Mine, at nearly 20 years of age, has just crapped its brake ABS and booster system. The back axle and various bits are now getting pretty rusty too. Do I spend nearly £4k UK on the brake repair on a vehicle worth about £4k after its been repaired? That's the type of question you have to ask yourself when running something luxury and big long term.
yeah even at 86 grand its not terrible if you look at the fact itll prolly out live you. but honestly, hes right about their should be a utilitarian version. idgaf about fancy interior shit, i just want a badass offroader with a V8 that i can drive forever. my biggest issue with the 4runner is their isnt a V8 offered
dr. breen's beard good news is toyota said they are going away with the luxury and focusing on the roots of the land cruiser and gonna focus on it being off road specific for the 300. Can’t wait for the new 4runner, land cruiser, tundra, Sequoia.
@@dr._breens_beard lc is sold in toy's major markets as GX/205; totally stripped down versions with a diesel. Its just EU and US where only the LUX/LUX+ with this ridiculous price tags are shipped to, unfortunately. Also, there is a much preferred 4.5 200 kW diesel version everywhere else but EU and US. Has to do with emissions regulations. Toyota could be no longer bothered with the EU emissions nonsense so they stopped bringing LC200 overall (emissions fleets average numbers). I think that LC100 was still the best of luxury/reliability worlds, but 200 is very nicer. I am getting mine next week :-)
The Land Cruiser is designed more for Stealth Wealth buyers who will keep this car for very long times (the average owner keeps this truck longer than other models) the resale value supports this as well
Right my uncle is a millionaire many times over and drives a land cruiser and suburban. Hes a crab tho 😂 biggest penny pincher ive ever seen. But hes filthy rich bc of it 😂
My mom bought a 2005 Land Cruiser brand new, fully loaded, and she still has it to this day, 15 years later, driving it every day. 270,000 miles on tue clock. I learned to drive on that car, I’ve taken it all across California and parts of Nevada and Arizona, taken it off reading on hunting trips with my dad out in the Mojave desert. I just love that car so much.
At the end of the day though, this is my absolute favorite modern SUV. Everything about it just works. It's functional, relatively powerful, and highly versatile. Much of what people complain about in these vehicles (lack of technology, features, dated materials and design) are exactly why I love these things - they're inherently simple and straightforward. They're reliable to a fault, and darn near perfect if you just want something that will last and last.
I can attest to that. I happen to move around countries where roads don't exist, and the Land Cruiser and its little brother,, the Hilux, seem to be favourites. Land Cruiser is an absolute beast crossing a country -- gets a lot of respect, too. Even the UN uses them in Africa. Toyota have it figured out when it comes to usable, reliable cars. Major components of the Land Cruiser come with a 20+ year warranty!
I totally agree , I love them for the very reason people criticise them, old school buttons and everything just works like charm, and things that don't brake down easily, I love this car ,I can't wait to own one
As an owner of a 2016 Land Cruiser with over 30k miles on it, I’ll try and address some of your concerns as well as the commenters’. 1. Gas mileage. Yes it’s poor, but I’m honestly not sure what you were doing to get it down to 13mpg as you report. The only time I see it that low is if I am towing. Even if I drive it like I stole it, I can’t get mine to average below 14mpg over the course of a tank. If there is no headwind and I drive it conservatively on the highway, 20mpg is realistic and 18-19 is typical. If you go a bit faster and keep up with traffic I’ll get around 17mpg. Around town in traffic I average about 15mpg for daily driving. This is not a problem for me in a daily driver. I actually consider it good gas mileage in a daily driver truck since I’m used to driving trucks most of my life. A truck with nearly 400ho that can easily average 15mpg city is impressive to me compared to vehicles of ten years ago. Much of this is due to weight, but also to relatively rugged and bulletproof engine design. No direct injection. No turbos. Capable of running on poor quality gas around the world, or in certain parts of the US. This is part of the appeal. My biggest complaints regarding gas mileage is that the truck is very sensitive to headwinds, and the tank is only 23 gallons, which limits range to around 400 miles (plus the fuel gauge is very conservative and reads empty with about 3 gallons left). 