Apr 04, 2017 06:20 AM EDT
2017 Toyota Land Cruiser Review; New Prado Altitude Special Edition

The 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser has remarkable off-road abilities and comfortable on-road comfort. The SUV remains a reliable, top choice the whole family will enjoy.

Features. The Land Cruiser is a good choice for a reputable all-terrain vehicle. It also adds luxury to its equation combining strong performance with excellent on and off-road manners. Overall, it has a very high degree of comfort for its riders.

Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V8 engine that is capable of 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with AWD. It also has a two-speed transfer case which allows users to configure the drivetrain either for cruising the freeway or crawling along at a walking pace.

Off-road performance is improved by Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, Multi-Terrain Select, a five-speed crawl control, hill start assist, and Off-Road Turn Assist. In addition, the EPA estimates fuel economy at 15 mpg with 13 mpg for city and 18 mpg for highway driving. This is actually below average for its class.

The interior features top-quality materials and a lot of great tech features. It is just a little bit short of a luxury vehicle but it still aims to please. The front seats have good cushioning and support for decent all-day comfort and the second-row has ample room.

The Land Cruiser's safety features include antilock brakes, stability and traction control, and trailer-sway control. In addition, it also has hill start assist and front and rear parking sensors. There are also a lot of airbags - front, front knee, front and second-row side, full-length side curtain, and active front head restraints.

Other features include 18-inch cast aluminum wheels, automatic LED headlights, and automatic high beams. It also has LED running lights and fog lights, a sunroof, and a rear spoilers. Rocker-sill passenger steps, a tow hitch receiver, adaptive cruise control, and keyless entry and ignition also come standard.

Tech features include a 9-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, and a wireless changing pad. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system with two screens, a surround-view camera system, and Bluetooth phone and streaming audio are also part of the package.

Pros. According to a report by Edmunds, the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser has impeccable off-road prowess but continues to remain comfortable. It has three rows which can seat eight passengers. It also has an above average towing capacity.

Cons. The Land Cruiser remains an expensive choice at over $80,000 and is almost priced near luxury-branded SUVS. Its third-row seats are very tight and it also takes up cargo space when it's stowed away. As previously stated, it also has below average fuel economy.

Verdict. The 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser is a compelling choice. It is a quiet and comfortable ride on-road and very capable and powerful off-road. While it has a steeper price point than most of its competitors and below average fuel economy, it has a lot of great safety, tech, and comfort features inside. The vehicle remains to be a top choice.

Toyota Prado Altitude Special Edition. In other recent news, Drive has reported that the Prado Altitude - the Australian Land Cruiser's name - gets a Special Edition. The new variant has special leather-appointed upholstery, a 14-speaker JBL sound system, and more tech features. Hopefully, a similar variant will be available in the United States as well.

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