Premium large SUV; Built in Japan |
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Good condition price range: $42,500 – $61,000* |
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Front
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Rear
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Interior
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Profile
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The first redesigned Land Cruiser in 10 years improves upon its legendary off-road capabilities while maintaining its impressive on-road manners and luxurious accommodations. Inconvenient passenger-to-cargo conversion and a steep price hike made it a good new-vehicle value only to high-rolling off-roaders and Land Cruiser loyalists. Used-vehicle prices may be more appealing, but these are far from budget-priced SUVs.
Overview
Redesigned for 2008, Toyota’s large Land Cruiser sport-utility vehicle got freshened styling and more power in a similar-sized package that retained eight-passenger seating. The lone model had a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 and a six-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain replaced a 265-hp V8 with five-speed automatic.
All-wheel drive with low-range gearing and locking center differential returned, but other newly standard features aimed toward severe off-road use. They included Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which could vary roll stiffness and allow greater wheel articulation; Hill-start Assist Control, to keep the vehicle from rolling backward on an incline; and CRAWL Control, which allowed the driver to select one of three very slow preset speeds that the vehicle would automatically maintain on declines. No longer offered was a height-adjustable suspension.
Standard safety features included antilock brakes, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags with rollover deployment, front side airbags, and second-row side airbags. Also included were driver and passenger front knee airbags. Options included a navigation system, backup camera, remote engine start, DVD entertainment, and rear-seat heaters. Rivals included the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Land Cruiser lent its basic design to the forthcoming Lexus LX 570 from Toyota’s luxury division.
Yearly Updates
2009 Land Cruiser No major changes were evident on the 2009 Land Cruiser other than new privacy glass for side and rear-quarter windows. |
2010 Land Cruiser The 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser was largely unchanged. |
2011 Land Cruiser The 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser is largely unchanged. |