2019 Toyota Land Cruiser Pros vs Cons

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser is a four-door, full-size SUV. This is a luxury vehicle that is also capable of towing and some serious off-road performance. The Land Cruiser has ample cargo space and more seats than most of its competition. It can haul around up to eight people. It's a fantastic vehicle for family road trips or for just carting the whole clan around to wherever you need to go. The engine is massive and powerful. You'll never feel bogged down no matter what you're hauling. It provides an extremely comfortable ride too. Toyota's Land Cruiser strikes a nice balance between comfort and performance.

What's New For 2019?

The 2019 Land Cruiser is part of Toyota's sixth generation of the vehicle. The Land Cruiser has remained largely unchanged since this generation was introduced back on 2008. There are a few new options here and there. The side mirrors now fold in when you park. The once standard, rear entertainment system is now optional. Other than those things, the vehicle remains basically the same as the 2018 model.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser – The Pros

1. A Powerful V-8 Engine

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser offers great performance from its V-8 engine. The 5.7-liter V-8 is capable of producing 381 hp and a whopping 401 lb-ft of torque. That's more than enough power for proper acceleration and passing, even with the Land Cruiser's 5,800 pound weight. This SUV never feels sluggish even when hauling eight people and lots of cargo. It can easily tow along a trailer too. All of that power and torque help the Land Cruiser to achieve great off-road performance as well.

2. Great Off-Road Performance

Speaking of off-road performance, it's yet another great reason to purchase an SUV. Not all SUVs are equal when it comes to this category. Some are built more for hauling passengers and getting groceries. The Toyota Land Cruiser is legendary when it comes to off-road adventuring. Full-time 4WD, plenty of power, massive amounts of torque, and high ground clearance make this possible. The body is attached directly to a stout frame, similar to how a pickup truck is constructed. This, along with high-tech traction software, further adds to the Land Cruiser's performance. It has just about the best off-road capabilities of any large SUV on the road today.

3. An Excellent View of the Road

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser provides a commanding view of the road ahead. The SUV sits up high and features well-designed windows that allow for great visibility. You can see equally well to each side and even to the rear. Your rear view can be further enhanced through the Land Cruiser's rear-view cameras. The fantastic visibility is a testament to the thoughtful design processes used by Toyota's engineers.

4. Plenty of Space for Cargo

Massive interior space is one of the prime reasons consumers choose an SUV over other vehicles. The Toyota Land Cruiser has plenty of room for your cargo. You get 16.1 cubic-feet of space with all of your seats in their original positions. The third row can be split and the seats folded towards the sides. The middle row can be folded flat, providing a nice-sized cargo floor. When properly configured, you can get 81.7 cubic-feet of storage space.

5. Plenty of Room for Passengers

If you need to haul around a lot of people, then the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser is the vehicle for you. It has three full rows and can comfortably seat up to eight people. Not all SUVs have this many seats. Eight passengers is among the best in this class. The interior is spacious and should be comfortable for most average-sized adults, no matter which row they're sitting in.

6. Excellent Steering and Handling

You wouldn't expect a massive, 5,800-pound vehicle to have excellent steering and handling. Surprisingly, the Toyota Land Cruiser does. It's among the best in its class. Steering is tight and accurate. There is very little body sway when you make a sharp turn. The brakes are firm but smooth. The stopping distance is among the best of any large SUV. A small turn radius makes the Land Cruiser quite maneuverable and easier to park than any large SUV ought to be.

7. A Very Comfortable Ride

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser provides a great ride. The seats are firm, supportive and comfortable. The suspension system does a fantastic job of soaking up every bump in the road. The suspension was built to be robust to handle off-road terrain. Whatever the regular road throws at it is handles with no problems. The inside of the vehicle is quiet too.

8. Impressive Safety Features

If you're going to be transporting a big family around, you want to make sure your vehicle is safe. The Toyota Land Cruiser provides a lot of protection thanks to a sturdy body-on-frame construction. It also offers a lot of high-tech safety features. A pre-collision system automatically detects pedestrians, vehicles or objects. A lane-departure warning makes sure you stay on the right path. Toyota's Dynamic-Radar Cruise Control matches the speed of the car ahead of you.

9. Modern, High-Tech Features

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser provides an impressive array of high-tech features. It all starts with an amazing sound system. Multiple, high-quality speakers pump your favorite music throughout the vehicle. The sound quality here is fantastic. A navigation system is on tap to make sure you never get lost on long drives to new destinations. A voice-recognition system allows you to control many functions without the use of your hands. You can also opt for a rear entertainment system. This is great for keeping your passengers entertained on road road trips and family vacations.

10. Awesome Towing Capacity

A stout frame and powerful engine means you can tow just about anything with a Land Cruiser. The massive amounts of torque on tap help out in this category as well. When properly outfitted, it can pull up to 8,100 pounds. That's plenty enough capacity to tow most boats and trailers. This is the perfect compliment to the Land Cruiser's off-road abilities. You can even take your boat or equipment off the beaten path on a fishing expedition or camping trip.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser – The Cons

1. The Second and Third Rows are Hard to Access

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser offers more seats than just about anything else on the road. All three rows provide a good amount of space and comfort. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for some to reach those back rows of seats. It can get awkward getting in and out of the vehicle.

2. Not the Best Fuel Economy

If fuel-economy is a top priority, then any SUV may be a disappointment for you. This class of large vehicles isn't exactly known for high gas mileage. These vehicles are designed to haul cargo and people and that means they will be massive and heavy. The Toyota Land Cruiser fares poor in this category, even by SUV standards. All of that power and torque from the V-8 come at a price. You can expect around 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

3. Limited Connectivity for Smart Devices

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser has a great infotainment center and plenty of high-tech features. Unfortunately, it may not suit your needs for smartphone connectivity. You can connect via Bluetooth. There is only one USB port available. You need to download an app to get things to work smoothly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both missing. This is an odd omission for any vehicle in 2019.

How the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser Stacks up to the Competition

The Toyota Land Cruiser has always faced stiff competition in a crowded market of large SUVs. Three of its top competitors for 2019 will be the Lincoln Navigator, the Lexus LX 570 and Land Rover's Range Rover. Like the Land Cruiser, Lincoln's Navigator strikes a nice balance between performance, utility and luxury. The Navigator may win out when it comes to the overall quality of the interior. The Land Cruiser will cost you less and offers better off-road performance. According to J.D. Power and Associates, the Toyota should be the more reliable of the two vehicles.

The Lexus LX 570 is another great choice if you want luxury and performance. The performance is quite comparable to the Toyota. The Land Cruiser edges it out slightly when it comes to horsepower, acceleration and top speed. Once again, the Toyota wins in off-road performance. Towing capacity is slightly higher for the Toyota too.

Last, but not least, we have the impressive Land Rover Range Rover. Both have amazing off-road capabilities. The Toyota can crank out 41 more horsepower and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque than the Land Rover. Braking, steering and handling all feel better and more precise in Toyota's Land Cruiser. For a base price that is less than the Range Rover, you get better performance from the Toyota Land Cruiser.

In Conclusion

The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser strikes the perfect balance between rugged and luxury. Its ability to go off-road has made the Land Cruiser a cult classic. If you're the adventurous type, there's not much better than this full-size SUV. It's quite capable of taking a trailer or boat along for the ride too. This vehicle is also equally at home on the paved roads, providing unmatched comfort and a fantastic ride quality. Versatility may be the Land Cruiser's best attribute. It is truly a go-anywhere and do-anything SUV.