Skip advert
Advertisement

New Toyota Land Cruiser 2016 review

Toyota's giant Land Cruiser offroader gets another round of nips and tucks. Are the changes enough to keep pace with rivals?

Overall Auto Express rating

2.0

How we review cars
Find your Toyota Land Cruiser
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Lifelong Land Cruiser fans will welcome these tweaks, but for most buyers it remains a compromised choice. While it’s great off-road, the car’s unrefined on tarmac. Throw in a dated cabin and challenging styling, and most will opt for a Discovery.

Ever since the old Land Cruiser V8 was axed back in August, the standard Toyota Land Cruiser with its four-cylinder diesel has carried Toyota’s big 4x4 flag. And to ensure the model is fighting fit, the company has fitted a new engine and improved the specification.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Toyota has ditched the previous car’s 3.0-litre diesel in favour of a smaller 2.8-litre. As a result, CO2 emissions have dropped from an alarming 214g/km to a still hefty 194g/km (cutting the annual road tax bill by £25), while official fuel economy rises from 34.9 to 38.2mpg. 

Toyota Land Cruiser V8 axed in UK

The bad news is that the 200cc drop in capacity and 11bhp cut in power have also extended the 0-62mph time by 1.7 seconds (to 12.7 seconds). While some would say that’s not important for a car like this, the performance shortfall makes itself felt in day-to-day driving and when overtaking. The engine’s quieter and more refined than the old 3.0, though, which helps compensate.What hasn’t changed is the ride. It’s bouncy even on the smoothest roads, and the steering offers virtually no feel.

Best 4x4s and SUVs to buy now

The interior isn’t a strong point, either. All models get new equipment, and our top-spec Invincible features full leather trim, blind spot monitoring, Blu-ray rearseat entertainment and the Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system with navigation. But the interior is a mismatch of dated switchgear, tacky-looking wood and dark plastics. And at £54,895, the car doesn’t come cheap.

Nevertheless, it’s a match for the Land Rover Discovery over challenging terrain, with ride height control, a crawl mode, limited-slip differential and downhill assist as standard. And for a certain group of buyers, nothing comes close to the Land Cruiser’s emphasis on putting off-road ability above on-road performance and luxury. The trouble is, for the vast majority of customers, on-road style and refinement are more important.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Land Cruiser

Toyota Land Cruiser

RRP £77,845Used from £40,450
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,879 off RRP*Used from £15,712
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,882 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,640 off RRP*Used from £14,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Carbon fibre could be banned as EU classifies it as a hazardous substance
Czinger teases 21C's carbon fibre bodywork

Carbon fibre could be banned as EU classifies it as a hazardous substance

Particulates emitted by the disposal of carbon fibre can be harmful to both machinery and human health
News
14 Apr 2025
New Citroen Holidays 2025 review: a cheaper and cheerful VW California campervan rival
Citroen Holidays - front

New Citroen Holidays 2025 review: a cheaper and cheerful VW California campervan rival

The new Citroen Holidays is the perfect option for those that want to camp on a budget
Road tests
15 Apr 2025
How green are electric cars? The truth about EV environmental impact and carbon footprints
Polestar 3 - front full width

How green are electric cars? The truth about EV environmental impact and carbon footprints

New figures from Polestar cast light on the big questions around EV sustainability and environmental impact compared to petrol cars
News
15 Apr 2025