Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition Review: The Ultimate Luxury SUV?
The Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition may be pricy and could use a few upgrades, but it’s hands-down one of the best SUVs ever made.
Toyota recently sent us the 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition for review… which might seem a bit odd given the fact that Toyota is moving onto the 2021 model year. However, 2020 and 2021 Land Cruiser Heritage Editions appear to be identical in terms of features, so consider this a review for both model years
Toyota has been making utility vehicles since the second World War, and the Land Cruiser name itself dates back to the mid-1950s. It built a reputation for durability, capability, and ruggedness. And, over the decades, Land Cruiser has evolved slowly, steadily adding luxury to the equation and becoming Toyota’s halo SUV.
By remaining true to its capable, reliable, and rugged core, Land Cruisers are expensive new and hold value extremely well in the second-hand market. So how does the 2020-2021 Land Cruiser hold up? And is the Heritage Edition worth the upgrade?
Let’s dive in.
Feature Highlights
The Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition splits the difference between capability and luxury. Gone on the standard side running boards and third-row seating. But in their place are unique wheels, crawl-mode suspension modes, lots of standard features, and even a standard cargo-style roof rack.
Our loaner arrived dipped in a sparkling Attitude Black Metallic, wonderfully contrasting the 18″ Bronze BBS Wheels. The contrasting color scheme continues inside where brown stitching decorates black leather seating. Heated and ventilated up front. Heated-only in the second row. The steering wheel is also heated.
Under the hood, you’ll find a 5.7-Liter DOHC 32-Valve V8 with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). 381 hp @ 5600 rpm and 401 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm run through an 8-speed automatic transmission to a full-time 4WD system with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and a Torsen limited-slip center differential with a locking feature. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) includes an independent double-wishbone front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar; and a 4-link rear suspension with coil springs, stabilizer bar, and semi-floating axle.
In terms of amenities, the Heritage Edition also boasts numerous safety features to alert you when someone’s crossing behind or if you may be getting too close to other vehicles up front. The 14-speaker JBL sound system offers internal navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as AM, FM, HD, and Satelite radio. A 4-zone climate control system is standard, with second-row controls for temperature and fan speed.
For a full list of features, head over HERE to Toyota.com.
What We Love
The Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition is nothing short of a do-everything truck. You could just as easily commute in the city wearing a business suit as you could spending days crawling rocks and crossing rivers. There’s too much to list, so here are a few highlights of what we love.
Looks & Design. While some folks may dislike that the Land Cruiser hasn’t evolved much since 2008, we see this as a strength. This truck looks the part and fits in with its seven-decade history. The Heritage Edition goes one step further, bulking up the Land Cruiser to make it look like its ready to go on an African Safari. Big tires, bronze wheels, and the extra luggage rack complete the package, drawing looks and cellphone video recordings from people on the street and other Toyota owners on the highway.
Beefy Suspension. A lot of modern trucks (and truck-based SUVs) feel bipolar when driving. On highways and smooth roads, they’re car-esque. But throw one into a hard turn or a big bump and they Jekyll and Hyde back into a truck in way that reveals heft (and can feel dangerous). The Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, by contrast, never lets you forget its off-road suspension tuning. The main goal here is to soak up bumps. Big ones. Which leaves the whole driving experience feeling a little squishy or bouncy. For some, this may be a con. To me, I loved the way you can hop over speed bumps without slowing down. It also oaks up cracked highways as if they don’t exist. Overall, the Land Cruiser always drives like a truck, and this is a plus because it never lets you get too far past its (impressive) abilities.
Reliability. It’s a Toyota with a 5.7-liter V8. It’s tried and true and practically bullet-proof.
Super Comfortable and Luxurious. It’s not quite Lexus-fancy, mind you. But with heated and ventilated front leather seats, heated second-row seats, a four-zone climate control system, and a killer radio, the Land Cruiser’s interior is extremely refined for a truck this capable. If someone blindfolded you and dropped you inside this truck, you wouldn’t believe it was an off-roading-focused SUV.
Thumping JBL Sound System. We’ll talk about the actual infotainment system in the next section, but the 14-speaker JBL sound system is excellent. It provides ample volume and definition while accurately reproducing deep bass, level mids, and screaming high tones without ever feeling forced. If you love tunes, you’ll love this stereo.
Fun factor. Let’s be honest, here. There’s nothing like the Toyota Land Cruiser on the road today. Sure, you could by a Land Rover or Range Rover, but good luck with those out of warranty. In America, Jeeps are either street-focused or have small engines. Ford’s bringing back the Bronco, but it’s a mid-sized SUV. No one else makes this. And that’s what makes the Land Cruiser so special in this Heritage Edition form. It’s exclusive and above all FUN. Fun to drive. Fun to look at. Fun to talk about with other enthusiasts.
What We’d Change
Our experience with the Land Cruiser Heritage Edition is overtly positive. We love this truck. That said, we’d like to talk about a few elements we’d change if we could wave a magic wand at Toyota HQ.
Update the Infotainment System. For a company known for practicality, reliability, and innovation… their radios are dated and genuinely subpar. In the case of Lexus, they’re still using laptop-like touchpads or mice controllers. And in this can’t-believe-it-was-made-this-year Land Cruiser, the touchscreen feels like it was designed twenty years ago. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto don’t exist here. And everything else in the relatively large screen is laggy and slow and a chore to navigate. On the plus side, however, the 14-speaker JBL system sounds excellent.
Add in a Few Missing Features. The Heritage Edition is a step up from the standard Land Cruiser, but in the process drops the standard third-row seating and exterior running boards. Both choices make sense from a design standpoint. The Heritage Edition is for off-roading; you want more ground clearance and storage space. However, I’d also argue that the missing running boards make this vehicle a challenge to enter or exit for anyone under 6-feet tall. And it never feels good, from a customer POV, to be lacking features. Even though the Land Cruiser’s cabin isn’t quite long enough for three rows. Still, it would be nice to have.
What’s that Whistling Noise? One other minor nitpick is the added roof rack. It’s perfect for camping and off-roading gear, but if you don’t need to use it and frequently travel at highway speeds, it creates a noticeable amount of wind noise. We’d suggest removing it unless you need-need-need it.
Pricing. This Heritage Edition stomps into the finance office at $90 grand plus tax and title. We think it’s worth it, mind you, but that’s still a hefty sum we wish we could magically lower.
Final Thoughts
Despite a few nitpicks and grumbles, the Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition is a near-perfect blend of luxury-comfort and off-road capability. Straight from the factory with a full warranty intact. It’s a quick truck for its size, although not blazing-fast. It comes with Toyota reliability and durability. And its rugged lines honor the classics while fitting in with modern vehicles. The only drawbacks are a few dated elements and $90,000 pricing. If those dissuade you, perhaps it might be best to score a used Land Cruiser if you can find one. Or, likewise, wait for these to hit the second-hand market.
Otherwise, the Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Photos by Michael S. Palmer
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