by Toyota Land Cruiser is a legend among SUVs. For more than 60 years, this model has conquered the harshest off-road terrains. Year after year, the Land Cruiser grew in size and became more comfortable in the process. The latest version of Toyota’s flagship SUV has room for five or eight passengers and comes with numerous amenities while maintaining a serious off-road arsenal and a V8 engine.
Pros of LC 200 2021
- Legendary combination of off-road capabilities and exceptional reliability
- Luxury-level comfort
- Extended driver assistance systems and advanced safety features as standard
- 381-hp V8 as standard
- High resale value
Cons
- Price starting from $85,000 (in the USA), in Ukraine – even more expensive, of course
- Fuel consumption
- No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and other useful features
What’s new for the 2021 model
- The Land Cruiser Heritage Edition now offers the option of three rows of seats
- Two new body colors: Classic Silver Metallic and Magnetic Grey Metallic
The Land Cruiser is Toyota’s most expensive model, only surpassed by the Lexus LX 570.
In fact, if you are not really going to use the Land Cruiser as a four-wheel-drive adventure vehicle, you might be better off with a three-row crossover like the Toyota Highlander. It costs almost half as much as the Land Cruiser, offers more modern technology (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), and has more cargo space. Plus, the Highlander is more economical and easier to drive. 
How much does the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser cost
With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $85,415. The Heritage model is priced at $87,745 in the two-row form, and the new three-row Land Cruiser Heritage model costs $89,265.
The new Land Cruiser 2021 has a higher starting price than the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. But the latter lose to Toyota in off-road qualities. Mention should also be made of the Land Rover Discovery, which is one and a half times cheaper, and even the Range Rover, which is not much more expensive than the LC200. As a frame SUV from Toyota, which does not cost as much as the Land Cruiser, consider the Sequoia, which is actually larger and noticeably cheaper. 
Driving the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser
Sitting in Land Cruiser is like meeting an old friend.
There is much familiar inside because it hasn’t changed much. The seats are soft and comfortable, and everything is within reach. Are there signs of age in the interior? Yes. The navigation screen graphics look outdated on the 9-inch display, and there’s no integration with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (but there is Apple Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, and a USB port).
There’s no doubt this SUV is heavy, but the 381-hp V8 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission handle moving this SUV on the road excellently. It has “leisurely” steering and a swaying suspension, but off-road, it’s just a “cruise liner,” where even large bumps aren’t felt. 
With the exception of the Heritage Edition, every Land Cruiser comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense (forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control), 4-zone climate control, heated and ventilated leather seats, a 14-speaker audio system, Crawl Control, and more. For an additional fee – an additional entertainment system for rear passengers.
The Interior of the 2021 Land Cruiser
The cabin is like a home sofa.
It’s comfortable and welcoming, with better quality materials in the latest version. One thing is certain – the interior looks more premium than the Sequoia’s. 
The dashboard features a 9-inch touchscreen; below are the controls for the 4-zone climate control, as well as large silver audio control knobs. Among the distributed controls are buttons and knobs for functions that assist with off-road driving. Most Land Cruisers come with three rows of passenger seats, accommodating up to 8 passengers, except for the Heritage Edition, which has 2 rows and seats 5.
For the seventh and eighth passengers in a standard Land Cruiser, space on these seats is limited. Unlike a traditional third row, they resemble fold-away seats that fold to the sides of the vehicle when not in use. 
Unlike a traditional crossover, where seats fold forward, this setup takes up less space on the sidewalls, but also creates a flat floor. If you opt for the 2-row version of the Heritage Edition, you’ll get contrasting bronze stitching on the seats and more cargo space but will lose the neat cooler on the central console that keeps your drinks cold.
The Exterior of the 2021 Land Cruiser
The new Land Cruiser has some styling elements that link it with past models.
But in the latest version, the new grille and LED optics grab attention. An interesting feature of this full-size SUV is at the rear. Unlike most SUVs that use a single rear door, the Land Cruiser has a tailgate setup where the upper and lower parts lift and fold. 
The Heritage Edition features a special grille and vintage badges, as well as black side mirrors with dark chrome inserts. The running boards and chrome side body elements have been removed, and a Yakima Megawarrior cargo basket is installed on top.
The “regular” Land Cruiser comes equipped with 18-inch split-spoke alloy wheels, while the Heritage Edition uses bronze BBS forged aluminum alloy wheels. Compared to its sibling Lexus LX 570, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a more traditional design. 
Specifications of the Land Cruiser 200 2021
The new Toyota Land Cruiser is equipped with the same engine and transmission: a 5.7-liter V8 with 381 hp and an 8-speed automatic transmission. According to Toyota, 90 percent of peak torque is available at just 2200 rpm. This is very handy for low-speed driving, off-roading, and towing.
Buy or wait
There is a chance that 2021 will be the last year for the Land Cruiser in its current rugged form with a frame base. Perhaps the next generation will be less “off-road” and more technologically modern. Will reliability suffer? Time will tell, but if you want a car for the next 10 years, it makes sense to buy the Land Cruiser in its current form. Especially since the Land Cruiser is currently being assembled in Tahara, Aichi, Japan.
And if Toyota suddenly decides to make it more “European,” it’s possible that it could be assembled elsewhere or not only there.
