Used Toyota Land Cruiser for sale: everything you need to know
If you're looking for a truly unstoppable car that will keep on going when others flounder – and continue to do so like clockwork, year after year – you need a Toyota Land Cruiser.
It is one of the most widely-recognised Toyotas in the world, being sold in almost 200 countries. And it’s popular everywhere, too – even in Europe, it’s the best-selling vehicle in its highly-specialised sector across more than 10 countries.
Should you buy a Toyota Land Cruiser?
The unstoppable Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the toughest, most robust vehicles on the planet. Alongside the Toyota Hilux double-cab pickup, it has a fantastic reputation for total dependability.
The Toyota Land Cruiser uses a traditional construction with rugged chassis frame and separate body mounted to this, which off-road enthusiasts insist is the best solution for robustness and durability when the going gets tough. The ladder frame layout is backed up by long-travel suspension and, in Invincible spec, an advanced Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). This sees individual hydraulic cylinders fitted to the anti-roll bars, which help reduce body-roll on the road – and make things more comfortable off-road.
Other high-end features on the Invincible include Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and electronically-modulated rear air suspension. Add in a proper high- and low-ratio gearbox, plus enormous ground clearance, and you really do have a machine that’s ready for the Outback.
You won’t suffer here in Blighty, though, thanks to good levels of interior comfort and the gadgets. Again, the Invincible version is particularly plush here. Climb into the very commanding driving position and you really do have a feelgood machine – even if it’s not the fastest against the clock.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a long-running legend. Across multiple generations, it has continued to be peerless off road and increasingly comfortable on it, while all the time developing a reputation for being outstandingly reliable and unbreakable.
If you want a good old-fashioned off-roader that just keeps going, but also comes with a modern level of luxury and equipment, look no further than the famous Toyota Land Cruiser.
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What's the best used Toyota Land Cruiser model to buy?
On the engine front, you don't get a lot of choice. Up until 2015, it was a 3.0-litre turbodiesel and nothing else. This motor was replaced by a smoother 2.8-litre unit in 2015 and Toyota didn't see the need to broaden the range beyond that. Neither is especially frugal as they have a lot of car to shift, but the get the job done.
The Active trim has everything you need and the Icon adds plenty you'd like, but we'd head for the Invincible that comes with goodies such as improved safety kit, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, reversing camera, and all-round parking sensors.
Used Toyota Land Cruiser fuel economy and performance
The Toyota Land Cruiser uses a single large-capacity four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. It is paired with an automatic transmission, and all Toyota Land Cruisers have rugged permanent 4WD all-wheel drive with high- and low-range gears. They can tow a maximum braked trailer weight of 3,000kg.
- Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 diesel: The 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine produces an adequate 204PS, plus a way-more-rugged 500Nm of torque at just 1,600rpm. This makes it virtually unstoppable. Zero to 62mph takes 9.9 seconds (not that it’s particularly about such exploits) and average economy is around 30mpg. It’s a high-CO2 motor though, with even the ‘greenest’ five-door model producing 245g/km.
- Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 diesel: Up to 2015, the Land Cruiser used a 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with 188PS. It could deliver 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds combined with average economy best of 34.9mpg and 214g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Almost all have an automatic gearbox as standard.
Some second-hand Toyota Land Cruisers can be found with six-speed manual transmissions, but they’re rare. A manual gearbox has always been a niche choice, which is why the current range is auto-only. Notably, manual gearboxes have less pulling power: 420Nm instead of 500Nm.
What used Toyota Land Cruiser trim levels are available?
Toyota offers three passenger-focused versions of the Toyota Land Cruiser, either Active, Icon or Invincible. There are also the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial versions.
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Active is a more rugged, working-spec Toyota Land Cruiser. It still has plenty of luxuries, such as dual-zone climate control, but its 17-inch alloy wheels and less glitzy body features won’t cause too many tears if they get damaged down on the farm. Take it either in three- or five-door guise, with the latter coming in five- or seven-seat layout.
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Icon comes with 19-inch dark grey alloy wheels, Toyota Safety Sense including pre-collision with pedestrian detection, automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control, road sign assist and lane departure alert, front and rear parking sensors, active traction control, trailer sway control, downhill assist control on auto and hill-start assist on auto. It also has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Toyota Touch 2 Go Navigation, nine speakers, DAB, Bluetooth and reversing camera, leather interior with electric, heated and ventilated front seats, plus drivers lumbar support.
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible is the lavish high-end Toyota Land Cruiser with tech-packed suspension, an eye-catching exterior and an indulgent seven-seat interior that has all the gadgets as standard.
Used Toyota Land Cruiser dimensions and boot size
The Toyota Land Cruiser 3-door’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,565mm (including rear-mounted spare wheel)
- Width: 1,885mm
- Height: 1,830mm
- Ground clearance: 205mm
The Toyota Land Cruiser 5-door’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,840mm
- Width: 1,885mm
- Height: 1,845mm (1,835mm with air suspension)
- Ground clearance: 215mm
The Toyota Land Cruiser 3-door’s boot space is:
- 380 litres
- 720 litres with rear seats folded
The Toyota Land Cruiser 5-door’s boot space is:
- 640 litres (with third-row seats folded)
- 1,270 litres with rear seats folded (120 litres with all seven seats occupied)
Used Toyota Land Cruiser road tax
With Toyota Land Cruisers registered up to 1 April 2017, you'll pay road tax of between £395 and £675 depending on the engine and gearbox you choose. Cars registered after this date pay road tax at £180 per year, while those up to five-years old will incur a £370 surcharge if their original price when new was £40,000 or more.
How much is it to insure a Toyota Land Cruiser?
The Toyota Land Cruiser is likely to prove an expensive pricey car to insure, due to insurance ratings that start from group 38 (out of 50). That’s for the top-spec Invincible. Interestingly, entry-level Active grade is one group higher, with a group 39 insurance rating.
Read our full Toyota Land Cruiser review
