Used Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-2023 review

Used examples of large SUVs that can cope with scenarios as varied as army reconnaissance work in arid deserts to a school run in leafy Surrey are few, but there is one that’s perfectly suited to either situation: the Toyota Land Cruiser.

This is the fourth generation model that ran from 2010 to 2023, with a few facelifts in between to keep it fresh. The Land Cruiser is a mainstay of traditional body-on-frame off-roaders, that also have long-travel suspension that’s perfect for keeping the tyres in contact with the ground while traversing arduous terrain. Except for a used Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, there isn’t much to trouble a Land Cruiser off the beaten track.

Engines: The Land Cruiser was originally powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine with 188bhp that could be had with either a five-speed manual or automatic. After the first of two facelifts, the engine was changed for a slightly smaller 2.8-litre diesel with 175bhp to help with emissions. A six-speed automatic and manual were both added to improve fuel economy, too.

If you’re interested in a Land Cruiser and hoping that it will be a refined and civilised vehicle, think again. When compared with rivals, the Land Cruiser is a big and wallowy beast that would rather travel through fields than stick to the Tarmac that snakes around them. The slow steering is vague; the long-travel suspension has the car pitching in bends and when accelerating or braking, and the engine and gearbox are tuned for better driveability at low speeds rather than outright performance, so it can be quite slow.

Trims and practicality: None of this will matter to those who are after a reliable mud plugger; they'll be much more interested in the Land Cruiser's off-road tech. More basic LC3 (later Utility) versions are still very capable, but from LC4, LC5 and Invincible models onwards gets goodies such as disconnectable anti-roll bars. Further up the food chain is air suspension and multi-terrain select (similar to Land Rover’s Terrain Response), which allows you to adapt the drive modes to suit the surface you’re driving on.

It is still a pretty practical vehicle and most versions come with seven seats. It's not quite as flexible as the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90, mind, and the side-opening tailgate is very awkward to use in tight carparks, or when it’s windy. Also, because the boot floor is very high off the ground, getting things in and out of the Land Cruiser sometimes requires extra upper body strength.

Aside from the entry-level models, all versions of the Land Cruiser come with a decent amount of kit, although sat nav wasn’t standard until you went for top-of-the-range LC5 and Invincible versions.

If you're interested in buying a used Toyota Land Cruiser, check out our used car classifieds pages here.

They're not cheap. An early Land Cruiser from 2010 with plenty of miles on it starts at around £12,000 to £15,000. Examples that have a lower mileage than average are pricier at £15,000 to £18,000, while facelifted 2015 cars with the smaller 2.8-litre engine are north of £20,000. The Land Cruiser received a further facelift in 2018 and if you want one of those, be prepared to spend at least £30,000.

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MPG

Running a hefty off-road car is never going to be an inexpensive endeavour, and the same is true for the Land Cruiser. Earlier cars with the 3.0-litre engine are the thirstiest with only 34.9mpg fuel economy according to the NEDC figures, and 213g/km emissions. Later 2.8-litre models with the improved gearbox reduced consumption to 38.2mpg and 194g/km.

Road tax

If you’re buying a Land Cruiser registered after 1 April 2017, then you’ll be charged under a different road tax system based on a flat rate fee, plus an additional charge if your car cost more than £40,000 when new. These fees are currently £180 a year and £390 a year for the luxury tax. Find out more about the current road tax costs here.

Servicing

Land Cruisers that are over five years old qualify for a 20% discount on routine servicing and MOT costs if you sign up to the Toyota 5+ club. If you don’t, then an intermediate service is £250, a full version is £395.

If your budget can stretch to it, go for a later 2.8-litre diesel because it will come with the improved six-speed automatic or manual gearbox for better motorway cruising, and it’ll be marginally better for daily running costs.

Of the various specifications of Land Cruiser offered over the years, it would be the mid-range Active car we’d recommend. The interior of this Toyota isn’t the plushest around and therefore doesn’t benefit from the wood and leather fitted to top of the range Icon and Invincible models. Basic Utility models are rather cool if you like the look of steel wheels, but Active gets you all the kit you really need without setting you back too much money.

However, if you’re going for an earlier car with the 3.0-litre engine, then go for an LC4 model, although be aware that it probably come without sat nav.

Our favourite Toyota Land Cruiser: 2.8 Active

There’s only really one body-on-frame alternative to the Land Cruiser and that’s the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport. While it is the newer car, it is more raucous than the Toyota. But, it does have better smartphone integration in its favour.

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