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Premium large SUV; Built in Japan
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $40,800 – $57,800*


2013 Toyota Land Cruiser


2013 Toyota Land Cruiser


2013 Toyota Land Cruiser


2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

Pros:
  • Interior materials
  • Quietness
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Cargo room
  • Fuel economy
  • Price

Land Cruiser blends legendary off-road capability with impressive on-road manners and luxurious accommodations. However, despite its freshening for 2013, it still 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.

Overview

Land Cruiser went on hiatus for the 2012 model year, but returned for 2013 with updated styling and new features. Additionally, several features that were formerly optional became standard.

Land Cruiser was sold in a single trim level that was loaded to the hilt with standard equipment. To name just a few of the features: adaptive cruise control, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, cooled center-console storage box, keyless access and starting, and Toyota’s Entune infotainment system.

A navigation system, rearview camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, DVD entertainment, and rear seat heaters were among the formerly optional features that are now standard. The short options list consisted primarily of dealer-installed accessories such as remote engine start and bodyside moldings.

Land Cruiser was also equipped with several standard features for severe off-road use. Among them 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 an updated CRAWL Control system, which allowed the driver to select one of five very slow preset speeds that the vehicle will automatically maintain on rough terrain. New for 2013 was Toyota’s Multi-terrain Select system, which was able to alter wheel-slip control to match terrain conditions.

Land Cruisers arrived with a single powertrain: a 381 horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. All are all-wheel drive with a low-range gear and a locking center differential.

EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 models were 13 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway.

The 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser came standard with a full complement of safety features, including a front and rear obstacle detection system, 10 airbags (including knee airbags for the driver and front-passenger, front- and 2nd-row-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags for all three seating rows), and Toyota’s Safety Connect assistance system.

Yearly Updates

2014 Land Cruiser
There were no significant changes for the 2014 Land Cruiser.
2015 Land Cruiser
Toyota’s large SUV saw no significant changes for 2015.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive

Land Cruisers come with a single powertrain: a 381 horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. All are all-wheel drive with a low-range gear and a locking center differential.

dohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.7/344
Engine HP 381
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 401
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic 13/18 12.8

Road Test

The powertrain delivers strong off-the-line punch and good passing power, helped by the transmission’s quick kickdowns and smooth shifts. However, some testers complained that the throttle and brake pedals were touchy in low-speed maneuvering.

In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged a thirsty 12.8 mpg in mostly city driving. Land Cruiser uses regular-grade gas.

Land Cruiser boasts a supple ride, especially considering its off-road prowess. The suspension smothers most bumps with little disturbance, but Land Cruiser can jiggle and shake slightly over rough pavement. We also noticed some minor bobbing at highway speeds.

Body lean is fairly well controlled for the class, though the high seating position amplifies what tipping there is in fast corners. The variable-ratio steering has good feel and “quickens” the farther you get off-center, and that, combined with a fairly tight turning radius, results in good maneuverability for such a large vehicle.

Land Cruiser is as quiet as some luxury cars. Wind, road, and engine noise are well controlled, even at highway speeds. The exhaust note changes to a muted growl in full-throttle acceleration.

Large gauges are clearly marked and easy to see. The turn-signal and wiper levers move with smooth precision, as do other switches. All audio, climate, and navigation controls are mounted high on the dashboard within easy reach. The navigation/touchscreen system’s functions are intuitive and simple to decipher, though some testers complained that the system was occasionally slow to respond to inputs. We applaud the redundant radio-tuning and volume buttons on the steering wheel.

Virtually every surface that can be is richly padded except the console, and most materials would look at home in a luxury sedan. Workmanship is likewise impressive.

Large, comfortable seats with lots of adjustments combine with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel and good headroom and legroom for first-class front-seat accommodations. Visibility is OK except to the rear corners, particularly with the 3rd-row seats stowed. The standard rear-obstacle detection and rearview camera help. Ingress and egress are easy enough.

Accommodations in back are impressive as well, with plenty of headroom and legroom on comfortable seats that can fit 3 across in a pinch. However, foot space is tight unless the front seats are raised. Passengers get their own audio and climate controls. As in front, the step-in height is reasonable, thanks to the standard side steps. Second-row seats slide fore and aft about 3 inches; they need to be forward if 3rd-row passengers are to have much legroom. The 3rd row is fairly easy to access and there’s good headroom, but foot space is scarce and the low cushion forces anyone but small children into a knees-up position.

The cargo hold is a sore spot, due mainly to Land Cruiser’s “old school” design layout. It isn’t as easy to go from 8-passenger seating to maximum cargo space as it is in most SUVs. Oddly, Toyota retained the Land Cruiser’s inconvenient side-stowing split 3rd-row seat, the halves of which can’t be easily removed and are quite heavy. If left in place, each half can be stowed against its respective side wall, but that requires removing the headrest, folding the seat, and then swinging it up against the wall. That leaves only a narrow cargo area in the middle, and the folded seats block visibility to the rear corners. Second-row seats fold easily. Interior storage is quite good, with large, two-tiered glove and console boxes, a pair of covered console cupholders, and large map pockets with cupholders.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Land Cruiser

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 8
80%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 8
80%
Cargo Room - 8
80%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 62

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
112.2 194.9 77.6 74.0 5730
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
81.7 24.6 8
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.3 38.9 42.3 36.0
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Not tested 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Trouble Spots

Rear axle noise
Description: Faulty breather plug could cause failure of differential or transfer case. (2015)

Recall History

2014-15 Land Cruiser
Description: Certain 2014 model Land Cruiser vehicles may have accessories such as running boards that were incorrectly installed by Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, (SET). Fasteners may not have been tightened correctly, possibly allowing the accessories to fall off the vehicle.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on May 22, 2017.
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