Used Toyota Land Cruiser for sale: everything you need to know
The Toyota Land Cruiser name is almost as old as Land Rover and Jeep, with the earliest model arriving in 1951. Over the past 70-plus years, Toyota has refined it into one of the toughest and most reliable SUVs in the world, sold in nearly 200 countries, and used by hundreds of thousands of drivers in places where nothing else will do.
Its presence in the UK has always been a little smaller, without the kind of terrain or driving conditions that prioritise the Toyota’s qualities. But it still has a loyal following and the cars’ durability means there is always a good choice of used models available from across the decades. Here we’re concentrating on the model sold between 2009 and 2023 - a new Land Cruiser has just gone on sale in 2024.
Should you buy a Toyota Land Cruiser?
If you really, really need to get where you’re going, even if that destination doesn’t necessarily involve roads, then there are few better vehicles on the planet than the Toyota Land Cruiser. Like the brand’s Hilux pickup it’s got a reputation for going on forever and being pretty much unstoppable in the meantime, but as a conventional SUV rather than a pickup, the Land Cruiser also plays the everyday luxury role a bit better than the Hilux does.
Like other 4x4s the Land Cruiser has become more sophisticated over the years, but it hasn’t ditched the rugged construction that makes it useful in the toughest of environments. So it’s still impressive off-road, with plenty of wheel articulation and ground clearance, and modern technology like adaptive suspension and active anti-roll bars means it’s more adept on the road than it used to be too - though it’s still nowhere near as car-like as most regular SUVs.
Likewise, the cabin probably won’t impress anyone used to a Mercedes or BMW, but you can be fairly sure everything will still be working in decades’ time, and it’s still pretty plush too - Icon models and up get leather trim, the seats are comfortable, the driving position commanding, and the fixtures and fittings tough and long-lasting.
The Land Cruiser used to square up to other tough Japanese 4x4s such as the Mitsubishi Shogun and Nissan Terrano, but more modern rivals include cars like the Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and even the Ineos Grenadier. All are incredibly accomplished, though we’ll have to see whether any are still going strong in 30 or 40 years like a Land Cruiser…
What’s the best used Toyota Land Cruiser model to buy?
There’s one stand-out model that we’ve not covered in detail here and that’s the Land Cruiser V8, which was only offered in the larger Land Cruiser body. It’s fairly thirsty and costs a fortune to tax, but it’s probably the Land Cruiser in its ultimate form - and quite appealing as a result. The regular four-cylinder diesel models in the regular body are of more use to most people though. There’s not a lot to choose between the old 3-litre and the newer 2.8, though the newer engine is a bit smoother. Icon or Invincible trim are the picks for most buyers - both come equipped with all the kit you’re likely to want or need.
Used Toyota Land Cruiser fuel economy and performance
- Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 diesel: The 204PS power output from the 2.8-litre turbodiesel doesn’t tell the whole story, as it’s the 500NM of torque from only 1600rpm that matters more. 0-62mph is pretty decent for a heavy beast at 9.9 seconds, while average economy is around 30mpg.
- Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 diesel: The 2.8-litre above replaced this earlier 3-litre diesel in 2015. It made 188PS and was a touch slower to 62mph, at 10.2 seconds. Its 34.9mpg average looks better, though that was recorded on the old NEDC test standard.
What used Toyota Land Cruiser trim levels are available?
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Active is aimed more at working use than family duties but still comes with plenty of equipment, including dual-zone climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels.
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Icon upgrades to 19-inch dark grey alloy wheels, Toyota Safety Sense including pre-collision with pedestrian detection, automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control, road sign assist and lane departure alert, front and rear parking sensors, active traction control, trailer sway control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Toyota Touch 2 Go Navigation, nine speakers, DAB, Bluetooth and reversing camera, and leather trim with electric heated and ventilated front seats.
- The Toyota Land Cruiser Invincible is the high-end model with upgraded suspension, exterior tweaks and seven seats as standard, with more luxurious trim and a full feature list.
Used Toyota Land Cruiser dimensions and boot size
The Toyota Land Cruiser 3-door’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,565mm (including rear-mounted spare wheel)
- Width: 1,885mm
- Height: 1,830mm
- Ground clearance: 205mm
The Toyota Land Cruiser 5-door’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,840mm
- Width: 1,885mm
- Height: 1,845mm (1,835mm with air suspension)
- Ground clearance: 215mm
The Toyota Land Cruiser 3-door’s boot space is:
- 380 litres
- 720 litres with rear seats folded
The Toyota Land Cruiser 5-door’s boot space is:
- 640 litres (with third-row seats folded)
- 1,270 litres with rear seats folded (120 litres with all seven seats occupied)
Used Toyota Land Cruiser road tax
Taxing a Land Cruiser won’t be cheap whichever model you opt for. Earlier full-size V8s cost up to £710 in annual tax while even the smaller 3-litre diesels currently cost £415. From April 1, 2017, cars became taxed at a flat rate, and here too you’ll get a hefty bill in most models, a surcharge for vehicles that cost over £40,000 brand new meaning a £600 annual fee. That fee applies for the five years following the first year of registration (the first-year rate being CO2-based), so in 2024 the 2017 models will drop to a lower rate of £190.
How much is it to insure a Toyota Land Cruiser?
Depending on engine, specification, and whether you’re looking at the larger V8 models that haven’t been sold for a few years, Land Cruiser insurance groups range between 31 and 48 out of 50. Among the most recent models, a 3dr Active with the 2.8-litre diesel is group 35, while a 5dr Invincible with the same engine is group 41.
