Since its debut in 1957, the Toyota Land Cruiser has gradually transformed from a hardcore, no frills off-roading machine and into the company’s most capable and luxurious SUV. For 2016, the Toyota Land Cruiser receives a styling refresh and some significant drivetrain upgrades.
What’s New
Up front, the 2016 Land Cruiser receives all new sheet metal ahead of the A-pillar and also receives redesigned front bumper, grille, standard projector-beam low and high-beam LED headlights, headlight washers, and integrated Land Cruiser badge. The hood now features new twin power bulges, which makes the Land Cruiser look more intimidating from the front.
At the sides, the face lifted Toyota Land Cruiser features new chrome body side moldings with Land Cruiser logo, and new 18-inch alloy wheels.
At the back, the SUV features new light-tube design taillights and LED brake lights, a new full-width chrome molding, and a redesigned rear bumper.
Inside, the 2016 Land Cruiser includes seating for eight passengers on new semi-aniline perforated leather available in black or brown (Terra) which are accented by Deep Wood trim.
The Land Cruiser comes fully loaded in one trim and options are limited to exterior and interior colors.
For 2016, Toyota’s Entune head unit gains Siri Eyes Free mode which allows the driver to push a button on the steering wheel to speak to Siri and control the various infotainment menus and features without taking eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. The new Qi wireless phone charging system is now standard on the Land Cruiser. Also, the standard heated steering wheel gains controls for the multi-info display screen, dynamic radar cruise control, and Toyota Safety Sense-P system.
The Toyota Safety Sense-P system features new driver assist features including front-collision advance and mitigation system, lane departure warning, auto high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. Other safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a back up camera.
Performance
The 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser will carryover the 5.7 L V8 which produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb.ft. torque. However, unlike the current Land Cruiser which is equipped with a six-speed automatic gearbox, the new model will feature a new eight speed automatic transmission with manual mode, which features wider gear spread to enhance acceleration and fuel economy.
With this new transmission, the EPA rates the Land Cruiser at 13 mpg city/ 18 mpg highway/ 15 mpg combined.
With the standard trailer towing package (which includes engine oil cooler, trailer brake controller connector, and sub-wiring harnesses), the Land Cruiser can tow up to 8,500 pounds. The trailer sway control works with the stability control to counteract trailer sway.
High-strength steel is used in A, B, C, and D-pillars and the lower rocker panels, which makes the Land Cruiser the safest SUV in the full-size body-on-frame SUV segment.
The suspension features a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System which uses hydraulics to adjust the lean resistance of the vehicle’s stabilizer bars depending of if the vehicle is driving on or off-road.
Additional Off-Roading Features
Over the decades, the Toyota Land Cruiser has established itself as the “go anywhere” SUV around the world and in order to do so, it features approach and departure angles of 30 and 20 degrees. The permanent all-wheel-drive system uses Torsen limited-slip center locking differential which distributes torque 40:60 front-to-rear under normal conditions and can redistribute power to the wheels with the most grip when needed.
The Toyota Land Cruiser also features Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) which utilizes brake and throttle interventions to control wheel spins during off-roading or adverse weather conditions. A two-speed transfer case with low-range woks with the multi-terrain select system, which can be adjusted based on different terrains.
The Multi-Terrain Monitor features a near 360 degree view around the vehicle. Also, the Land Cruiser can playback 5 seconds of video of the front undercarriage’s projected path. When the transfer case is in low-range, the crawl control regulates engine speed and output as well as braking force to control vehicle speeds on various terrains. Additional off-road systems include down hill assist, hill start assist and off-road turn assist,
Finally, the Land Cruiser rides on 18×8 inch alloy wheels, which are wrapped by P285/60 R 18 mud and snow tires and includes a full-size spare tire which is also monitored by the vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system.
Interior Features and Luxuries
Standard luxury features in the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser include heated and vented front seats, heated steering wheel, heated 40/20/40 split, sliding and reclining second row seats, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, Smart-Key keyless entry with push-button start, security system with engine immobilizer, power moon roof, auto-dimming side and rear view mirrors, and HomeLink universal garage door opener. Other comfort features include a four-zone automatic climate control with micro dust and pollen filter.
Music lovers will love the JBL Synthesis premium audio with Entune system which features an integrated navigation system, 9-inch touchscreen, 14 speakers, and a subwoofer.
Audio features include an AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, Sirius XM radio, HD radio with iTunes tagging, USB port with iPod connectivity and control, Bluetooth audio and phone, and advanced voice recognition. The Entune App Suite includes apps for destination search, Facebook Places, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, Open Table, Pandora, Yelp, and Slacker Radio.
Rear seat passengers can enjoy a pair of 11.6 inch monitors, RCA jack, and separate HDMI inputs.
When it comes to safety features, the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser features anti-lock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability program, 10 standard airbags, and active headrests for all occupants.
Availability
The 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser will go on sale later this Fall. Price wise, the new Land Cruiser might be a few hundred dollars more expensive than the current model, which has a MSRP of $81,150.
Additional 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser Images
Information and Image Source: Toyota Motor Cars