2. Why this vs a 4Runner? Honestly the 4Runner is a great vehicle, but it’s not quite as good as the Land Cruiser. The LC is much nicer inside, rides better, is much roomier, looks better since the 2016 update, and has a better engine with comparable gas mileage in real world driving. The third row is a little better, but it’s still not meant for adults. Plus even though her 4Runner is pretty reliable, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Land Cruiser. Toyota puts their heart and soul into this flagship vehicle. It, more than any other, is a showcase for the world of what Toyota’s values are. The only other Toyota that comes close is the Lexus GX, which is sold as a Land Cruiser everywhere else in the world. Both are made in Toyota’s best plant in Japan with the best record for reliability, and they take extra care in building these. This is why even though Land Cruisers don’t sell well in the US, you constantly see them in the roads and highways. They just keep going and going for hundreds of thousands of miles. If you get a new vehicle every 4 years it’s not for you. If you buy one to keep for 20 years, you can’t beat them. 3. Price - Yes, $86k is a lot of money, but not as much as it used to be. Look around and it’s easy to find these selling for $79k or less new on the lot. They’re slow sellers. Then compare to a top trim level Yukon or Suburban and realize those also sell for over $80k today, and this has a nicer interior than those. It is close to the interior of the Escalade, and better in many ways. The Lexus LX is even nicer. For what it is, it is competitive in this high end of the market. The one fly in the ointment is the new Nissan Armada. It has a nice interior comparable to, possibly nicer than, the Land Cruiser in the Nissan’s higher trim levels but costs tens of thousands less. It also has more room and is based on an established and fairly reliable platform used elsewhere in the world as the only direct competitor to the Land Cruiser, the Nissan Patrol. The American version is not as off road capable, but it’s not bad at all and better than any domestic in the category. You can get a nice one for about $56k (and similar power and gas mileage) and pocket the rest. Still, though, if you’re after reliability and off road prowess the Land Cruiser can’t be beat.
This x100. Nissan Armada is a fine choice if one cannot afford a LC. That said, Nissan's infotainment is much worse than LC. Like you mentioned LC has better off-road capability and will hold value better too, there are some used armadas for sale less than a year old with low mileage for ~$35k. Yes, the cost savings could be significant, but I really do think the LC is worth the extra money. It's kind of like comparing the Sequoia to the LC, there are a multitude of reasons why there's such a price difference. I'm biased though -- I have been in love with love land cruisers for years, and have never been fan of the Nissan brand in general.
Nice comments about the LC and I'm glad you mentioned the 4Runner in comparison. I own a 2008 LC and a 2005 4Runner and I can say without a doubt that I like my 4Runner much better for off roading. The LC is heavy, doesn't maneuver well in tight situations, feels top heavy and leans more than my 4Runner, is wider, I don't believe the LC has more ground clearance, and actually has less cargo space because of the third row seats. I know I can take the seats out, but what a pain to take them out and then put them back in all of the time. My LC does feel more roomy, seems to have a more comfortable ride on the pavement, and does burn more fuel than my 4Runner. Eventhough my 4Runner is a better off road vehicle for me, I still keep my LC because I like it. It has some cool factor about it that is difficult to explain. Anyway, that's just my opinion and I'm not an expert with Toyotas. I feel like I got more bang for the buck with my 4Runner over my LC.
In the middle east, this truck comes with variation that is more than insurance packages.. Here in Saudi Arabia we have the following: 4.0L v6 with 5sp manual or 6sp auto 4.6L v8 with 6sp auto 4.5L twin turbo v8 disel with 6sp auto And the 5.7L v8 with 8sp auto It starts from around $45k to around $88k for the VX-S model which has a little more than the US-spec Land Cruiser. They offer variations with a spare tire mounted on the back on its own mount and a winch. They are the definition of 4x4 in Saudi Arabia. By the way, the interior is one of the best interiors that hold up to the extreme use. No noises or squeaks even after 150k+ miles on these. They are that good, but goodness comes with a price :/ On a side note, we don't get the 4runner anymore :(. I wish we could have the 4runner trd pro instead of the fj cruiser (yes, they still make it for the middle east).
I disagree! He provided comedic value which, as someone who has suffered from depression, I find probably more valuable than most. Laughter is said to be the best medicine :P
alexander1485 They're pretty reliable... but not like this. The Land Cruiser is so reliable that the Al Qaeda uses it in high temperature deserts. In dusty, sandy, dry salt bed terrain with obviously little to no maintenance (Since I don't think there are Toyota service centers around war zones.) against mil spec hummers with a fleet of technicians that take care of them at HQ.
