2018 Toyota Land Cruiser

Though there’s little way to personalize your 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser, it is well-equipped for on- and off-road use- The Car Connection

The Toyota Land Cruiser is just a single trim that has a starting price of $84,565, excluding a destination charge of $1,295. It is the most expensive vehicle in the Toyota lineup. For similar money, there are a lot of options but the Land Cruiser seems a good deal for the off-road capabilities it offers. 

Even though the Land Cruiser is an old-school SUV, it comes loaded with plenty of comfort and technological features, which is really good. However, for the price you pay, it still falls a bit behind modern SUVs in terms of the latest features. The only options available for this SUV are all-weather floor liners for $323 and a cargo net for $69. 

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Toyota made this pretty easy as the Land Cruiser is available in just one trim. Moreover, there aren't any optional packages available as well as the Land Cruiser comes packed with all the possible comfort and technological features. If you want a family hauler with extraordinary off-road abilities and great towing capacity, go for the Land Cruiser. 

If sipping less gas is your goal, the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser isn’t right for you- The Car Connection

Cramming a robust V8 inside a heavy body-on-frame SUV results in less than stellar fuel economy. The EPA-estimated fuel ratings are 13 MPG in the city, 18 MPG on a highway, and 15 MPG combined. Keep in mind that the Land Cruiser comes standard with a full-time 4WD system. These fuel ratings trail the class. 

 A 24.6-gallon fuel tank is fitted in the Land Cruiser and requires regular gas. It can deliver up to 381 miles in mixed proportions, which is really less for a large SUV. The city and highway ranges include 320 and 443 miles, respectively. Therefore, get ready to dig a hole in your wallet as you may have to visit gas stations regularly. 

For a large SUV that makes 450 horsepower, the  Lincoln Navigator has the best fuel estimates in this segment. The gas mileage of the Cadillac Escalade is better than the Land Cruiser. Housing the same engine, the MPG figures of the Lexus LX 570 and Land Cruiser are equal. However, fuel economy might not be a concern for someone who can buy an 84 grand SUV. 

Inside, there's the ambiance of old-world opulence- Left Lane News

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Seating and Comfort

The cabin of the Toyota Land Cruiser is totally luxurious with a pleasing fit and finish. The seats are treated with semi-aniline leather, the same leather you're going to find in a Lexus LS sedan. The front seats are perfectly comfy with good bolstering. The seating position is so high that you feel like you're sitting in a truck. Both the front seats can be adjusted electronically and are heated and ventilated.

The steering wheel is power-adjustable, so it's easy to find a comfortable driving position. The second-row seats offer abundant passenger space and feature a flat floor, goof for the middle-seat passenger. These seats can be slid fore and aft as well as recline. Even here, the seats are soft, cushy, and heated, just like the front ones.  Move to the third row and if you are an adult, you'll probably feel a bit cramped. 

The Lincoln Navigator offers the best passenger space in all three rows but it can seat only seven passengers. The Cadillac Escalade is also a seven-seater SUV but its third row is smaller than the Escalade. Built on the same platform, the Lexus LX 570's interior space is equal to the Land Cruiser. 

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Infotainment System

A 9-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard that functions on Entune infotainment system. The graphics are good but the screen takes time to respond. It gets Entune App suite which runs through your phone but as far as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are concerned, they are not available. Below the screen, you will see a CD player, which is very rare in modern vehicles. The Land Cruiser gets an old-style navigation system which means over-the-air updates and live traffic are not available.

The Land Cruiser gets a standard rear-seat entertainment system which includes dual 11.6-inch screens for entertaining the rear passengers. You also get a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system and the sound quality of this system is top-notch. There are audio, climate and off-road controls laid down below the screen and around the gear shifter. The instrument cluster has two big dials, four separate gauges out on the outskirts, and in the middle is a 4.2-inch multi-function display that can be controlled using the steering wheel buttons. 

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Interior Features 

Some main cabin highlights of the Land Cruiser are mentioned below:

• Power tilt & telescopic multi-function steering leather heated wheel 
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Moonroof
• Ambient lighting
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Refrigerated storage
• Power liftgate
• Power front seats with heated & ventilated functions
• 9-inch touchscreen display
• 14-speaker JBL audio system
• Wireless charging
• Rear-seat entertainment system

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Cargo Capacity

The Toyota Land Cruiser offers decent cargo capacity for its size. You get 16.1 cubic feet behind the third-row seats. The Land Cruiser is old-school and unlike any modern SUV, the third-row seats do not fold flat. Instead, they flip up and they are not power-folding as you would find in the LX 570. On flipping the third-row seats, the space expands to 43 cubic feet. 

