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The Toyota Land Cruiser’s “unstoppable” muscle is being wielded in a wider market with the launch of the UK’s first commercial vehicle versions of the legendary SUV.
The new models come with all the built-in quality, durability and reliability that have earned Land Cruiser a worldwide reputation for go-anywhere performance. With a robust, body-on-frame construction, proven all-wheel drive capability and a highly capable 2.8-litre D-4D engine, the Land Cruiser Utility Commercial has the perfect pedigree to be a formidable workhorse.
Gareth Matthews, Toyota Light Commercial Vehicle Manager said: “Bringing the exceptional strength of Land Cruiser to our LCV line-up adds a valuable new dimension to the range, alongside the rugged Hilux pick-up and versatile Proace medium-duty van. We are sure that the quality and performance that have made Land Cruiser such a strong performer worldwide will be sought after by customers who need a vehicle they can rely on to do the job, every time.”
Short and long-wheelbase versions are available with three and five doors respectively, sharing the same smart body styling as the recently launched new 2018 Land Cruiser. Overall length is 4,395mm for the SWB and 4,840 for the LWB; both vehicles are 1,885mm wide, with the three-door measuring 1,830mm high and the five-door 1,845mm. Inside, the rear seats have been removed to create a spacious load area, extending to 1,574 litres in the SWB and 2,216 litres in the LWB; respective payloads are up to 593 and 756kg respectively (according to vehicle kerb weight).
Both vehicles can tow braked trailers with loads of up to three tonnes.
The load space is designed to be practical and hard-wearing with an edge-to-edge non-slip flat floor tray. The division between the front cabin and rear cargo area is a full height metal bulkhead with a strong mesh top section fitted with a hatch for easy access. Loading is via the wide-opening side-hinged tailgate, or (on five-door models) through either of the rear side doors. The rear windows are blanked out with panels that match the Land Cruiser’s body colour.
The no-nonsense character of the Land Cruiser Utility Commercial is reflected in its 17-inch steel wheels, but where cabin comfort, convenience and safety are concerned, the provisions are generous.
The two front seats have cloth upholstery and adjustable head restraints. Standard features include air conditioning, cruise control and six-speaker audio system with CD player, Bluetooth and (on the LWB model) Aux-in and USB connection. Dusk-sensing headlights, smart entry, front fog lights and roof rails are also included in the specification.
Front, side and driver’s knee airbags are fitted and the vehicle is equipped with Multi-terrain ABS, Active Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control, Trailer Sway Control and a tyre pressure warning system.
The new models are on sale from 1 April, with commercial vehicle on-the-road prices of £27,546 for the SWB model and £28,509 for the LWB. Deliveries to customers will commence in July.
An off-roading thoroughbred
Like its passenger vehicle counterparts, the Land Cruiser Utility Commercial is designed and engineered to cope with demanding off-road conditions.
The Land Cruiser LWB has a minimum ground clearance of 215mm; for the SWB model the figure is 205mm. The approach angle, which determines the maximum gradient the vehicle can approach without the underside of the front bumper hitting the ground, is 31°. Its maximum wading depth is 700mm.
Even with its generous ground clearance, there can be a risk of the underside of the vehicle hitting the ground when driving over very rough terrain. For this reason, both the front and rear bumpers and the ladder frame cross-member have been designed to slide easily over any obstacles. Many other SUVs have box-shaped cross-members, which means they can easily become caught on obstacles, bringing the vehicle to a halt and potentially causing damage; Land Cruiser’s slanted cross-member is shaped so that it can slide up and over such hazards.
The vehicle is engineered to excel over sand, rocks or any other demanding conditions it might encounter; giving maximum traction at all times to deliver the level of off-road performance for which the model is world-renowned. Its proven permanent four-wheel drive system uses a Torsen limited slip differential in the centre differential and a shift actuator which makes for easier shifting between the high and low ranges in the six-speed manual transmission.
2.8 D-4D engine
Land Cruiser’s 2.8-litre D-4D turbodiesel engine is a 2,755ccm 16-valve DOHC unit which develops 175bhp/130kW at 3,400rpm. Matched in the Utility Commercial models to a six-speed manual transmission, it produces 420Nm in the SWB model and 450Nm in the LWB, available from 1,400 to 2,600rpm. It will accelerate the vehicle from rest to 62mph in 12.1 seconds, and on to a 108mph top speed. Official combined cycle fuel consumption (LWB) is 38.1mpg with 194g/km CO2 emissions.
