Search
Toyota’s Land Cruiser range of SUVs is one of the most popular vehicles in the world right now. Ever since it started production about seven decades ago, it has improved considerably, especially regarding quality and performance.
The Land Cruiser has become a status symbol wherever it goes. People instantly take notice of one when they see it on the road. It has more presence and street cred than any other car on the road today.
Coupled with the unbeatable ownership experience of the Toyota brand, this makes it one of the longest-serving car models in the world.
The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser has been a long time coming since the last model. It embodies the Land Cruiser spirit of going anywhere and getting anything done.
And it is befitting the vehicle that this iteration was unveiled in the UAE. The reason is simple – more than half of the number of Land Cruisers made are sold here. The UAE loves the Land Cruiser.
The Land Cruiser carries the imposing styling it has been known for over the years. But Toyota has made it look much more contemporary and in line with SUVs on the road today.
It looks like an evolution of the earlier styling, which is great. The new styling cues make it look more purposeful than the outgoing model. The centerpiece of the Land Cruiser is the huge grill. It looks great and accentuates the new design language.
From the side, it looks much more assertive than the previous model. It looks clean with blacked-out B-pillars and just a hint of chrome surrounding the windows. The headlights look great with a powerful throw and classy-looking daytime running lights.
Rugged and ready to take on any road, it comes with ample ground clearance. The huge 18-inch wheels complement the square styling and look solid. It has squarish, muscular fenders at both front and rear, giving it significant visual appeal.
And all the styling is not just for show – this is one of the best off-roaders in the current market. It has a 32-degree approach angle and 24-degree departure angle, which makes tackling terrain easy. Its off-road capabilities were tested by Toyota’s Dakar Rally team, which means it’s probably the best in the world.
Overall, the styling looks very much like a much-improved version of the last model. It is more modern and unique compared to other competitors in the market.
When it comes to the engine department, Toyota wanted to give owners more power without compromising on fuel economy. The upcoming Land Cruiser will have a choice of 2 engine options.
An all-new petrol 3.5-liter V6 replaces the existing V8 that offers more power and better drivability compared to the last model. It is twin-turbocharged, which means minimal lag during acceleration.
It also ensures smooth power delivery throughout the rev range. The new engine also has 28 bhp and 78 lb-ft improvements over the older engine. It makes 409 bhp of power and 479 lb-ft of torque.
The second engine option is a twin-turbo diesel that displaces 3.3-liters and produces 304 bhp and a massive 516 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines drive the wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission and dual-speed transfer case. It will feature a full-time four-wheel drive. Some markets will have an option of a six-speed automatic as well.
Putting this all to the road is an updated suspension setup from the last model. It features an independent front axle and a live rear axle but with improved articulation. This means you will be able to off-road much more comfortably in this model than the older Land Cruiser.
This model has several updates to its interiors as well. The exterior theme carries over in the cabin with everything looking more square and sculpted. The front dashboard looks much more modern and upmarket.
It consists of a square center stack with a detailed infotainment display through which you can interact with the car. The driver’s side display consists of twin analog gauges and smaller display units for other information.
Toyota has made the interiors much more functional with classic but contemporary physical switches and dials. These are useful if you are an avid off-roader.
Touch-sensitive dials and switches are not great to use during off-road adventures. Physical button options always have a ‘feel’ to them which is important while going off-road.
The biggest change in the interiors is the third-row seats. The traditional Land Cruiser seats that folded up against the window are gone. This is replaced by a much less intrusive flat-folding seat option which improves cargo space.
It also comes with a range of safety features, including a new pedestrian and cyclist avoidance system. The car can now recognize people and cyclists and can intervene with braking to avoid a crash.