Toyota Land Cruiser Diesel Sw 2003-2009

When it comes to Land Cruisers, some people will find them confusing. For decades there have been essentially two distinct types of Land Cruisers, a smaller, more civilised version and a more rugged, professional off-roader. The confusion follows the two models because they’re called by different names depending on where you live. The car that we’re talking about now (the civilised option) was initially known as the Colorado, but from 2003 the Colorado bit was dropped leaving just Land Cruiser. However, the majority of people will use Land Cruiser to refer to the full-size top of the range Toyota’s off-roader. That one is officially called Land Cruiser series 100 or Land Cruiser Amazon. Both cars are known for their reliability and off-road capability, however, the Toyota Land Cruiser is smaller, lower and more comfortable than the Amazon.

Pros and Cons:

• Exceptional reliability
  Good all-rounder that will perform both in the city and on mild off-roads
  A great diesel option

• Gets uncomfortable at highway speeds
  Low ground clearance may hamper off-roading effort

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Exterior and Interior

As the "city" version of Land Cruiser, this car has seen more effort applied to make it as visually pleasing as possible. It bears very little resemblance with the older brother Amazon. If anything, the car features similar styling to the Avensis. As a typical ambassador for Toyota’s modern corporate styling, the Land Cruiser is a car that you don’t want to cover in mud and dust. It looks great in the city traffic flow and is often considered the white-collar Land Cruiser.

The interior is very comfortable. It is covered in good quality carpets and plush trim (or leather depending on your choice). There’s everything you need to enjoy a ride. The car is still built in an old-fashion manner with the body on frame. It’s good news for off-road enthusiasts, but in Land Cruiser’s case, it doesn’t mean the car is uncomfortable.

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Engines

The majority of Land Cruisers are equipped with a 3.0-litre 164bhp diesel engine. The more expensive version features a 4.0-litre 245bhp V6 petrol engine.

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Performance and Economy

It’s advisable to choose a Land Cruiser that’s been made after September 2004 as it will feature an improved version of the large 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. Although only 3 horses were added to the power rating, the torque was actually increased from 343 to 410Nm and that’s where you feel the difference. The post-2004 Land Cruisers have much more oomph. The large V6 diesel is bound to break the bank, isn’t it? Well, apparently it isn’t. It offers around 30mpg which is similar to what European off-roaders do with 2.5-litre engines. So, definitely an advantage, you get that little bit more power for the same fuel price.

The 4.0-litre V6 is a fine engine, but you cannot really justify its 22mpg fuel consumption. Off the road it’s the torque that counts and the petrol engine has only 380Nm.

When it comes to off-road abilities, the Land Cruiser is somewhere in the middle between a leisure SUV and a proper off-roader. Although the Land Cruiser has got all the necessary gear, its low ground clearance means that you have to approach off-roading with a good dose of caution. The plastic exterior bits won’t appreciate too much action, while the cabin will be nightmare to clean after a good stint of off-roading. It’s best to leave the Land Cruiser to hard surfaces, still it’s good to know that you can if you need to.

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What it's like to Drive

Although smaller than the Amazon, the Land Cruiser is still a bulky car. The size, however, doesn’t mean that it cannot be enjoyed as an everyday car. It will offer an exceptional ride quality and it’s not that difficult to park even in tighter spaces.

The driving position is very comfortable and there’s plenty of adjustment to the driver’s seat. It’s a very comfortable car but you notice it’s still a body-on-frame when you take a tighter roundabout or drive fast around a bend. There’s also quite a lot of vibration driving on a highway. The slower you drive, the smoother it gets. You cannot help noticing that its suspension has been calibrated for use in a city.

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Faults and Repairs

It’s a very reliable car. Stick to the servicing schedule and make sure you buy a post-2004 car with a full service history. It’s very unlikely that something would fail. If you suspect it has been used as an off-roader then you should also check the under-carriage for any damage.

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