This is the new Toyota Land Cruiser.
Well it's actually the old Toyota Land Cruiser that's been give serious make over to make
it more appealing to people who think an SUV is more about posing than off-roading.
There are some subtle changes round the back like the new tail lamps.
Up front the most obvious updates is the brash new shiny grille which looks like it has been
inspired by the James Bond villain Jaws.
There's also some new headlamps while the whole front bumper has been mounted higher
to prevent damage to the new face when off-roading.
Inside Toyota has refreshed Land Cruiser's dash as well.
The button layout has been revised, extra bits of trim added and there's a new 4.2inch
display for the driver which can show off-roading information.
Meanwhile the centre screen gets Toyota's new touch2 infotainment system.
If you need to carry more than five people you can get the Land Cruiser with a third
row of seats.
And on higher specification models they are electrically operated, which makes them easy
to put up.
The Land Cruiser has impressive in car storage too and is available with a cool box under
the central arm rest.
Oh dear I've getting hungry now...
Compared to many SUVs which really can't cut it off road, the Land Cruiser is built like
a traditional 4x4.
This means that it has a ladder chassis which all the suspension and stuff is attached to
and on top of that you have the body you sit in.
And this means it's tough enough to go pretty much anywhere.
Admittedly this is not one the most extreme off-road course but it could still flummux
some less capable four by fours.
The Toyota Land Cruiser however, take it all in its stride thanks to a low ration gear
box and lockable central differential.
Make no mistake this in one rugged vehicle.
But does it feel just as tough on road...
And the best bit is that, unlike another brand of go-anywhere vehicles, which shall remain
nameless, the Land Cruiser is far less likely to break down and leave you stranded.
And in the rare event that something does go wrong there's always Toyota's 5 year warranty.
Speaking of which you can tell us about your car's reliability by visiting driverpower.co.uk
In the UK you can only get the Land Cruiser with a 3.0-litre four cylinder engine and
a five speed automatic gearbox and it can go from 0-60mph in under 11 seconds and returns
35 miles per gallon.
And while Toyota has made some revisions to the diesel to make it cleaner it's slightly
off the pace in terms of emissions and economy.
And while it has enough oomph for most people the four cylinder BMW 25D feels a lot quicker
despite being a 2.0-lutre.
Then there the driving experience itself.
Yes the separate steel chassis may pay dividends off road, but the old fashioned set up makes
the Land Cruiser feel agricultural on road.
I wouldn't say it is uncomfy It bobs up and down over undulations in the road, it rolls
through the corners, and the steering feels baggy.
The permanent four-wheel-drive provides plenty of traction but still even a Mercedes GL feels
like a sports car by comparison...
Then there is the pricing structure...
The entry-level car is really cheap.
But it has cloth interior -- that's not a problem if you are a farmer, or a UN peacekeeper,
but most people who want an SUV want leather and a sat nav and you'll have to step up to
the next trim level for those and to do that will cost you 10 thousand pounds.
And really if I'm honest the interior just doesn't feel as upmarket as many SUV buyers
will want.
Finally there's the boot.
Yes it's huge with all seats folded, and it still big with the middle row in place.
But if you want to carry seven people well, they had better travel light.
Still you can always load in tight spaces by opening the glass.
Nice save there Toyota.
And that sums up the Land Crusier.
It may not be the poshest SUV but it still has loads going for it -- but so does the
Land Rover Discovery.
And if you want a seven-seater that you're going to spend most your time on road with,
why not try the Mercedes GL?
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