Maximum cargo space of 81.7 cubic feet is available if the second-row seats are folded. The second-row seats fold flat, which allows storing larger items. A power tailgate is standard on the Land Cruiser. Once in action, you are going to notice a two-part tailgate design, a signature for the Land Cruiser. The liftover height is high but the flat loading lip helps to loads items into the trunk easily. 

The Lincoln Navigator offers class-leading cargo capacity in this segment. The cargo space of the Cadillac Escalade is slightly more than the Land Cruiser.  The Lexus LX 570's cargo space is nearly half of what the Land Cruiser offers. Therefore, it is kind of disappointing for a large SUV.

The exterior reflects the Land Cruiser’s purpose in life, that is, to be ruggedly dependable in any weather, over any terrain- Kelly Blue Book

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Dimension and Weight

The Toyota Land Cruiser is not the kind of vehicle that gets redesigned frequently. The last time it was refreshed was 2016 and since then nothing has changed. It still has the same burly look with a large chrome grille that extends into the chunky LED headlights. Headlamp washers are also included and so are LED fog lights at the bottom. As for ground clearance, you get 8.9 inches. You also have excellent approach and departure angles of 32 and 24 respectively. 

Moving to the wheels, the Land Cruiser gets just 18-inch high gloss alloy wheels. They are wrapped on snow and mud-rated all-terrain tires. As far as the rest of the styling, it continues to be as subdued as something this big can be. At the back, Toyota keeps things simple with a small piece of chrome across the back and large taillights clusters. Overall, the Land Cruiser is a handsome-looking traditional SUV that certainly appeals to a different crowd than its sibling, the Lexus LX. 

The Lincoln Navigator has the highest ground clearance in this segment. It measures 0.8 inches higher than the Land Cruiser but it is not as a capable off-roader as the Land Cruiser. At 6,000 pounds, the Lexus LX 570 is the heaviest vehicle in this segment and that affects its on-road performance. The Cadillac Escalade's wide wheelbase translates for good legroom in the first two rows. 

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Exterior Features

Some main noticeable exterior features of the Land Cruiser are:

• LED headlights with washers
• LED taillights
• LED fog lights
• LED DRLs
• Door courtesy lights
• Exterior entry lights
• Power-folding, auto-dimming, heated exterior mirrors
• Chrome bodyside moldings
• Chrome grille
• Aluminum running boards
• Rear roofline spoiler
• Chrome window trim
• Front & rear skid plates
• 18-inch alloy wheels

Toyota Safety Sense-P is standard on all 2018 Land Cruisers- MotorTrend

Neither of the safety agencies (NHTSA and IIHS) has crash-tested the Toyota Land Cruiser for the sake of safety ratings due to its high-end price tag. Therefore, safety ratings are not available. However, that's not much of a concern as the SUV packs enough safety features to keep its passengers safe at all times.

On that note, the Land Cruiser gets 10 airbags installed in its cabin. These include dual front, front side, side curtain (including the second row), and knee airbags. Toyota also offers all the latest safety technologies as standard in the Land Cruiser. All the available driver aids in the Land Cruiser are listed below:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Multi-view camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Front & rear parking sensors
• Automatic high beams 

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2018 Lexus LX 570

The Lexus LX 570 and the Land Cruiser are built on the same platform and house the same engine. Therefore, its fuel economy, driving behavior, interior dimensions, and cargo capacity are similar to the Land Cruiser. Both the SUVs also have outstanding off-road abilities. But, the LX 570's cabin is more luxurious inside. However, the Land Cruiser benefits from low ownership costs and better cargo and towing capacity.

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2018 Cadillac Escalade

With a difference of at least $10,000, the Cadillac Escalade offers swift acceleration despite its heavy curb weight and its MPG figures are also better than the Land Cruiser. The Escalade's cabin is handsome and luxurious but its infotainment system isn't straightforward as the Land Cruiser. Also, its third-row feels cramped and unsuitable for adults. The Escalade has earned decent safety ratings but most of its safety techs are optional. 

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2018 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator is the cheapest option in this competition. It houses the most powerful engine and also has a class-leading towing capacity. However, the latter is the sole choice for off-roading purposes. The Navigator also has the best fuel economy for a large SUV and its interior feels roomier and luxurious than the Land Cruiser. It is also the most practical SUV but most of its driver aids are optional. 

Packed with creature comforts and the latest off-road technology, the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser is a true example of a brand that is honoring its roots. But let's be honest, this isn't the next evolution of automobiles and it's not a part of a growing trend. Drive the Land Cruiser, especially off-road and there is a lot to like. It's a capable and accommodating SUV but it is not a value. Provided that you are wealthy enough that value doesn't matter, the Land Cruiser should make you very happy.