FIRST DRIVE: New Toyota Land Cruiser vs Scotland

Few cars have set the internet alight in the past year quite like the new Toyota Land Cruiser. Just. Look. At. It!

Mixing a whole load of right angles with some retro FJ40 Land Cruiser vibes, the design is spot on. Thank goodness too, because after seven decades the Land Cruiser had become a dumpy and dull (if still capable and reliable) 4x4. Amazing how a little love from the design department can transform our expectations…

But has the new Land Cruiser got the goods to back up its new looks? It needs to clamber over the rough stuff like its ancestors, yet in the face of rivals like the Land Rover Defender, now be comfy and cosseting enough for the school run or daily commute.

To find out what’s what, Top Gear Magazine’s Head of Car Testing, Ollie Marriage, took the new Toyota Land Cruiser to Scotland for a rather tough first test.

WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:09 What is a Toyota Land Cruiser?
02:06 Is it mostly mechanical or essentially electric?
04:10 How does it cruise?
08:16 Is it everyday useable?
09:14 Is it authentic?
10:31 What gadgets and tech does it have?
11:14 What's it like off-road?
16:48 Rivals?
18:11 What's the verdict?

MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:

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[TopGear]

What's your verdict on the new Land Cruiser?

[cncmne]

His last point is the most important one tbh. Anyone that owns a Land Cruiser, take it for a spin around the country side. You dont have to be going hardcore, a bit of light offroading will do, but let it dance a bit and play in the mud. Let your Land Cruiser live.

[electrikoptik]

The Land Cruiser is everything Land Rover wishes it could be. It has legendary durability, reliability and build quality!

[chris]

I'm 53 now, grew up with the FJ 40 in my youth and couldn't afford a Land Cruiser afterwards.
This will soon be my car - and my last, because I will drive it for the rest of my life...

[carsella]

Whats all this “treading on Land Rover’s toes” rubbish? Landcruiser outsells Land Rover 5:1 everywhere outside Cheshire.

[randominternet]

This is really kind of the first modern car I’ve been excited about

[iancadwallender]

I knew an aussie that used to say, if you want to go in the bush, take a land-rover...if you want to come back, take a landcruiser.

[Heyitscristian]

The fact that they build it so the interior bits don’t rattle makes me want to buy one immediately! Something the rest of the manufacturers need to do!!

[filipbunalti]

The fact that there are almost no other vehicles than the Land Cruiser that ply on the Ruta De Las Lagunas in Bolivia is a testament to its reliability.

[babeyoulove]

I can't believe this... Toyota have become one of those brand everyone loves them... they are making cars such as GR Yaris and landCruiser Prado... the versatility is unbelievable.

[thokoZ]

Can’t wait to see every African politician buy 10 of these for their motor convoy

[garyseaton]

Toyota has done it again. The Land Cruiser has always been a fantastic off-road vehicle. I loved the 70's versions of the Land Cruiser and still think the classic Land Rover Defender D39 is awesome. Honestly, I'd take this over the new Land Rovers, any model...

[fisheye]

When a car is everywhere in Africa and in the Middle East, that’s how you know it’s a big off road deal.

Fun, built like tank, RELIABLE and stay in shape for ages

[itssidx]

It is called the Land Cruiser in North America and Europe since they discontinued the regular Land Cruiser 300 series, whereas in the UAE/other Middle eastern countries and Australia it is still called Prado (the smaller cheaper variant)

[msadah]

I want a car like this that I can use for 10-15 years without major issues.

[urbanstrencan]

This is what Toyota is proper, tough, SUV that is able to travel the world, no gimmicky tank turns, and stuff that easily break. Good work Toyota. Top Gear this should be your new crew car😊❤

[wRAAh]

This Land Cruiser is one impressive vehicle. I saw that Carwow-guy abuse it, but even that weirdo couldn't make a dent...

[michaelj]

As much as I love the Defender 90, this is just everything. Awesome.

[kenai]

Love it ! Land Cruisers saved my life twice. I knw it seems like a boring off-roader, and there many fancier options that can off-road too but the Land Cruiser family is special. Had a 2010 model and currently have the 2020. This bad boys next!

[Angelboy]

Very positive comments to say the least! More and longer shots of the cockpit instead of you would be Joly appreciated!