Send a grizzled explorer into the Gibson Desert. Charge him to locate the most isolated aboriginal encampment. Instruct him to ask their leader a question. ‘What is a Land Cruiser?’ I guarantee you will receive an informed response – for nowhere on the globe lives a breathing sentient creature that has not heard of the iconic Toyota Land Cruiser.
This is a long-winded way of saying the Land Cruiser needs no introduction. It’s quite simply the best of its kind – and the fifth generation is even better than before. Now with a new body on a chassis which is 50 percent more rigid, ride, handling and responsiveness both on and off road are improved. Indeed, a sui generis motoring marvel that eclipses rivals even before they were born.
The simple truth is that Land Cruisers are the chosen vehicles where lives depend on toughness and reliability. Records in Africa and Australia are testimony to this. You don’t take chances. You don’t risk taking Sheila and the kids into the ‘Outback’ in that very capable – but sadly guaranteed to break down – ‘other brand’ that does silly TV ads.. You confidently take the seven seat Land Cruiser. In today’s world of uncertainty, it’s good to know you can depend on the dependable. That’s why the Land Cruiser is the vehicle of choice for the U.N. for their work in the most testing conditions imaginable. It’s top quality, granite hard and quite frankly makes the competition feel flimsy – yet at the same time you are cosseted in complete comfort. It’s the only big 4×4 today that combines everything you need with a package you really must have – if only you could afford it. But then, goodness! – many lucky people can, for given the quality of its prestige specification it comes at a sensible price of £77,845.
Big and imposing, this is what you need to be driving when the road runs out, the natives are hostile and there’s no AA man about. Built on that tough chassis, yet plushly accoutred, its refinement is excellent without being too posh. It struts its stuff in an uncompromising fashion and with ‘hit-the-trail’ off-road ruggedness it lives up to the ‘Invincible name – a real ironclad of innovation that subjects rough terrain to contemptuous treatment.
Regardless of land surface and land contours, you cruise to your destination with all the cosseting a modern sybarite could ask for. Leather seats, top sound system – you name it and it’s there.
Whether you own a five hundred acre country estate, a sheep station north of Dingo Creek, a flat in Peckham or you’re just looking for Dr. Livingstone, the Land Cruiser will see that the minute you hit the trail you won’t be mistaken for a member of the proletariat. Or to put it another way – one of those plebs our politicians are so fond of talking about.
There’s nothing ‘plebeian’ about such practicality: nothing unsophisticated about such cleverly engineered underpinnings. This is the off-roader for those in the know. Those who are already familiar with the Land Cruiser will nod sagaciously in affirmation of the outstanding attributes coupled with the quality that Toyota pack into every chromosome of its conception.
In one of these you ride high and drive proud – and the ‘feel good’ factor stretches to encompass everything you could possibly think of, from acceptable economy (For such a big vehicle) to functional styling and ergonomically efficient design within and without.
At its heart is a ‘big bruiser’ 2.8 litre, 202 bhp, bomb-proof turbo diesel that powers permanent four-wheel drive through a new 8 speed auto box. Drive modes for sand, snow, mud, pestilence and storm, plus central and rear locking differentials let you go ‘anywhere at any time’. Those more used to silky smooth lightweight engines and transmissions in rival off-roaders might criticise the big diesel for being gruff but quite honestly it’s not. But that’s failing to see the whole point of this vehicle. You could never ‘break’ this engine – just as you’ll never ‘break’ the drive train.
For on-road use you select either sport or comfort settings and enjoy an easy gait. Once up to cruising speed you just back-off the throttle and relax, tuning in to the top notch sound system. It will reach over 105 mph and driven gently you’ll get much more than Toyotas conservative claim of 26.4 mpg. I got 39mpg on a gentle run.
Never less than staggeringly good, the Land Cruiser Invincible is the essential ‘real deal’ of the 4×4 world for wise-headed ones – and it’s as though it has a mind of its own, enjoying nothing more than convincing you that the impossible is a ‘mere bagatelle’.
NOTE TO READERS. A week testing the Land Cruiser hardly did it justice. There were simply insufficient challenging conditions. But previous experience with an earlier model on a most challenging off-road course served to demonstrate the full capabilities.
