The 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser is an icon for Toyota, but it's also like a misfit at a high school dance. At a time when every manufacturer is trying to create a light-duty carlike crossover, the Land Cruiser continues to stay true to its 53-year history in America as a tough, all-terrain sport-utility vehicle. But to blend into the dance of stylish crossovers in the marketplace, the Land Cruiser has packaged its go-anywhere capability within a well-appointed shell.
At the heart of this full-size SUV is a 5.7-liter V8 that pumps out 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque and it's been specifically designed to allow the Land Cruiser to either scramble up a craggy peak. Full-time four-wheel drive with low-range gearing further enhances the Land Cruiser's off-road capability, as does its "Crawl Control," a three-speed hill ascent and descent mode in which the throttle and brake are electronically manipulated to maintain a constant, controllable speed over challenging terrain, freeing the driver to concentrate on the obstacles ahead.
Both on- and off-road abilities are enhanced with Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which automatically controls the front and rear antiroll bars depending on the driving conditions. Basically, this allows for more body control while cornering on pavement, a smoother ride on the highway and greater wheel articulation (travel) when navigating an off-road trail.
As a large SUV, the 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser is a strong choice in the segment. True, it is quite expensive compared to most other large SUVs. But when looking at other direct competitors -- the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, for instance -- you'll likely find each falls well short on capability or value for the dollar. At the same time, the Land Rover LR4 offers similar capabilities but is notably cheaper.
Land Cruiser owners will feel perfectly at home, yet there is a modern, technical feel to the cabin that integrates features that have trickled down from the Lexus LX 470. The overall sense is of conservative design tastes, with all features smoothly integrated, prioritizing value and quality over style. Every aspect of the interior reinforces a sense of security.
Much of this feeling exists on an unconscious level, generated by an unusually quiet cabin, a distinct lack of clutter, and the characteristic scent of leather. While the interior is not opulent in design, there is nothing cheap or garish about it. Attention to detail can be seen in the stitching on the leather and the tight seams between the components of the dash and console.
Front-row seats are medium-firm, supportive and highly adjustable. The driver's seat has 10-way adjustability with power lumbar support, and the steering wheel itself has power tilt and telescopic adjustments with generous range. The front cabin is spacious enough, with ample legroom and headroom for all but the tallest drivers. Between the seats is a roomy center console, which has two levels inside. The Upgrade Package converts the center console into an air-conditioned cooler box.
Chrome-accented Optitron style gauges are mounted in a deeply shaded instrument pod, flanked by a multi-information display and shift-position indicator. Subdued gray leather trim with slim silver accents and wood grain moldings are used throughout the cabin.
Second-row seating is comfortable and well appointed.
Third-row legroom and headroom is at a premium, however, so these seats are best occupied by smaller people. Access to the third row, via a tumble-forward passenger-side seat, is not easy for adults.
Most of the time, it's likely that the third-row seats will be folded sideways and stowed on their mounts to allow for cargo. It's an arrangement that looks makeshift, but works quite well in practice. The mounting setup holds the seats tightly, braced with straps so they don't vibrate, and with the seats stowed quite a bit of room becomes available. If you really need all the room back there, you can remove the rear row altogether. While the Land Cruiser is not as spacious as, say, a Suburban, it is versatile enough to accommodate 81 cubic feet of cargo.
The air conditioning system supplies four climate-control zones with 28 vents located throughout the cabin. First- and second-row passengers have individual controls, so they can stay comfortable if one side of the vehicle is exposed to the sun. The fan has seven speeds.
The JBL audio system does not produce perfect surround sound but, with 14 speakers, it fills the cabin well. The head unit is a Pioneer item, and the system is MP3 and WMA compatible. With the optional navigation system, which we had on our test unit, the audio system is controlled via the eight-inch navigation touch screen. We're familiar with the way the audio and HVAC controls work with Toyota navigation systems but, even if we weren't, the touch-screen arrangement seems reasonably intuitive. Almost every menu is accessible with one or two touches and there are no joy-stick controls that require push-and-turn sequences. Our only beef with the navigation system is that Toyota does not permit changing a route or any other input while the vehicle is being driven; you have to pull over, bring it to a stop and put the gear selector in Park. The optional nine-inch LCD rear-seat entertainment system plays DVDs and has audio/video jacks for video games.
Keyless entry, a feature we have come to like, is available with either of the two available options packages. With the Bluetooth key fob anywhere on your person, doors click open at a touch of the handle.
The Toyota Land Cruiser, with its upright bodywork and wide, flat hood, is unmistakably linked to the historic Land Cruiser line. The exterior design has the traditional distinct flare on the front fenders, horizontal four-slotted grille and rear liftgate. In front are compound headlamps, and LED tail lights are another contemporary touch.
The effect is to stay with the Land Cruiser lineage. There is no bling factor in the Land Cruiser design, which is solid, stable and grounded in every sense of the word. It is designed to be impressive more for what it is, than how it looks.
The Land Cruiser is the result of efforts to reduce wind noise and clean up the coefficient of drag. The wipers use an aero blade design for quiet operation, sweep a large area, and retract low on the windshield to reduce wind noise. The mirrors are shaped and mounted so as to keep whistle to a minimum, and the tow hitch has a cover to clean up the rear bumper. Overall, it has a modern appearance, yet it is unmistakably a Land Cruiser.
The Land Cruiser is intended to be off-road-capable. The rear suspension is multilink, but the rear axle is solid, which has off-road advantages but can be a detriment to ride and handling on pavement. The Land Cruiser has a Low gear in its transfer case, along with an adaptive suspension and a feature called Crawl Control that manages the throttle while the driver steers over obstacles. Mechanical features include:
*5.7-liter V-8 makes 381 horsepower and 401 pounds-feet of torque
*Six-speed automatic transmission
*Full-time four-wheel drive
*8,200-pound towing capacity
Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes (with brake assist and multi-terrain programming), stability control, front and second-row side airbags, front knee airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.
The 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser also receives Toyota's Safety Connect telematics system, which is similar to GM's OnStar, notifying emergency responders if the airbags deploy or if a severe rear-end collision is detected.
The optional advanced seatbelt system (which is included with the Upgrade package) will tighten the front seatbelts when the brakes are suddenly applied or when tire slippage is detected by the stability control system. And as with all of Toyota's 2011 models, the Land Cruiser also has the company's "Smart Stop," a throttle override/brake enhancement system.
reference:www.cars.com,www.edmunds.com,autos.aol.com
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