The not offered in USA anymore Mitsubishi Montero is another competitor....I have the last year in USA 2006. It is built like a tank and they commonly run to 250-300k miles without major repair. Like the Toyota, the interior could be better.
A buddy of mine has a '94 land-cruiser in which he has done 480,000 km with no significant issues. He intends to keep it until he drops figuring that's going to happen before the LC dies.
I'm pretty much at the point where I wouldn't want to take a serious look at a car until I've seen one of your reviews on it. Seriously, thanks, this is the best car review channel on RU-vid. Even the reviews on cars I have no interest in are entertaining and informative.
I love this car. It feels like you are driving an elephant (solid) that is wearing roller skates (nimble). It handles beautifully. Thanks for a great review.
Trenton Oliver 2013 is a good year, Toyota was able to get the quirks out of the initial 200 series and it got a bit of a face lift as well. I'm personally not a fan of the new front design on the 2016-18 model. I got mine CPO with 41k miles. Its so smooth and refined, driving experience is unreal (unless you want to throw it into curves). Curious, how do you like your 100 series? I was debating between a 60-70k mile 2006-07 100 series... what are the differences in the drive?
That's the most overused cliche on the planet almost. I've owned three Range Rovers, two Discovery and three Defenders, one Defender 110 for 22 years, plus two Land Cruisers, the current one for nearly 20 years, and the only one of them that has ever let me down and needed to be trucked home was an 80 Series Land Cruiser. My current Land Cruiser has been reliable throughout until a few weeks ago when the brake system ABS and booster failed. It is currently out of service while I decide whether spending £4000 including parts, labour and fluid is worth it on a car that is of this age.
From an African in Botswana.....our government here only buys the 70 and 200 series landcruise and they last for years and require little maintenance. The only government official whose driven in a Range Rover is the The President.
Your experience is by far the exception to the norm. I am happy that you had a pleasant experience with the LR products. I have owned 4 RR , one disco and one 110 . only the disco worked well the rest were unreliable .
Great review - especially under the hoist. I’d like to see more reviewers do the same. Here in Oz (the KDSS was designed here in Western Australia) we get the 200 series in higher and lower specs with the twin turbo V8 diesel across the range. It’s a torque monster with relatively good efficiency and a great touring range from the 140L tank. Barely anybody here buys the petrol model.
Mark Blythne, I hope you are rustproofing it because a Sequoia with an odometer in KMs is probably being driven on salt strewn Canadian roads. Am I right?
Great review video. Spot on commentary and thoughts. Really well done. I own a 2014 LC, bought it new and currently have 62k miles on it and LOVE IT, but it's not for everyone. As you say, if you're staying on the pavement and/or not towing there's likely a better choice for you. The gas mileage really is bad. But if you can get over that, it's a special special vehicle. I regularly load my wife, 2 kids and dog in it and tow a 27' 5,000 lb travel trailer all over the western U.S. and have spent a lot of time off pavement. Aside from swapping out the original tires for BFG KO2's it has no other upgrades and it has no problem pulling that trailer, it's calm at highway speeds (even when pulling the trailer) and is truly special off pavement. After 3 years and 62k pretty hard miles, other than the routine maintenance, it has required exactly 1 repair; passenger door lock actuator failed. I blame the Death Valley wash board for that one! I'm driving this one until the wheels fall off and assuming Toyota doesn't mess too much with the design, will be buying another one. Love, love, love it!
My father got his Land Cruiser in 1978, when i was 5. I've had one ever since i could afford one in 1999. Ive never bothered with any other car, except Hilux which i called junior 😅 Hilux was cheaper to run in my mining days, really deep and rough so not worried about paint etc I know about fuel etc so i got a 4.5l turbo diesel 😊😊😊😊 There's nothing better, i never regret a day.
