Used 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Consumer Reviews
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Still the best
I have been reviewing the Land Cruiser for years because I have owned several dating back to the 1980s. They have changed over the years. They did not get better mechanically, but luxuriously. I believe they have been the best commercially produced vehicle on the market and remain so to this day. Why you ask. Most dependable. Ask any owner, not just me, they run forever, almost never break down. In fact, the 5 I have owned never failed to proceed as my English friend would say. On some, I have put on as many as 300,000 miles and the vehicle is still going strong. In any weather condition, I wouldn't want any other vehicle. Flood, snow, high wind, mud, heat, cold. The traction is exceptional. It has the weight to keep you on the road. I have never been in a vehicle with better AC and I have been in vehicles that cost over $250.000.... not better maybe not even as good. Don't believe me... go to Florida or Texas in the summer ... rent the best Detroit has to offer ... then a Land Cruiser. You will find out in a hurry which is best. Go to Montana in the winter ... try all the all-wheel SUV's and you will discover very quickly the Land Cruiser beats them all HANDS DOWN. No, I don't own thousands of shares of stock in Toyota .... I own a Land Cruisers .... period.
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Do I really need this capability?
After serving in the first Gulf War, and seeing 80 series LC everywhere overseas, I’ve wanted to own a Land Cruiser. Ubiquitous in remote and rugged underdeveloped countries, I loved the idea of a truly off-road reliable vehicle. I finally decided to get one. Price was good $8,000 off the MSRP on a new one. I had to ask myself: do I need this? No, but it sure is fun and I love it more everyday! Drives great, handles better than you'd expect. Comfortable and unmatched off-road as an unmodified vehicle. And it's solid as a rock! After much research I’ve found it is over-engineered to last in these rugged, remote areas. Most vehicles are designed for a 10 year life cycle, the Land Cruiser is reportedly designed for a 25 year cycle. And, with only ~3000 sold in the USA annually they hold their value well. Now discontinued in the U.S. and rumoured to be arriving 2024 in a twin-turbo form, I am glad I have a reliable, less complex but powerful V-8. Update: looks like Toyota will stop importing the (large) Land Cruiser after 2021. The 300 series will appear only in Lexus form—Toyota gets the smaller version overseas known as the Prado. I will be hanging on to my rock-solid, bullet-proof Toyota! And, after almost six years, it continues to perform flawlessly. 2023 update: no issues. Solid as a bank vault. But, with the crazy prices in the used car market all Land Cruiser prices are going crazy. I see low mileage examples like mine going for $30,000 more than I paid. Crazy! I should sell but it can’t be replaced!!
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2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition
The Toyota Land Cruiser (LC) is a legendary vehicle that, worldwide, is synonymous with rugged go-anywhere dependability. In the United States, the current (and ending) 200 series has evolved into a hybrid luxury / highly capable off roader, but that puts it in rarified air with very few legitimate competitors. A common complaint with the LC is the price, but if you look beyond the badge, the LC is (arguably) entirely worth the asking price. It's 100% built in Japan from Japanese components in a factory dedicated to it and it's corporate sibling, the Lexus LX 570. The ladder-style truck-like frame is adopted from the Tundra but is 20% stronger (as well as shorter). The mechanical components are, across the board, heavy duty and overbuilt. Sources online - not verified with any statement from Toyota itself that I've found, but still commonly stated - say the LC has been engineered and built with a 25 year lifespan, with extra levels of testing conducted in extreme environments so it will survive in the rigors of the Middle East and the Australian Outback. It comes complete with a full time 4 wheel drive system with a 4 wheel low selector, off road driving modes (only available in 4L), crawl control (also 4L), and a fancy turning radius reducing system (only 4L again) that locks up the rear inside tire to give you tighter turns on tricky trails. It's also plush and comfortable inside. The interior is quiet. The materials quality is high. The heated and ventilated seats - and your mileage may vary here, because everyone is different with seats, as I am literally painfully aware - are plush, offering support without being overly firm as some other Toyota vehicles are (leather seated 4Runners, most Tundras - looking at you). There are forward-, side- and backup-cameras, a 360 degree view, parking sensors, radar cruise control, blind spot and rear cross traffic monitoring, navigation, and an excellent sound system (I'm super critical with sound, e.g. I was disappointed by the 4Runner TRD Pro's JBL system, but this JBL Synthesis system is excellent). There's 4-zone climate control, with controls for the second row passengers, and a heated steering wheel. LED lights including fog lights; even auto windshield wipers. So