2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

Pros: Robust off-road abilities; impressive quietness; “old-school” architecture and Toyota quality appeals to a select group of buyers

Cons: Fuel economy; disappointing cargo versatility, mainly due to tedious side-folding 3rd-row seats; feels a bit archaic compared to many rivals

CG Says: The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser adds a third-row-seat option to the Heritage Edition. There will also be a new 200 Series model with ventilated front seats, power tilt/telescoping steering and other amenities. Land Cruiser is a premium full-size SUV with traditional body-on-frame construction. It seats up to eight in three rows of seating. (Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, sells a high-trim version of the Land Cruiser badged Lexus LX 570.) A 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to an 8-speed automatic is the sole powertrain. Four-wheel drive and a 2-speed transfer case are standard. Standard safety features include a front collision avoidance system, blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Land Cruiser is well equipped and a rear-seat entertainment system is the only factory option (not available Heritage Edition). Standard equipment includes leather upholstery on all three rows of seats, heated/ventilated front seats, four-zone automatic climate controls, and power sunroof. Land Cruiser blends legendary off-road capability with impressive on-road manners and luxurious accommodations. However, it feels rather archaic compared to most of the competition, largely due to its limited passenger/cargo versatility. Land Cruiser’s staunchly traditional architecture appeals to a select group of high-rolling off-roaders and brand loyalists, but most premium-large SUV shoppers will probably be better served by less expensive, more-mainstream class competitors.