2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser comes in two trim levels: Base and the recently added Heritage Edition. Starting around $86,000, the Land Cruiser comes fully loaded, with the sole option being a rear-seat entertainment system. Notable standard features include an adaptive suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, a full-size alloy spare, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, parking sensors, automatic LED headlights, fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding mirrors, a sunroof, a power liftgate, roof rails, running boards, and a tow hitch. Inside, there are three rows of leather upholstery, automatic power windows, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, driver's seat memory, folding rear seats, proximity keyless entry, push-button ignition, four-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, genuine wood trim, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient lighting. Tech features include a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a CD player, a nine-inch touchscreen, USB ports, navigation, and wireless phone charging. The Heritage Edition costs about $88,000. It has two rows of seating (three rows are available), BBS forged alloy wheels, rugged trim accents, and more. As mentioned above, the lone optional package is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, featuring dual 11.6-inch monitors, RCA inputs, a remote, and two pairs of wireless headphones.

Power comes from a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Power delivery is effortless, and the Land Cruiser accelerates rapidly for a vehicle its size. The engine mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 13/17/14 mpg city/highway/combined. Full-size SUVs are not known for being incredibly fuel-efficient. Still, in this time when many luxury SUVs offer hybrid engines and cutting-edge green technology, the Land Cruiser's gas mileage is underwhelming. Few rivals can match this Toyota's rugged abilities. Technical details include full-time four-wheel-drive, 8.9 inches of ground clearance, a Multi-terrain Select controller, Crawl Control, and Off-road Turn Assist. Some competitors have height-adjustable air suspensions, but the Land Cruiser blends traditional components like a truck-based frame with exclusive technologies to give it nearly unmatched off-road driving skills. The Land Cruiser has an impressive 8,100-pound towing capacity, making it an excellent choice for hauling boats, ATVs, cars, and recreational vehicles. Toyota includes helpful trailering technology to assist.

The Land Cruiser has a massive interior befitting its exterior dimensions, with large and user-friendly buttons and displays. While not as sophisticated as other luxury rivals, the Land Cruiser's tried-and-true design relies on high-quality materials and smartly integrated technology. The generous standard features list includes soft leather upholstery, heated/cooled front seats, a power sunroof, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. Competitors offer larger touchscreens than its nine-inch display, but it's easy to use. Notable inclusions are navigation, satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. The front-seat space is superb, with nearly 43 inches of legroom. The second row provides about average space for a full-size luxury SUV, while the available third-row is snug and best for kids. Back there, there are just 28.3 inches of legroom. Cargo space is 16.1 cubic feet. When those rear-most seats are not needed, the cargo area can be expanded to a generous 43 cubic feet. The huge liftgate is power-controlled, minimizing strain when opening and closing it.