2017 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

When an SUV has real off-road capability, you typically expect that it comes at the expense of on-road manners. Such is not the case with the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser.

On pavement, the Land Cruiser is always very civilized. The ride quality is smooth, and the cabin is quiet. The 5.7-liter V8 emits a pleasing rumble when prodded, and there's plenty of power whenever you need it. Steering is precise, although effort required by the steering wheel can be somewhat heavy, as you’d expect from a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Because suspension compliance is the secret to good traction, you’ll feel the body of the Land Cruiser roll noticeably in fast corners, yet this big SUV feels reassuringly planted on the pavement in nearly any situation.

Thanks in part to 8.9 inches of ground clearance, the Toyota Land Cruiser can ford streams as much as 27.5 inches deep. Moreover, the Land Cruiser can crawl over steep terrain where only a Jeep Wrangler or a Land Rover would dare to tread, thanks to Toyota high-tech trickery to enhance traction that includes the KDSS suspension system and the Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. With off-road traction optimized to the rapid-fire clicks of solenoids being actuated in the brake system, the driver can concentrate on steering.  And when the adventure is over, the driver can drive home again in perfect comfort.

The 2017 Land Cruiser features an interior that is nicer than the average Toyota, with top-quality materials and lots of high-tech items. The overall impression is short of luxury-vehicle standards, but if that's what you're looking for, the similar Lexus LX 570 should satisfy.

With the exception of the rather long reach to the central touchscreen, the Entune system is easy to use and has a wealth of apps to keep you entertained and informed. The rear entertainment system ensures that other passengers have plenty to keep them occupied as well.

Front seats have ample cushioning and support for all-day comfort. Second-row passengers enjoy heated seats that can slide fore and aft to increase legroom. The third-row seats fold out from the sides of the cabin, and the expected lack of legroom makes them suitable for smaller passengers only.

Overall cargo capacity is smaller than you’ll find in other SUVs. Behind the third-row seats, there is only some 16 cubic feet of cargo volume.  Behind the second-row seats, you’ll find just 43 cubic feet of space because the third-row seats flip to the side rather than stow beneath the floor.  Once the second- and third-row seats are stowed, 82 cubic feet of cargo volume is available.