2019 Toyota Land Cruiser

2019 Toyota Land Cruiser

An Automotive Love Affair
By Joe Mavilia

Overview:

This is the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser. You gotta give credit where credit is due, and Toyota has done a great job with this Land Cruiser. In a world where options seem unlimited it can get confusing on which of this or that to choose from. That’s why we look to history and track record on which we can rely upon. I’ve had good luck with Wrangler jeans and you’d be hard pressed to convince me otherwise. Such is the case with the Toyota Cult who believe they’re the best. No question – they have done a consistent job of providing great cars. They deserve the accolades because they have earned it. Most of us know that has not always been the case. All that’s important is that today they are a product you can count on.

That being said, if you’re in the market for a substantial SUV you will want to check out the competition. GMC’s Yukon is a good comparison for a 20% discount. You can tell, I’m a shopper.

Let me explain the ‘Bad News’ comment that “I don’t like the Smart Cruise” that Toyota uses. I don’t like it because there is a better version used on almost all other vehicles I test. It’s a pet peeve of mine because it is annoying at the very least and dangerous in the worst case. It cuts out about 25 mph and stops working. The better versions on other cars will operated all the way to a stop, and the really good ones with resume when traffic begins to move. This is huge in my experience. Why Toyota does this I can’t explain.

General Information:

It is assembled in- Toyota, Aichi, Japan; Classification is- Standard SUV; Vehicles from Toyota- 4Runner, 86, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, C-HR, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, Prius V, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma Access Cab, Tacoma Double Cab, Tundra CrewMax, Tundra Double Cab, Tundra Regular Cab, Yaris and Yaris iA.

Handling & Performance:

The first thing you will notice is how quickly you’ll be visiting a gas station. But in this class, SUV’s are king according to the consumer. Irrespective of the poor fuel economy owners of this kind of utility vehicle are looking at need and that’s just the cost of getting things done. It is no wonder it is the most popular automotive product in history.

Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System– is a system that will limit body lean when you are on the highway while maneuvering at slower speeds on the trail, the suspension will soften to allow for greater wheel articulation. At standard driving speeds, KDSS allows anti-sway bars to work as normal, reducing body lean by as much as 50 percent and keeping you safe. This system runs on hydraulics without the use of complex electronics, so you know that it can withstand the beatings it will sustain on the trail.

Styling:

Big and in some sense ‘bulky’ – that can be interpreted as ‘stout or substantial’.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent (as you expect for luxury cars)

Cost:

Other than the badge on the Range Rover, this Toyota Land Cruiser looks even better with a price difference of $21,000. So often we pay a big premium for the name that is simply an ego thing. My suggestion is to never let other people or other things define you.

Conveniences and comfort:

About every standard feature included – see listing below – that make your journey’s a pleasure.

Consumer Recommendations:

As I expect there is a lot of competition in this very popular class vehicle. I’ve tried to eliminate duplicate or dissimilar competitors. Still the range of price is considerable to say the least. Surely price wise the American option is priced the most affordable. And we all recognize quality and innovation is not unknown to American carmakers. Let’s face it, American products have always been top notch with the most experience in the industry. All off shore competitors gained a foothold in America because US products lost its competitive edge totally or at least in part because of cheaper labor. Today US products are back as other countries’ labor cost has grown at or above the US labor market. Thus, price being equal or more expensive than US we’ll see a growing demand from consumers for US made products.

Recognized Competition:

Good News:

Among top of the line SUV’s this is well priced, super comfort, powerful, luxurious.

Bad News:

In a class that has poor fuel economy. I don’t like the Smart Cruise Control.

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter V8, 381 horsepower dual VVT (variable valve timing) engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4-WD with locking limited slip differential, Kinetic dynamic suspension system, multi-terrain select, Hill – start assist, crawl control with off-road turn assist, 18” alloy wheels, multi-terrain front, side and rear view monitor, Safety Sense, pre-collision w/pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, auto high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, trailer sway control, front, side and side curtain airbags, smart key with push button start, parking assist, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, headlight washers, safety connect, fog lights, rain sensing wipers, power moonroof, JBL Audio with Navigation, 9” high resolution screen, 14 speakers, USB, SXM radio, Bluetooth and Siri, climate control four zones, center cooler box, 8 passenger leather trim seats with 10-way driver power settings and 8-way passenger adjustment, heated 2nd row seats and heated leather wrapped steering wheel.

Gas Stats:

13 City and 18 Highway MPG

$3.29 / Gal of gas avg. December 16, 2018

www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

Pricing:

MSRP $84,765.