2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser is available in two trims which are, Base and the limited edition Heritage. The Base is priced at $85,665 and is equipped with a long list of features. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, four-zone automatic climate control, a power moonroof, 14-speaker JBL audio system, heated auto-dimming side-view mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging pad. The Heritage Edition is a limited production trim of only 12000 units. This model gets all the features that are standard on the Base trim and unlocks a few special features like Bronze-coloured BBS wheels, Yakima roof rails, dark chrome exterior trim, a unique grille, dark housing for headlamps, etc. As evident, the major changes are only in the exterior of the SUV.

Which Trim should you buy?

The 2021 Land Cruiser Base will sufficiently suffice all of your needs. However, when both the trims demand a huge sum of money, we think that if you’re willing to spend upwards of $85,000 then might as well spend it style. The Heritage Edition is just a fraction of the amount more expensive than the Base trim. It adds some exclusive features that resemble the legendary Land Cruiser of the 20th Century.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser is its fuel economy. In the evolving market of hybrid powertrains, the Land Cruiser sticks to the traditional V8 power. The numbers for the Land Cruiser are 13 MPG in cities, 17 MPG for the highways which gives it a combined mileage of 14 MPG. Except for its counterpart 2021 Lexus LX 570, all other rivals offer better fuel economy. 

The fuel tank capacity plays an important role in terms of range. However, all the SUVs mentioned above have similar-sized fuel tanks. Both the Land Cruiser and the LX 570 share the lead with a fuel tank capacity of 24.6 gallons. The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, however, offers the best range, thanks to its exceptional fuel economy. and it also offers a class-leading fuel economy of 18 PG (combined). The Cadillac Escalade also manages efficient figures and takes second rank in the segment when frugality is concerned averaging 17 MPG and a combined range of 408 miles.

Reflecting the massive exterior, the 2021 Toyota Cruiser’s interiors are large, spacious, and packed with luxury features. It might not be as luxurious as its rivals but its interior is adequately plush and comfortable. Thanks to the four-zone automatic climate control, perforated leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats, the seating comfort is sublime. The third row of seats lacks headroom and legroom. The Land Cruiser’s rivals provide better third-row seating space especially the 2021 Lincoln Navigator. 

The cabin experience is relaxing and quiet even on the highways. The exterior view for the driver as well as the passengers sitting in the back is excellent. Overall, the interior of the Land Cruiser is definitely a nice place to be.

The Land Cruiser does not do so well in terms of cargo space. The figures mentioned above are for the space behind the third row of seats. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade does exceptionally well with over 121 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, outperforming every SUV in the segment. 

Some of the standout features of the interior are:

• Perforated leather upholstery
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• 10-way power-adjustable front seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Adaptive cruise control

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser offers a plethora of features to keep you entertained. To start off, the infotainment system fitted is a 9.0-inch touchscreen display. The setup looks huge thanks to the big air vents surrounding the screen. The buttons and knobs are placed right below the screen to help you control the functions. The user interface is decent and easy to understand. The icons are large so it's easy for the driver to identify them while driving.

This system is paired with a high-quality 14-speaker JBL audio system. However, one major setback for the Land Cruiser is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility which can be a deal-breaker for buyers who are already used to it, especially considering that the Land Cruiser is a luxury vehicle with a high price tag.

Some of the features offered by this system are:

• Satellite radio
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• 14-speaker JBL audio system
• Navigation
• 2 12V DC power outlets and 1 120V AC power outlet
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser has been built keeping an off-road adventurous personality in mind. The exterior features a collection of modern touches and styling. The front end comprises a huge horizontally slotted grille with chrome inserts. The chrome strips run through the large LED headlamps fitted right alongside the grille. The LED fog lamps are placed lower on the front bumper which is also surrounded by chrome. All of the chrome that it features in the Base trim gets darkened in the Heritage Edition. The headlamp and fog light housing gets a darker shade. The massive sculpted hood completes the aggressive-looking front fascia of the SUV.

There is nothing aerodynamic about the Land Cruiser. That can be clearly noticed from its side profile. It is characterized by its large bulky nature and a tall road presence. It features 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a power moonroof, an 8.9-inch ground clearance, and power-folding auto-dimming heated side-view mirrors. The Heritage Edition gets some exclusive features like Bronze-coloured BBS wheels and Yakima roof rails. 

The rear fascia of the car is characterized by the large LED taillights, a power liftgate, rear lip spoiler, a big chrome strip in the middle with Land Cruiser badging, body-colored rear bumper, and a single exhaust outlet.

When compared to its rivals, the Land Cruiser has one of the shortest lengths and wheelbases. When it comes to exterior dimensions, the numbers are very close between the 2021 Lincoln Navigator and the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. While the Navigator leads the class with its wheelbase and ground clearance, the Escalade leads the segment with its length, height, and width measuring 211.9, 81.1, and 76.7 inches, respectively.

Some of the highlights of the exterior are:

• Auto On/Off Auto-levelling, daytime running, projector-beam LED headlamps
• Front fog lamps
• LED brake lights
• Roof rails 
• Power moonroof with tilt
• Rear lip spoiler
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Body-colored power-adjustable, power-folding, auto-dimming heated side-view mirrors

Toyotas generally perform well in the crash test analysis held by the NHSTA and the IIHS. However, the 2021 Land Cruiser is tested by neither of those yet. Its rugged exterior and build along with a long list of driver-assist and safety features should suffice for the safety of the passengers inside. With the number of safety features offered, one should not worry too much about the safety scores.

Some of the key safety and driver-assist features are:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Lane departure warning with lane keep assist system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Electronic stability control
• Rear cross-traffic alert system
• Forward collision mitigation

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Lexus LX 570

When you break it down to the numbers and do a detailed comparison of these two SUVs, you’ll find that these are practically the same. The Land Cruiser’s corporate cousin, the 2021 Lexus LX 570, is more luxurious and offers more technological advancements than the Land Cruiser.

The Lexus is quite the looker as well. Both the SUVs carry the same sized engine but the Lexus manages to squeeze out slightly better performance. it might be wiser to think that the Lexus offers a better bargain than the Land Cruiser.

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is clearly one of the more desirable SUVs in this segment. It offers exceptional performance that is unmatched by its rivals. Not only is the Navigator the most powerful but also the most fuel-efficient.

It also features better interior tech and offers more cargo space than the Land Cruiser. The one factor in which it can’t beat the Land Cruiser is its sheer off-road capabilities. If on-road refinement is more important to you than off-road adventures, then the Navigator is without a doubt the best option. 

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade’s new generation has taken the market by storm. It looks better than ever and is probably the most eye-catchy SUV in the market. The Escalade is more powerful, more fuel-efficient, and more spacious and luxurious than the Land Cruiser.

As both the Navigator and the Escalade lean more towards luxury, they outperform the Land Cruiser with ease when it comes to features and comfort, and that too at a price much cheaper than the Toyota. However, the Escalade is not nearly as capable off-road as the Land Cruiser.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser hits the sweet spot in many aspects but falls short when compared to its rivals. It is safe to say that the off-road capability of the Land Cruiser is unparalleled in this segment. The luxury, performance, and fuel economy are, however, subpar. Its rivals offer a better all-round package at a price similar or cheaper than the Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser is the best choice for those who seek off-road madness and the Heritage Edition is for those who wish to reminisce the legendary Land Cruiser. However, all-around performance and refinement are better offered by the rivals.