Capable & Stylish: 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV
Fresh from its redesign in 2016 that brought styling, drivetrain, and multimedia enhancements, the Land Cruiser cruises into 2017 unchanged. Toyota’s flagship SUV continues to offer a full assortment of standard luxury amenities and advanced Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) technologies, all packaged inside an updated, understated, and bold design.
Since its American market introduction six decades ago, the Land Cruiser has evolved into one of the most luxurious full-capability SUVs extant. The Land Cruiser’s iconic appearance received a number of updates last model year, with the bumper, grille, projector-beam LED low and high beam headlights, headlight cleaners, and integrated Land Cruiser logo, all contributing to the new design signature.
Emphasizing both style and safety are the Land Cruiser’s taillights with light-pipe design and LED brake lights. Full-width chrome molding accents the rear bumper. A chrome body side molding embossed with the Land Cruiser logo and 18-inch alloy wheels accentuate the Land Cruiser’s muscular profile.
Once again, the Toyota Land Cruiser comes in one version: fully equipped and with seating for eight. There are no factory options. Power for the Land Cruiser is generated by a robust 5.7L V8 engine. Teamed to that power plant is Toyota’s eight-speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i), which helps enhance acceleration.
Four-wheel drive is a given in a full-capability SUV, but not all 4WD systems are equal. The Land Cruiser’s full-time 4WD system uses a TORSEN® limited-slip locking center differential to distribute torque 40:60 front-to-rear. Should wheel slippage occur the differential can direct more torque to the wheels with the best grip.
Some additional Land Cruiser tidbits: It has a 32-degree approach angle and 24-degree departure angle, plus, a 27.5-inch fording depth. Skid plates help to protect the front suspension, radiator, fuel tank, and transfer case.
Those who tow will be especially pleased with an engine that produces 90 percent of its peak torque at a low 2,200 rpm. The standard Trailer Towing Package equips it to pull a trailer up to 8,100 pounds. The hardware needed for towing is all there including an engine oil cooler, connector and sub-wiring harness that facilitate a trailer-brake controller. Trailer Sway Control uses Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) to help counteract trailer sway, helping to make towing a more relaxed proposition.
The Land Cruiser’s rugged body-on-frame construction makes extensive use of high-strength steel – especially in the A-, B-, C-, and D-pillars, and rocker area – and provides a solid on-road driving feel. Offering the comfort of a luxury sedan in everyday driving, the Land Cruiser is always ready and able to tackle off-pavement and trail driving, making out-of-the-way vacation cabins seem less out of the way. Its suspension design combines proven trail capability with advanced control technology. Key to the Land Cruiser’s off-pavement competence is suspension articulation, facilitated by long wheel travel.
Inside the passenger cabin, semi-aniline perforated leather is available in the customer’s choice of black or Terra (brown) for 2017. Black and Terra interiors are accented by Deep Wood trim. The high-quality materials complement a center console redesign that shows a more cohesive appearance and more intuitive controls.
The driver faces a panel of bright Optitron instrument gauges, and a Multi-Information Display shows gear selection, odometer, tripmeter, fuel consumption, individual tire pressures and cruising range. The Multi-Information Display also monitors parking assist, steering wheel angle, Multi-Terrain Select including Crawl Control, Dynamic Cruise Control adjustment information, TSS P pre-collision warning alarm adjustment, Lane Departure Alert and sway warning. The center console integrates a cooler box, USB port, and cup holders.
The Land Cruiser’s four-zone automatic climate control system provides a comfortable environment for all onboard. Its 7-level blower control circulates heated or cooled air via 28 air vents located throughout the cabin, and a micro-dust and pollen filter helps keep that air clean. When it’s cold outside, the Land Cruiser’s auxiliary Positive Temperature Coefficient heater warms the cabin quickly using an electrically heated ceramic element, similar to a household space heater.
Luxury permeates all three rows. The middle row seats are also trimmed in perforated leather and feature multi-stage heating and abrasion-resistant seatback material. The 40/20/20 split seat is built for comfort and convenience. It’s got a recline feature, and a one-touch tumble mechanism makes it easy for passengers to enter and exit the third row. When you need to maximize room for either passengers or cargo, the middle row seats also slide forward and aft 4.1 inches. The third row are 50/50 split fold-down leather trimmed with folding headrests with abrasion resistant seatback materials, which seats three occupants.
Dimensions & specifications
Wheelbase: 112.2; overall length: 194.9; width: 78.0; height: 74.0
All vehicle measurements are in inches
Engine: 5.7L V8 - 381 hp at 5,600 rpm and 401 lbs-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm
Transmission: six-speed sequential shift automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 13 city/18 highway
Cargo capacity: 81.7 cubic feet
Payload capacity: 1,320 lbs.
Towing capacity: 8,100 lbs.
Safety features
Dual front airbags, dual front knee airbags, dual front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, second-row outboard seat mounted side-impact airbags, all-row Roll-Sensing side Curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with multi-terrain anti-lock, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, smart stop technology, active traction control, vehicle stability control, Torsen limited-slip center differential with locking feature, anti-theft system, engine immobilizer, front/rear parking assist sonar, Safety Connect communications system, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, off-road turn assist, trailer-sway control, hill start assist control, LED fog lamps, automatic LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, smart key system with push button start, rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers, front/rear frame mounted tow hooks, Bluetooth hands free phone system, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, HomeLink universal transceiver, automatic power door locks, tire pressure monitoring system, and navigation system.
Warranty
Basic: 3-year/36,000 mile
Powertrain: 5-year/60,000 mile
Corrosion: 5-year/unlimited
Roadside Assistance: 2-year/25,000 mile 24-hour
Pricing
The base Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV starts at $84,325. Destination charges add $1,095.