Just ran across this since it's a couple of years old, but for the most part a good review, a few bones to pick since I've driven mine for over a week. As the owner of a 2019 LC, I drive mine 40 miles each way to work everyday and average 17 mpg, still not great, but damn that engine rocks! Almost the same gas mileage as my 2002 limited 4Runner that was 18 mpg with an under powered six cylinder, but not quite as good as the other seven 4th and 5th generation limited 4Runners that we've owned over the years which were around 20 mpg. That being said, the LC does have some quirks as all do, but the center stack is one of the best I've seen and the luxury for an actual body on frame 4wd SUV is unmatched. Sitting in the back seat is like sitting in your couch at home. The reason most people buy the LC over the the other "SUV's/Crossovers" is that we can actually take our vehicles off road. The LC provides probably most most off road capable vehicle off of the shelf of any vehicle out there other than maybe the Raptor. But the LC will last 25 years and is actually reliable. The LC is an Icon.
Nice review, I just got my 2019 three weeks ago and love it. You comments about the brakes are spot on 👍. Still trying to get used to them. Gas mileage does suck, but my wife and I Have been driving under powered 4Runners since 2002 and I will take the power and torque for 5 mpg less. Good job, thanks.
I totally agree with your assessment of Land Cruiser; it is not a large family road trip suv and it built for off road. I just got the heritage edition for its reliability and off road trips and camping. As a solo hiker, it is a perfect suv for me and I do not careful RV either. LC gives me a freedom to go all over the country including Alaska and to Canada to see the Arctic Ocean😅
The jump seats are the best! There is no vehicle I’d rather have at any price point than the LC; 911 targa 4 gts is 2nd 😀. And the affordable option for the LC is a 4Runner. Fuel economy could be better but it is what it is in the US. Other countries have the diesel as an option. This vehicle will last you a lifetime without issue. So is it better to have a fail proof ride or better fuel economy? No suburban, Tahoe, Escalade, Navigator, Jeep, etc., can say that. Good review. Thanks.
One of the reasons this vehicle is 85,000. is because it's assembled in Japan, NOT USA. The import taxes into the U.S. alone make up for high sticker price. If you're looking for longevity, and trouble free, this truck won't fail you.
I bought a 100 series, the model prior to the above 200 series, new in 1998. So it will be twenty in six month's time and still drives nearly like new. In the UK we had the hydraulically assisted 'active skyhook' suspension on most models sold, which was only available on the Lexus in the USA I believe. Until last month, and in nearly 200,000 hard farm and towing miles, I had nothing mechanical go wrong. Original exhaust but had an alternator and on its third set of dual batteries. Its a diesel 4.2 litre automatic, four speed. These sold very well in the UK. The 200 series as tested, not so much. It just didn't sell and was/Is outclassed by more modern alternatives and is too big and thirsty, even though only diesel's have been sold here for 30 years or more. They have actually stopped importing it for the last five years or so. In the last few weeks my electric brake booster/ABS/master cylinder unit has developed a fault. Parts price only is over £3000UK. I have to ask myself whether its worth spending that much on a 20 year old car. I'll think about it over my Christmas turkey.
Not too many at breakers. Most old ones seem to end their life in Africa and since the brake unit failure is very common, I suspect that any used ones for sale might have the same issue. How could I tell?
They need a Diesel for worldwide markets that can meet California emission standards. I have spent a lot of time in the UK but most people on this continent would be shocked by the Diesel soot of Europe.
What soot? All diesel cars and trucks made from about 2007 have DPF soot filters and gas engines now produce as much soot as diesel ones. There are old Diesel engines in use of course but my 1998 200,000 mile LC does not create any visible soot. Not like those massive American long-nose trucks. For those that doubt me, come visit Europe. It's not far.
If I remember correctly diesels have significantly higher amounts of very fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is not caught by the filters, and significantly more NOx emissions as well
I also thought that the coolbox in the center console was kind of silly. But then we took our Landcruiser on a 6,500 mile road trip this summer. That coolbox was awesome. We always had cold bottles of water available. No need for a cooler or ice in the back. The Landcruiser is great for what it is. It is a very comfortable road trip machine. I took it off road in Colorado, up steep, rocky trails crossing 12,000’ passes. No, it isn’t a Wrangler, but within the limits of its geometry, it is quite capable off road. That said, this is a 6,000 lb, body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. It isn’t a crossover. It handles well, for a truck. It drives well, for a truck. It rides well, for a truck. But you will never mistake it for a car. You are not going to get to a favorite off-ramp and decide to blast around it at speed. If you don’t take it off road or tow, then you might be better served by a crossover or minivan.
