High on the highway: The Toyota Land Cruiser boasts 10 airbags, 28 cubbyholes and 14 JBL speakers

If there is a king among kings in the land of SUVs, it is Toyota’s massive Land Cruiser, which dwarfs every other SUV in the market. What gives the Land Cruiser a special air of indestructibility is the confident claim that Toyota officials made at the Indian launch — ‘It never breaks down’.

The car’s legendary reputation for reliability, based on the simple fact that the Land Cruiser is everyone’s favourite in the most inhospitable regions of the world, backs this bold statement. Just ask the UN.

In India it’s a huge hit in Bollywood, and with industrialists and politicians. Not that they want to zip across the Thar Desert or dodge bullets along the Line of Control but because the Cruiser gives them an unmatched sense of security and protection.

STYLE FILE

You tend to get that feeling when you walk up to the Land Cruiser — with its towering grille that is virtually at eye-level for someone as short as me. The XXL proportions make it hugely intimidating from all angles. It’s nearly 5m long and 2m wide, possibly giving it the widest footprint on four wheels on this side of an LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle). Even the massive 18-in wheels look tiny, emphasising the sheer size of the car.

The exterior design is a little slab-sided and not particularly flashy-stylish. But the square-jawed looks underscore the big Toyota’s tough credentials. The gigantic grille is matched with huge headlamps which, apart from giving the front a sense of proportion, work very well.

The dipped beam is wide and has excellent fill while the full beam is one of the most powerful I’ve experienced. The rear tailgate has a split opening, the lower portion of which can be used as a seat. The four-wheel-drive or FWD-minded would say the smart running board limits off-roadability, but you need that step to climb into the cabin.

INSIDE STORY

The lofty driving position in the Land Cruiser is amazing. Once you set the adjustable dampers on maximum ride height, this huge SUV rises 10cm like a giant elevator. The view is so commanding that you’re actually looking down on Safaris and Scorpios!

The cabin has a Lexus-like luxurious feel to it. The car doesn’t fall short of quality materials and equipment. There’s a fabulous touchscreen, which makes navigating through a number of functions easy. The climate control is very sophisticated and so is the audio system.

In keeping with the Land Cruiser’s massive image, there are 10 airbags, 28 cubbyholes and 14 JBL speakers! The middle row, which has loads of leg and headroom, can seat three passengers easily. Despite the high floor, under-thigh support is decent. The rear seats fold sideways and encroach on luggage space but the boot still holds a humongous 1,267 litres!

UNDER THE HOOD

The Land Cruiser is powered by a 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 diesel that produces 285bhp and 66kgm of torque with a curve that looks like the Tibetan plateau. The dash to 100kph is dispatched in an impressive 13.10 seconds and the Land Cruiser keeps surging on to cross the 150kph mark in 31.83 seconds.

The raw performance figures only tell part of the story. This engine’s pair of low-inertia turbos leaves little room for turbo-lag. Part-throttle response is fantastic and the Land Cruiser is always prepared to lunge forward in a manner that belies its size. The six-speed transmission delays initially, but once you get going, it’s quite responsive.

DRIVER’S DEAL

Most FWD off-roaders have a monocoque chassis, but the Land Cruiser retains a separate ladder chassis. Toyota proclaims this to be an affirmation of the Land Cruiser’s off-road credentials, besides the fact that it’s easier to repair in places which are not equipped with laser-guided body shop rigs.

Toyota has used hydroformed chassis members and high tensile steel in the frame to reduce the only downside of a ladder chassis — poor structural rigidity. The extra strength has brought bulk too — the Land Cruiser tips the scales at a substantial 2,720kg.

With its adaptive dampers, which can be switched between sport, standard and comfort modes, the Land Cruiser manages to exceed many expectations. In the softest setting, uneven surfaces create a heaving motion while in the firmest sport setting, sharp edges allow shakes to enter the cabin — typical of a ladder chassis.

However, stiffening the dampers keeps everything lashed down at high speeds — making the Land Cruiser an accomplished highway cruiser. The fat tyres generate great grip and the brakes are terrific as well. The stability control ensures that everything is pointing in the right direction.

FINAL VERDICT

It’s hard to replicate the feeling of invincibility that the Land Cruiser exudes, which is why most Indians will take a liking to it. The Land Cruiser is an incredibly safe and reliable living room-sized way to get around. And I don’t expect its XXL pricing of Rs 83 lakh to hinder its popularity!

(With inputs from Autocar UK)

SPec check

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER V8D

Price: Rs 83.1 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai)
L/W/H: 4950/1970/1910mm
Turning circle: 11.8m
Kerb weight: 2720kg
Engine: 8-cyls in-V, 4461cc, twin turbo-diesel
Installation: Front longitudinal, all-wheel drive
Power: 285bhp at 3600rpm
Torque: 66kgm at 1600rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Fuel tank: 93 litres
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs
Tyre size: 285/60, R18