Contact: Toyota Land Cruiser 2018, the king's renewal

The Land Cruiser is, in itself, an institution not only within its parent company, Toyota, but across the automotive industry as a whole.

Its umpteenth renewal has just arrived, and at Highmotor we have already had the chance to get behind its wheel to check the improvement it has undergone.

An icon with more than 60 years of history like the Toyota Land Cruiser cannot afford a failed update. Over the years, and with millions of units sold, the Land Cruiser has certainly demonstrated why it has its image. The 2018 version aims to expand its potential with a more appealing design and bulletproof technology.

A more robust body, more Land Cruiser

The Toyota team did not want to let the opportunity pass to give the Land Cruiser a more attractive style in line with the design language of the brand’s current models. That is why, although this update is not extremely far-reaching, it has focused on improving the external appearance of the Japanese off-roader.

The biggest differences are found, as is usual in this type of update, at the front. The lines have been strengthened thanks to a larger grille, with a more vertical placement, and light clusters that abandon the teardrop shape of its predecessor in favor of a squarer appearance.

The bumpers are also new, as are the alloy wheels, newly designed, available in sizes up to 19″. The rear light clusters have also been renewed, with a more modern look, although it retains one of the model’s most distinctive features, its side-hinged tailgate.

An interior with premium touches

It is no secret that the Land Cruiser’s cabin has stood out over the years for its durability and robustness. Its design may not be the most attractive on the market, but its resilience and good looks over the years are undeniable. Now Toyota has oriented its approach towards a more attractive and sumptuous aesthetic.

The latest generations of the Land Cruiser began a transition in terms of interior, which has culminated with the launch of the Land Cruiser 2018 with a much more refined cabin. The trim materials on key pieces of the doors and dashboard have been improved, the instrumentation is new, and the infotainment system is more advanced and pleasant to use.

Interior space remains very generous, with the front seats standing out in particular; depending on the version, they feature electric adjustment, heating and even ventilation. The cargo area has a very flat and useful surface, although the aforementioned side opening of the tailgate can negatively interfere in certain scenarios.

Robust and capable mechanics

If the Land Cruiser has been characterized in any of its generations by anything, it is its ability to advance through practically any terrain, whatever obstacles it may have to face. The fact is that the great Japanese off-roader is capable of far more than even we imagined.

To achieve this, it continues to base its construction on a ladder chassis with a front double-wishbone suspension and a live axle with coil springs, to which the body, made of steel, is attached. The result, in 4×4 driving, is excellent in any situation.

The Land Cruiser 2018 is available in Spain with a single four-cylinder diesel engine. It is a 2.8 D4-D powertrain producing 177 CV and 400 NM, which can be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an automatic torque-converter gearbox with the same number of gears. For intensive use off-road, opting for the automatic gearbox is recommended, as it makes progress easier and eliminates wear on components such as the clutch.

This large off-roader now offers features never before available on the model, particularly in terms of safety, as it can now be fitted with, for example, the full Toyota Safety Sense suite of active assistance systems, which includes, among others, active cruise control, an anti-collision assistant with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning.

Of course, all kinds of off-road driving aids are also included. From the transfer case to the rear differential lock (now a Torsen type), through the multi-terrain selection system with AUTO mode, the 360º camera system, and the intelligent suspension with disconnectable stabilizer bars.

A range for every need

The Land Cruiser range remains very complete. It is still available both with a three-door body and a five-door variant, depending on each customer’s needs. In this way, the 2018 Land Cruiser range is organized around 5 different trim levels: three aimed at professionals, NX, GX and VX, and two focused on private customers, VXL and Limited.

With a price that starts at €36,050 for the NX 3-door variant, the versions aimed at private buyers have a starting price of €49,100. Toyota expects the most in-demand version to be the VXL AUTO + Leather Pack, priced at €57,000, also available with financing at €500 per month.