When the going gets tough, it's time to summon the Toyota Land Cruiser->ke1298. When it comes to go-anywhere ability, the only vehicle that has managed to stand its ground against the Land Rover->ke46 is the Toyota Land Cruiser, which in itself has earned a legendary status. For the year 2013, Toyota->ke88 updated the Land Cruiser with added standard features and a styling overhaul.

Now, for the year 2014, Toyota->ke88 has brought an evolutionary design change to the Land Cruiser. It may look different, but underneath it still is more or less the same burly, all-wheel-drive SUV with loads of features and creature comforts.

Like most heavy-duty off-roaders, the 2014 Land Cruiser->ke1298 is based on a body-on-frame platform that gives it added strength to take on the roughest of terrains the world can throw at it.

Over the past 60 years, the Land Cruiser has evolved from a manual select, all-wheel-drive utility vehicle into a luxurious SUV packed with the latest electronic aides, cameras and safety features. Has the addition of computer programs and guidance systems made exploring the farthest reaches of this planet child's play? Lets find out.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Euro-Spec

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Euro-Spec
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 277 @ 5600
  • Torque: 284 @ 4400
  • Transmission: 5-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser has an almost in-your-face front fascia and we prefer the old grille from the 2013 model. The 2014 model has this chrome mouth with five long canines sticking out, giving it a devilish look, to say the least. We bet kids would be scared to go near it when it arrives in the U.S. next year. Other design elements of the 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser include a rather muscular body with wide wheel arches up front and an ever-so-wide rear haunch. The 2014 Land Cruiser is 0.78 inches longer than its predecessor and has a wheelbase of 188 inches.

The headlights flank the grille and are placed high up, while new vertical LED daytime running lights line the grille frame. The square-ish fog lamps housed in the front bumper have been rounded off into large, circular lights set in a redesigned bumper. The size of the greenhouse, on the other hand, is virtually unchanged.

On the rear, the taillights are inspired from the ones on the Land Cruiser Prado, as is the line on the D-pillar.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser exterior dimensions

Overall length

170.67 inches

Overall width

74.21 inches

Overall height

73.82 inches

Wheel base

96.46 inches}}

Min ground clearance

8.27 inches

Min turning radius

17.06 feet

Fuel tank capacity

19.14 gallons


Interior

The interior of the 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser has undergone a makeover. However, er don't see any change in the number switches inside the cabin, and it still has a lot of buttons. The ones on the transmission tunnel have vanished, but now there's a large circular dial on the center console for the HVAC unit. A 7-inch TFT screen sits proudly in the center of the dashboard with more buttons on either side it. The brushed silver pillar-like trim on the center console has been replaced with fake wood.

The driver's cockpit has been overhauled with a new steering wheel and chrome door handles. The instrument cluster continues to use twin-dials with a central, 4.2-inch digital readout. The 2014 Land Cruiser is available in both three-door and five-door versions, with the latter offering more cabin space and a higher passenger capacity.

Drivetrain

Now, the engine was the highlight of the 2013 Land Cruiser, as it featured a 5.7-liter, V-8 pumping out 381 horsepower. Sadly though, on the 2014 Land Cruiser, Toyota has downsized to a 4.0-liter, V-6 engine that produces 277 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and churns out 284 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, but at least you still get VVT-i, and chain-driven cam shafts. CO2 emissions are down to 213 g/km and this V-6 can achieve a combined fuel consumption of 29 mpg. The 2014 Land Cruiser comes equipped with a five-speed automatic and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph.

The three-door version of the Land Cruiser carries a 3.0-liter, turbocharged diesel engine that is good for 188 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 310 pound-feet of twisting force is produced right from 1,600 rpm all the way up to 3,000 rpm. This new 16-valve engine is Euro 5+ compliant, thanks to CO2 emissions of 209 g/km for the automatic transmission-equipped three-door model. Fuel efficiency has been improved with a combined cycle figure of 30 mpg. The three-door version is also equipped with a five-speed automatic and accelerates to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds with a top speed of 109 mph.

The permanent four-wheel drive system uses a Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) in the center differential, which automatically controls torque distribution between the front and rear wheels from 50:50 to approximately 30:70. The system also allows the rear-differential to be locked separately.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Engine Specifications

Engine

4.0-liter V6, DOHC, VVT-i

Max Power

277 hp @ 5,600 rpm

Max Torque

284 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

Transmission

Five-speed automatic

Acceleration (0-60 mph)

10.9 seconds

Top speed (mph)

112 mph

Fuel economy (mpg)

29 mpg (combined cycle)


Suspension

The 2014 Land Cruiser uses a revised front and rear suspension setup. The front axle uses independent double wishbones, while the rear is four-link with lateral rod. The dampers are optimized to ensure stability, ride comfort, and improved off-road and on-road dynamics. The new Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) is the nerve center of all the suspension components. The system keeps a check on weight transfer while cornering.

Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) allows the driver to tune the way the vehicle rides. The driver can choose between 'Normal', 'Comfort' and 'Sport' settings. The pneumatic suspension on the rear axles has five settings, including an auto leveling function. It also allows the driver to choose between low and high ride height, depending on the terrain. Both these systems work in conjunction with one another to ensure all wheels touch the ground by virtually disconnecting both front and rear stabilizer bars as and when required.

Multi-terrain Select System (MTS) is offered with the five-speed automatic transmission. The driver can choose between 'Mud', 'Sand', 'Loose Rock', 'Mogul', 'Rock and Dirt' and 'Rock'. The vehicle's on-board computers modulate throttle, braking and traction control, depending on the terrain, allowing optimal traction at any given time. The 2014 Land Cruiser also gets Crawl Control which automatically controls the engine and braking without any human interaction.

Competition

Mercedes-Benz ML Class

The Mercedes-Benz ML Class is the perfect all-weather SUV for the pickier client and owning a three-pointed star is thing of status. Also, the current ML-Class is offered with a range of V-6 and V-8 engines. And if you don't fancy the ML550, then there's always the ML63 AMG to try out. Inside, the ML-Class is as luxurious as any Mercedes-Benz->ke187 and feels a lot more modern compared to the Land Cruiser. You also get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive settings that more intuitive compared to the Land Cruiser.

Conclusion

Commenting about the looks is a subjective matter. However, I personally think the grille design is just too dreadful. That said, the overall appearance of the Land Cruiser hasn't changed much over its predecessor. Yes, the V8 will be missed but the Land Cruiser still remains one of the most capable off-road SUVs. It may not be as luxurious as its rivals but it will take you across a desert without breaking sweat or eat the roads of Siberia over breakfast.