2018 Toyota Land Cruiser – German Review – Video
The Land Cruiser name is legend around the globe, a tough-as-nails SUV that established itself through decades of all-terrain adventure. A funny thing happened along the way: Land Cruiser evolved into a premium luxury model while getting even tougher, turning into a flagship SUV for the brand with no peer among its competitors. And does it have some history! The 1957 Land Cruiser, a bare utility machine, was among the first Toyota vehicles sold in the United States. Today, classic Land Cruisers command top dollar at collector-car auctions.
The 8-person SUV features the advanced Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) system as standard equipment. Updates for 2018 include standard swing-away exterior mirrors that automatically activate when the vehicle is keyed on/off.
Using millimeter-wave radar and a monocular camera sensor, TSS-P is designed to detect a preceding pedestrian or a preceding vehicle, and can automatically apply braking if necessary to help mitigate or avoid collisions in certain conditions. TSS-P includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection function; Lane Departure Alert with Sway Warning System; Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beams.
Whether carrying a full load of passengers and their luggage or pulling a trailer, the body-on-frame Land Cruiser can easily handle the task with its 381-horsepower 5.7-liter DOHC V8 engine. Equipped with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), the aluminum V8 produces 401 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. Its 8-speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) features manual control when needed, such as when descending steep inclines.
The 5.7-liter V8 produces 90 percent of its peak torque at a low 2,200 rpm, making it an outstanding towing machine. The standard Trailer Towing Package equips it to pull a trailer up to 8,100 pounds. All the hardware needed for towing is standard, including an engine oil cooler, as well as a connector and sub-wiring harness for a trailer-brake controller. Trailer Sway Control uses Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) to help counteract trailer sway for a more relaxed towing experience.