Used Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 2003 - 2009 review
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a proper off-roader, but it's beaten by most rivals on the road.
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What's the used Toyota Land Cruiser like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 1 January 2006
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What's the used Toyota Land Cruiser like?
There's no getting away from it, the Toyota Land Cruiser is a very big car – longer than a Mitsubishi Shogun and barely any shorter than a Land Rover Discovery. Like those rivals, it's extremely impressive off-road, helped by optional features such as hill-start assist and hill-descent control systems.
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Overview
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a proper off-roader, but it's beaten by most rivals on the road.
Pros
- Off-road ability
- Limo-like space
- Relaxed motorway ride
Cons
- Pronounced body roll
- Size
- Dated interior
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Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC5 5dr
£6,495
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3.0 D-4D LC3 5dr
£8,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D Invincible 5dr
£9,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 5dr
£9,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 5dr
£11,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC5 5dr
£13,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 Auto 4WD Euro 5 5dr
£14,975
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC3 Auto 4WD Euro 4 5dr
£15,195
Toyota LAND CRUISER
3.0 D-4D LC4 Auto 4WD Euro 5 5dr
RRP £43,449
£15,477
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The trouble is that almost everything that makes it so good off-road means it's not so good on-road. Cars such as the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90, which are designed almost exclusively for road use, are better to drive, and even the Discovery shows up the Land Cruiser's limitations. The Toyota suffers from too much body roll and slow steering, although we do like the smooth low-speed ride.
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Likewise, you can't really fault the Land Cruiser's interior practicality – even the three-door has plenty of room for five, and the five-door will take eight – but the Discovery most things better.
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
How much does cost to run a Toyota Land Cruiser?
In addition to being big, the Land Cruiser is expensive to buy and run. It's almost as dear as the latest Land Rover Discovery, and has running costs to match.
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That said, it's no worse than its rivals. For example, insurance groups are almost exactly the same as the Discovery's and slightly better than the Jeep Grand Cherokee's.
Likewise, the fact that the Land Cruiser returns barely 30mpg on the combined cycle may not look very attractive, but again it's virtually identical to the Jeep's and Land Rover's.
Where the Land Cruiser is more impressive is in its regular servicing costs, which are lower than both the Grand Cherokee's and Discovery's. However, there is a risk that any unscheduled repairs could be dear. Warranty Direct tells us that repair costs on Toyotas (and on previous Land Cruisers in particular) are higher than average.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used Toyota Land Cruiser should I buy?
The best Toyota Land Cruiser is one from after October 2004, when our favourite engine, the 3.0-litre diesel, was uprated and the whole range gained extra standard equipment.
The only alternative to the diesel engine is a 4.0-litre V6 petrol unit. However, although it gives the big Land Cruiser an impressive turn of speed (even with a standard automatic 'box), it drinks a frightening amount of fuel in the process.
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That's not say the diesel is particularly frugal, but it is at least more economical, and its stronger low-down pull is better suited to off-roading or hauling around heavy loads.
All models are well equipped, with air-con, alloys, electric windows and a CD player across the board, so there's little point buying anything dearer than the cheapest model, the LC2 or, after the range was cut back in October 2004, the LC3.
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Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
How reliable is the Toyota Land Cruiser ?
Toyota Land Cruiser
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC5 5dr
£6,495
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC3 5dr
£8,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D Invincible 5dr
£9,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 5dr
£9,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 5dr
£11,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC5 5dr
£13,995
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC4 Auto 4WD Euro 5 5dr
£14,975
Toyota Land Cruiser
3.0 D-4D LC3 Auto 4WD Euro 4 5dr
£15,195
Toyota LAND CRUISER
3.0 D-4D LC4 Auto 4WD Euro 5 5dr
RRP £43,449
£15,477
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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