yes, it's expensive, but you are getting a lot of vehicle for the money, and it is among the most reliable vehicles on the road. Drawbacks? The most glaring is the gas mileage, which is atrocious and at the level of my old GMC 2500 HD pickup, but with only 24.6 gallons in the tank. I wish fervently the LC had the Tundra's 38 gallon tank, which would go a long, long way to alleviating range anxiety. This is a very heavy vehicle, and the 5.7L V8 - while so, so thirsty, on the order of averaging 12 mpg in mostly city driving - gets the LC moving smoothly and confidently when you need it to scoot, with lots of low end torque for going off road. To be the perfect overlanding vehicle, you really need more fuel. I get anxious just thinking about not being able to make it more than 250 miles if I'm way out in the mountains without running out of gas. The Yakima roof rack on the Heritage edition is a nice to have and looks awesome (better than without it), but it adds 6 1/2 inches to the LC's 74 in stock height - so parking garages need extra care - and acts like a wind sail, hurting gas mileage even more and producing wind noise above ~40 mph that's glaring in the otherwise serene LC interior. Thankfully it's easy to remove (I removed it alone) and appears you can pop off the front panel to let air flow through. The stock Dunlops are both A) expensive ($308/tire (!) online) and B) next to useless off road. I replaced them in the first week (I wanted KO2s, but the dealership I had an agreement with when I bought the LC could only get me Nitto Terra Grappler G2s, which I went for, and they've been good so far - as quiet as the stock tires but radically better off road and in the snow). The Heritage edition I purchased is the two row, which includes a tonneau cover and more room in the back (yes!) as well as attractive bronze wheels and contrast stitching (double yes!) but does away with the cooler in the center console (...might've been nice...). The media center is old. The graphics are blocky, though at 9in it's fine on the eyes and the UI is pleasant enough to use and just works. No Apple Carplay or Android Auto here. Regular old bluetooth has worked fine. The wireless QI charger is drip-drip slow, but that could be my phone's case. Finally, yes, this is a very expensive vehicle. It's Mercedes, Porsche, Lincoln/Caddie/BMW/Audi/Volvo level without the badge. Personally, that suits me. I prefer people who aren't in the know not knowing, and don't *want* the three-point star on my car. I didn't buy the LC to show off. I bought it to be comfortable with the peace of mind knowing I can drive across that mountain in the distance and it'll last my family the next 10 to 15 years without problems.
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STILL THE BEST BY FAR!!!!!
We just picked up our second LC, and I'd love to tell you why. Compared to the other vehicles my spouse and I have owned (MB, Infiniti, Audi, BMW, Porsche, and other Toyota's) the LC is still our favorite. The first one we bought was a 100 series, and it was amazing to drive. It was everything you'd expect from and LC. Smooth, easy to drive, spacious with unmatched reliability. When we finally sold it the vehicle had around 150,000 miles on it, and it felt like it was just breaking in. This new LC HE we just bought reminds us so much of why we loved the first one, as well as why we were very happy to buy the exact model of a car we owned in the past for the very first time. With the updated interior and exterior, the LC feels very much so more modernized while still being the SUV we feel in love with years ago. Don't get me wrong, as it's not as smooth or polished to drive as the MB. It's not nearly as fast as the BMW. It's clearly not as exciting to drive as the Porsche, but that's not the point of the LC. The LC gives you a VERY high-end driving experience that will remain the same enjoyable and dependable ride for 300,000+ miles. None of our others cars could ever come close to that except of course for the other LC. It's reliability is truly unmatched in the industry as the car is so over engineered (hence the $$$), and it was done so deliberately. The LC is not a perfect vehicle as the gas mileage alone will keep you working until your late 70's, but it's nice to know when you drive to the store your 20 year old plus SUV will get you there in understated and reliable style.
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8 years strong
we bought an LC after seeing all the problems and costs associated with other SUV’s. We also considered that we might “never sell” and drive it until it stops running. While we regularly service the car, literally thats all we do. Gas milage not great, but we burn maybe 1000 gallons/yr, so more efficent but same sized SUVs might save 2-300 gallons, at best. One major repair soaks up any of that savings. The ride is comfortable and powerful, the trim sturdy. We like things simple and reliable, and the LC fits that to a T. Everyone complains about the rear seats folding up, but we like the ease of use and we still hauled two kids to sleep away camp, trucks/duffels and all. We have almost 150k miles and except for some minor wear, it feels and looks “lightly driven”. We might keep it and see if we can get 500k miles out of her, but the new ones certainly look good!
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