitsubishi/shogun-sport/4x4/used-review/n18963">Mitsubishi Shogun Sport</a>, there isn’t much to trouble a Land Cruiser off the beaten track. &nbsp;

The Land Cruiser was originally powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine with 188bhp that could be had with either a five-speed manual or automatic. After the first of two facelifts, the engine was changed for a slightly smaller 2.8-litre diesel with 175bhp to help with emissions. A six-speed automatic and manual were both added to improve fuel economy, too.

If you’re interested in a Land Cruiser and hoping that it will be a refined and civilised vehicle, think again. When compared with rivals, the Land Cruiser is a big and wallowy beast that would rather travel through fields&nbsp;than stick to the Tarmac that snakes around them. The slow steering is vague; the long-travel suspension has the car&nbsp;pitching&nbsp;in bends and when accelerating or braking, and the engine and gearbox are tuned for better driveability at low speeds rather than outright performance, so it can be quite slow.

None of this will matter to those who are after a reliable mud plugger; they'll&nbsp;be much more interested in the Land Cruiser's&nbsp;off-road tech. More basic LC3 (later Utility) versions are still very capable, but from LC4, LC5 and Invincible models onwards gets goodies such as disconnectable anti-roll bars. Further up the food chain is air suspension and multi-terrain select (similar to Land Rover’s Terrain Response), which allows you to adapt the drive modes to suit the surface you’re driving on.

It is still a pretty practical vehicle and most versions come with seven seats. It's not quite as&nbsp;flexible as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/used-review/n974">Land Rover Discovery</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/used-review/n838">Volvo XC90</a>, mind, and the side-opening tailgate is very awkward to use in tight carparks, or when it’s windy. Also, because the boot floor is very high off the ground, getting things in and out of the Land Cruiser sometimes requires extra upper body strength.

Aside from the entry-level models, all versions of the Land Cruiser come with a decent amount of kit, although sat nav wasn’t standard until you went for top-of-the-range LC5 and Invincible versions. 
 
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Used Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-present review

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There’s only really one body-on-frame alternative to the Land Cruiser and that’s the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport. While it is the newer car, it is more raucous than the Toyota. But, it does have better smartphone integration in its favour.,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here,Page 5 of 5

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