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2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
Date Published: 11/23/08

2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
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MSRP:
$54,725 -

Invoice:
$47,883 -

Class:
Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicle

CG Award: (What's This?)
2004 Toyota Land Cruiser
Expert Rating Summary
Category Base Rating (See All
Ratings)
Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicle Average Rating
Acceleration 5 4.6
Fuel Economy 2 2
Ride Quality 7 5.4
Steering/Handling/Braking 3 3.3
Quietness 8 5.3
Controls 7 5
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 8 7.6
Room/Comfort (rear) 8 6.4
Cargo Room 8 7.4
Value within Class 7 3.4
Total Score: 63 50.4
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
2004 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER BUYING RESOURCES
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2004 Toyota Land Cruiser Review
An optional rearview camera is the sole addition to this aged Japanese-built SUV. Land Cruiser is somewhat smaller but much costlier than Toyota's American-made Sequoia. The Lexus LX 470 is a more-luxurious version of the Land Cruiser. A V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive with low-range gearing are standard. So are ABS, antiskid/traction control, power tilt/telescopic steering column, and 3-row seating for eight. Front torso side airbags are optional, but include head-protecting curtain side airbags for the 1st- and 2nd-row occupants. Also optional are 18-inch wheels (vs. standard 17s), rear DVD entertainment, and a navigation system that shows DVDs on its in-dash screen with the transmission in Park; a CD changer is included. The new video camera, also included with the navigation system, displays a rear view on the navigation screen when Reverse is selected. Land Cruiser's performance and accommodations mirror those of comparable LX 470's.
Competition
Luxury SUVs vary in size and type, but all offer higher standards of workmanship, comfort, refinement, and pricing than other SUVs, regardless of class. Our Best Buys are Acura MDX and Lexus RX 330. Both are extremely capable on-road and offer roomy interiors that feature quality workmanship and materials.

New to the Recommended list are the sporty Cadillac SRX and Infiniti FX. Both offer a choice of V6 or V8 engines and emphasize on-road handling over off-road utility.

Though somewhat trucky compared to the others, we Recommend the Toyota Land Cruiser. It has a V8, rugged body-on-frame chassis, and true off-road ability.
News
Land Cruiser's fate remains hazy. Sales are down to a trickle, and Toyota didn't get deep pockets by hanging onto laggards. But it doesn't want to squander Land Cruiser's strong U.S.-market image and name recognition. Toyota is known to be prepping a retro-style SUV for 2006 based on its redesigned '05 Tacoma pickup and patterned on the recent FJ Cruiser concept. Though sources don't paint this as a Land Cruiser replacement, it sure seems like one to us, especially as it will look something like the early wagons that helped establish Land Cruiser in the U.S. We'll know our hunch is right if Toyota shows a "son of FJ" concept by early '05.
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