TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 3-DOOR UTILITY

If you need a proper commercial 4x4 and don’t fancy a pickup, then there isn’t much of a choice on the UK market, even more so now Mitsubishi have left the UK. In fact, you’re left with either a Defender or Toyota’s formidable Land Cruiser, and at just £30k (after you’ve reclaimed the VAT), the latter is by far better value.

The Land Cruiser commercial range consists of two variants, the Utility and Active, and both are available in short and long wheelbases, the former is only available with a 6-speed manual gearbox whilst the latter is only available with an automatic.

On the Road

With 201bhp being produced from the new 2.8-litre engine that was introduced to the range back in autumn 2020, the Land Cruiser Commercial is quite a sprightly 4x4, to say the least. Although not that important in a commercial vehicle, but it will now accelerate from rest to 62mph in 11.2 seconds, and reach a heady top speed of 108mph.

Arguably more important is that from between 1,400 to 3,400rpm it produces a maximum of 420Nm. (500Nm from the automatic).

Out on the road the 6-speed manual gearbox was an utter delight, slotting into each ratio with the minimal of fuss, and whilst using a good chunk of the 201bhp, I particularly enjoyed the diesel roar. I know, I’ll never grow up.

The traditionally sprung commercial does tend to wallow around corners, but that’s fine as it never feels cumbersome, and if you brake suddenly the bonnet plunges downwards and springs back up like Zebedee.

Being on the soft side, the Utility soaks up potholes and other undulations with ease, so whether you’re on a badly maintained road or a green lane, the Land Cruiser takes it all in its stride.

Fuel wise, after a week of varied trips and assorted speeds, the Utility averaged 29mpg, which I thought was pretty good. Apparently, 33mpg is achievable if you take your time.

Off Road

There are no fancy 4x4 modes or crawl features on the commercial, there’s a H4 and L4 dial and a Centre Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) switch, and that’s your lot.

Ground clearance for the 3-door is 205mm whilst the approach angle is 31°, and if you do find yourself bottoming out, have no fear because both the front and rear bumpers and the ladder frame cross-member have been designed to slide easily over any obstacles.

Selecting low-box on one particular gnarly green lane and the Utility flexed its way over stones the size of footballs and easily climbed a 3 foot tall rock step. It only let me down when both opposing wheels were off the ground and the other two were against vertical steps. A rear locker would have been beneficial here, as would beefier tyres. I’m not criticising it, for a standard 4x4 on 245/70 R17 road tyres it got me further than I ever expected it to.

Unlike the Defender that I mentioned at the beginning, the 150 Land Cruiser benefits from a huge amount of companies that offer good quality aftermarket off-road accessories that will make your Land Cruiser even more capable, whether that’s general green laning or touring.

Interior

Obviously not as plush as the Invincible model, but the Utility is designed for a purpose.

With very comfortable cloth seats, you can wile away the hours on interminably long journeys in the Utility, and feel as fresh as a daisy when you reach your destination, but it still has a few niggles.

Like the Hilux, the steering wheel doesn’t adjust high enough, and therefore getting in and out, if you have legs, is a nuisance as your thighs catch the base of the wheel. Then the knob for the volume control is tiny and smooth, impossible to use if you’re wearing gloves. That said, there are controls on the steering wheel. I always feel it should have chunky switches as you get on the RAV4.

The panel on the door that houses the electric window switches is made from hard plastic that protrudes out and can be painful if you ‘mansplay’. Other than that, it’s a comfortable place to be.

Standard features include air conditioning, cruise control and six-speaker audio system with DAB, CD player, Bluetooth and (on the LWB model) Aux-in and one USB connection. Dusk-sensing headlights, smart entry, front fog lights and roof rails are also included in the specification.

Behind the seats the Utility is fitted with a full-height metal bulkhead with a strong mesh top section fitted with a hatch for easy access, and the load space is fitted with an edge-to-edge, non-slip flat floor tray. The 3-door has 1,574 litres of space whilst the 5-door has 2,216 litres.

Respective payloads are up to 593 and 756kg for the 5-door, and both vehicles can tow braked trailers with loads of up to three tonnes.

Conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed driving the 3-door Utility, it felt solid, dependable and the 6-speed manual gearbox is a delight.

Granted, there are more glamorous 4x4s on the market, but Land Cruiser Utility is a truly rugged, versatile 4x4 that is straightforward and honest that gives you the feeling that no matter how you treat it, it won’t let you down.