2002 Toyota Land Cruiser: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Toyota's luxury SUV gets standard instead of optional 3rd-row seating, plus rear-seat automatic climate control for 2002. Somewhat smaller but much costlier than Toyota's big-truck-based Sequoia SUV, Land Cruiser is the basis for the Lexus LX 470. They share a basic body, chassis, V8 engine, automatic transmission, all-wheel drive with low-range gearing, ABS, and standard traction control/antiskid system. An available navigation system displays maps stored on DVDs. It also has a 6-disc CD changer and can play movies on an in-dash screen with the transmission in Park. The newly standard 3rd-row seating, rear-seat climate control, and power swing-out rear side windows had previously comprised a $2265 option package. The 3rd-row seat can hold 3 passengers and is removable. Unlike the American-built Sequoia, Land Cruiser and LX 470 are made in Japan, do not offer a rear-wheel-drive version, and lack side and curtain airbags.

COMPETITION

Though this segment has cooled somewhat with the rise in fuel prices, it's still one of the hottest. Our Best Buys are the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.

Recommended are the Ford Expedition and GMC Yukon. For a few more bucks you can get the Toyota Land Cruiser. Its high price is the only thing holding back this refined and drivable SUV. We love the size, comfort, and power of these big SUVs but wish they got a few more miles per gallon.