2004 Toyota Land Cruiser: Road Test
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2004 Toyota Land Cruiser ▼
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- MSRP: $54,725
- Invoice: $47,883
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Our road test for the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser includes a full evaluation of the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser help you decide if a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4.6 |
Expect about 9 sec 0-60 mph--good for a big premium SUV. V8 works with 5-speed automatic transmission to furnish ready power at any time, is always smooth and refined, even by car standards.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2 |
Dismal--and Toyota recommends premium fuel. Test LX 470 averaged just 11.8 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving. Land Cruisers do about the same.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 5.4 |
Absorbent and quite comfortable in Land Cruiser. LX 470's standard variable shock-absorber damping is ineffective; soft setting only increases wallow, while firm mode gives the jitters over bumps.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 3.3 |
Fast turns induce expected body lean and slight tipsy feel. But the AWD and antiskid/traction system provide ever-sure grip. Simulated panic stops stable, relatively short for weighty SUVs, despite marked nosedive.
QUIETNESS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 5.3 |
Among the most refined full-size SUVs and quieter than some passenger cars, thanks to luxury-grade sound deadening and silken engines.
CONTROLS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 5 |
Busy-looking dashboard proves user-friendly, but navigation system takes learning, complicates some audio adjustments, and has fingerprint-prone touchscreen. LX 470's exclusive Night View option uses light sensors and a special camera to project a black-and-white image on the windshield ahead of the driver. It works as advertised, but is helpful mainly in dark, low-traffic areas--and can be distracting. Toyota or Lexus, first-rate cabin materials and workmanship.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 7.6 |
Plentiful space on wide, cosseting seats. High stance makes entry/exit awkward for shorter people, though running boards are available for Cruiser, standard on LX. Drivers have commanding views, though headrests are minor obstructions aft.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 6.4 |
Expansive, and wide enough for comfortable 3-adult seating in 2nd row. Third-row seat is just kid's stuff. Again, awkward entry/exit, especially for 3rd-row occupants.
CARGO ROOM
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 8 | 7.4 |
Inefficient seat stowage betrays somewhat elderly design. Space behind 3rd row is suitcase tight. And even with those seats lifted and strapped against the side walls, the expanse doesn't match that created by the fold-down arrangement in newer SUVs. Removing 3rd-row seats helps. Good 2nd-row passenger comfort demands thick seat cushions that eat up about 16 inches of luggage space when folded forward.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 3.4 |
They're expensive, but these are true premium SUVs: highly capable off-road, powerful and comfortable on-road, and built to a high standard. Land Cruiser is a better dollar value than the costlier LX 470 and thus earns a Recommended label. The LX does benefit from Lexus' longer warranty and reputation for superior customer care.
Total Score
| Base | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 63 | 50.4 |
Total Score: 63
Scores for all Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicles
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