2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

Name: 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
Brand: Toyota
Price: 61090 USD

Price Estimate: $61,090 - $66,257

When people say an SUV can do it all, they usually mean it does most things, and they ignore the ability to tow 8,200 pounds or the off-road prowess to conquer real trails. The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the few old-school SUVs that can do more than most and in fairly good comfort, but it makes compromises in some areas.

The Land Cruiser's suspension and traction control system can eke out grip on loose trails, and its V8 engine is responsive and hums quietly on the highway. But its main weaknesses are its small third row and cargo area and lack of modern infotainment tech and smartphone connectivity.

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Price & Payment

27 cars

$80,936 avg. price

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2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

Heritage Edition now offers optional third-row seating
Part of the sixth Land Cruiser generation introduced for 2008

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$254/mo

$174/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#10 out of 16 among Fullsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$654/yr

vs. $614/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Frequency

1.37x/yr

vs. 1.59x/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Severity

20.1%

vs. 16.7%
for Average Fullsize SUV

Toyota Land Cruiser Owner Reviews

4.8

28 reviews

5(86%)

4(11%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(3%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Still the best

G J Tricarico, 06/22/2018

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A)

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 …

Do I really need this capability?

CS, 08/14/2019

2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A)

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 …

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition

wampyri, 11/14/2020

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A)

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.

STILL THE BEST BY FAR!!!!!

Beach Bum, 05/17/2020

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (5.7L 8cyl 8A)

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 have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, so we've included reviews for other years of the Land Cruiser since its last redesign.

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2021 Land Cruiser Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$85,665
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	14 MPG
Cost to Drive	$254/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Land Cruiser models:

Pre-Collision System: Automatically detects cars and pedestrians ahead, warns you about them, and brakes automatically if necessary.
Lane Departure Alert: Warns you through visual and audible alerts when you begin drifting out of your lane.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: Automatically matches the speed of vehicles ahead when cruise control is activated. Generically called adaptive cruise control.

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2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

Price & Payment

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

What's new

Cost to Drive

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Toyota Land Cruiser Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Still the best

Do I really need this capability?

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition

STILL THE BEST BY FAR!!!!!

2021 Land Cruiser Highlights

Safety

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