The big negative of the fuel economy isn’t a factor at all for someone that can afford a 85k vehicle. People buy this for its legendary reliability & performance.
I actually think the fuel economy is ok for what it is. I have a 200 series , a Tundra, a Cummins 2500, a sienna and an es350. My 200 series is averaging 16 a tank I live in the country. But considering it is heavier than the Tundra and full time 4wd i think its pretty good i get 14 in my Tundra 15 in Cummins. 28 in es350 and 22 in Siena.
Totally agree, they need a $55k utility version of it. The only thing it has over a 4Runner to me is the V8 and if I needed that so badly for towing, I'd be in a 350/3500 series something. Hell a Nissan NV3500 van at what $40k would do that all day long.
I should have purchased one of these new in 2018 or so. At that time they were discounted. Now that they are not imported any longer, they have risen in value significantly.
It’s not for the average person or to be affordable. It’s for a certain class of people. And your correct on the gas issue. Someone who can drop $80k doesn’t need to worry about spending the $$$ on gas. Now Toyota should make the Land Cruiser get better mileage for environmental reasons. Don’t make it affordable so that you see every other person in the middle class driving them. Dint make or change the Land Cruiser so you see it like a Highlander or a Ford. It’s a treat to see one on the road since you rarely see them. Let anyone else who can’t afford one buy a Highlander or a Jeep or a Ford or something they can afford. Don’t strip something just because everyone can’t afford it. It’s not for everyone! Keep the Land Cruiser‘s History going strong!
I have a v8 landcruiser 2008 and absolutely love it, yes its a bit thirsty but boy it's worth it, I think it will outlive me. 15years old and drives like new.
Twin turbo v8 diesel version is alot more economical and is the big seller here is Australia. But much agreed about the petrol version. Very thirsty. Good review though. Cheers.
I think the Sequoia is the car that should be the one you’re looking for at the end but isn’t quite there. With 80% of the features/towing/off-road (doesn’t a 1st gen share its drivetrain with a 100LC?) for 50% of the price while being a bit bigger for the 3rd row it brings the price down and is more useful as a family hauler but keeps the low MPGs and adds quality issues. Hopefully a 3rd gen could fix some of the quality issues and “add” some lightness or something to fix the mileage.
Maybe I'm too poor to understand, but why would you spend 85 thousand dollars and then take this thing off road where it will be scratched, beaten, and rolled. If you end up taking a machine like this into the apocalypse, it'll be because the original owner was eaten by their own zombie children.
For $85,000 there shouldn't be ANY plastics. It's not like you're getting a Mercedes, so a portion of the 85k isn't going to brand name, so logically the 85k should be going directly into the car itself, and all the plastics, really turn me off. The price tag just doesn't make sense to me, especially for the top of the line Toyota. They could've fitted absolutely stunning Japanese woods in the interior, and even cheap metals are 100 times better than even the best plastics. Really disappointed in toyota's complacent attitude towards their cars. Their reliability schtick isn't enough to separate them from it's competitors anymore. But absolutely fantastic review as always, I just think a car can be ergonomically great without all these drawbacks, in my opinion of course.
Simon García you can't image people pay 200000 dollars for this car. It's way better than BMW or Benz . High resale value. Off-road capility and reliability.
They are expensive because they are intended for long term off road use and abuse with minimal failure, this required billions for this SUV alone in engineering and R&D for Toyota from what I remember
My mom daily drives a 100-series with a lift. 230k miles and only the fuel pump and the starter have gone out. Take care of them, they take care of you.
I have an ‘11 Land Cruiser. The brakes are strange, but work as designed. It appears to be virtually the same with the ‘17. ‘Mushy’ when you initially apply the pedal, but as long as you’re aware of / familiar with how the braking system behaves (and remember it’s three tons with a full tank of gas and you sitting in it), you’ll be fine. Yes, the MPG is painful.
I wonder if you will act like the stinger was brought down from heaven on the wings of angels like every other reviewer that has giggled like a horny school girl after driving it. Geez its like Kia paid them to wet themselves with excitement because they all praise the same things.
flipfloplogic lol okayyyy, I guess if every reviewer loves it, and it doesn't align with your views they most all be biased Kia fanboys or be paid by Kia right?
Great review, found you by accident and now binge watching your vids, love em. Would be curious to see you do a review on the redesigned 2018 chevy traverse. Supposedly shaved 400 pounds off the porker and put in a natural aspiration 3.6 with 310 hp. Might be fun.
I too have a Drake II and it is rare to find someone else who does too. I'm not impressed by it too much. The flappers leak too often even after replacing. Should have designed the drain opening better. On the upside, when fully pressing down the flush lever it will produce a forceful push enough to flush a grapefruit or raincoat.
When we were in Tokyo a few years back we made a point to visit the main Toto showroom and visitor center. It's like a Tokyo motor show for bathroom technology.
I don't mean to sound like an arrogant international, but the fuel economy in the 4.5 V8 turbo diesel is pretty great by US standards. If only you could get it there.
The spare comes down with a pulley that cranks using the tire iron. Little hatch hidden inside the tail gate opens and you put the iron through. Few turns and it's lowered down on the ground. Or thats how it works on the GX470 and 4runner iirc
Probably the last standing centennial between cars made to break and cars u drive and pass it to ur next generation. Someday i am going to get one and drive it till my last days.
The Expedition overland guys use a LC,$runner and a Taco! They sometimes hit some pretty muddy area's.Not rockcrawling but some very scenic wet muddy trails.So it must not do to bad. They have been using it to tow a trailer with some equipment.
Pity the US didn't get the twin turbo diesel V8 like we did. They have huge torque, get good economy and sound great with an aftermarket exhaust. Only downside is a low hanging alternator which needs to be replaced with a sealed one to keep the mud out.
Ireneus Justin Policarp but would you want to pay huge extra money because of the discounting cash flow ? Because remember the company has to increase the amount for such long term financing because of the time value of money. 80,000 USD after 25 years might worth less than 40,000 USD in todays money.
In Australia we get one with a 4.5L twin Turbo Diesel- Noone buys petrol (gas) versions here, You can also get diferent trim levels- You're driving the "Sahara" (top of the line) version which retails for about 130K AU. The bottom of the range GX is about 80K but it's really basic.
Buy one that is a few years old. It is still in the 60s, but you are not eating the initial depreciation. Plus this is a 200k plus mile vehicle, and buying one with 25-30k miles is a non issue as long as the interior has not been ripped up.
in my country we have another level of options in the LC200 like 20” wheels , sport/sport+ / comf / eco / normal drive modes and we’ve got a air suspinsion that can rise up and get lower we have a black / white edition and finally it’s available with 4 deferent engines v6 4.0L 271HP v8 4.6L 308hp D4D v8 twin turbo 4.5L 234hp and 640nm of turqe and the 5.7
I love this car and what it stands for, I can get over the plastics and crappy interior materials because I know it will stand the test of time. If I could afford an $85k suv, I would get this over anything else. Yes, having to stop to refuel frequently is annoying, but spending 50-100 bucks more per month literally makes no difference to people who can actually afford these. I can get over all the flaws this might have because I know it will take me anywhere I need to go and back with zero issues. Besides reliability, the notion of stealth wealth is what sets this apart from the range rovers and other 85k suvs. If you know, you know -- and that's pretty cool.
Any wonder that your fuel use was up. Enjoying the sound of that V8 and moving that much weight around like that will do it every time regardless of which petrol V8 you are driving. Get a Prius for your daily commute.
The only people who would criticise the LC200 Sahara are those who are jealous and can't afford one. Yes, they are a bit thirsty but if fuel is an issue go buy a mid-range ute. I hate to hear people whinging about money. If you can't afford something, go do something about it until you don't have to whinge any more! The LC200 Sahara is the best 4WD on the planet.
This SUV makes more sense in other countries that people use them for their off-road capability everyday. In the U.S. they're used by people that can afford them but don't take advantage of them
Owned an FJ in 1980's. The main problem then, was rust on underbody. Eventually sold it to a logger. Who was driving it exclusively in bush. I saw it five years later in the local supermarket but did not chat with owner. Those diesel engines were bulletproof.
Chassis rust is always a problem on this kind of truck. I've waxed the chassis on mine thrice but things like brackets, the fuel filler pipe, the cargo area underfloor and the rear axle are getting really crusty now. I also put a new front wing on it a few months ago due to a big hole above the front bumper in front of the wheel.
