Carscoops review of the 2016 Land Cruiser (9/3/16)
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Markuson
SILVER Star
The final two sentences describe the LC just about perfectly...
"...as one of those vehicles that does pretty much everything with class and ease without looking like you’re showing off, the Land Cruiser is in a pretty small field.
And perhaps the 2,000-or-so U.S. buyers who take one home every year like that sort of thing. They clearly know something all of the flashy SUV buyers don’t."
Yep!
(Oh, and the superior towing capability over the LX and others which he doesn't mention because few people probably care.)
(Oh, and the superior towing capability over the LX and others which he doesn't mention because few people probably care.)
Good article but don't find bad at highways or bouncy etc. actually find the lc very smooth
Markuson
SILVER Star
I agree, though the stock suspension used to bounce around underneath...the vehicle itself didn't.
Now with new suspension...wow. Solid as can be. I really do think the article nailed the non-showy, "sleeper" nature of the cruiser.
There was an "extreme Jeep" at "top of the world" in Moab...when I made it up there by myself. He then drove down with me on a tougher route...and he was just AMAZED at how well my Crusier handled everything. It just doesn't look the part...but he just keep going on and on about how blown away he was at its "hidden capability." I love that.
Stealth
Everyone that rides in the 200 that knows nothing about it is shocked by it's speed and capability, they all call it a sleeper!
0-60 in 6.5 seconds is quick by any standards. I don't feel much body roll either in turns
Wealth
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Markuson
SILVER Star
Totally agree!! And given the fact that with even modest mods, that's moving three TONS...that is DARN QUICK!
After only a month with our new 2016 LC and coming from 2 years of trouble-fee adventures with a 2014 LR4 it seems clear to me that the LC is "beefier". It tows better (which was why we got it) and it does well enough off road. It is roomy but not as "efficient" in its use of cargo space. It is smooth but the air suspension on our LR felt smoother, even off road. The LC does seem quieter. I liked the LR4 seats better as they weren't quite as "flat" and provided more bolstering. But of course, the LR4 would not last as long and lost a fair bit of value in the first 55K miles.
So we do really like the LC. One thing, though, that disappoints me and that I didn't expect is that the Nav system is worse than the 2014 LR4 and the new Acura MDX model (which I had for a year before realizing that we needed something that was more offroad capable.) Other than including the speed limit on most roads it basically sucks when compared to those older Nav systems. Especially if you want to use it off road. Both the LR4 and the Acura allow you to upload GPX files to mark out routes or waypoints - and there are numerous public domain GPX files out there. I could also layout a route in a mapping app, export the GPX files and then load them into the vehicle to use on the Nav system. The guys who publish the Funtreks books sell GPX data for all the routes in their books was very helpful. And in the LR4 I could switch to offroad Nav system mode and it would show (elevation lines, roads, my GPX tracks/waypoints, a compass) and it would allow me to track/record a new route and backtrack on that route. The LR4 Nav system for offloading blows away the LC. And, yes, of course I could jury rig my iPad to compensate for my $80K vehicle. But with that big screen they have on the 2016 I had hoped they would do more with it. They didn't. Their "upgrade" to Entune for the 2016, if in fact there was an upgrade, still leaves them well behind the competition.
Yes, the LC is reliable. But sometimes I fell that they are banking on their reliability and not working hard enough at keeping up in other areas - areas that re not high risk, not innovative and not hard as others have already done it.
In fact, I find the whole Entune thing disappointing.
So we do really like the LC. One thing, though, that disappoints me and that I didn't expect is that the Nav system is worse than the 2014 LR4 and the new Acura MDX model (which I had for a year before realizing that we needed something that was more offroad capable.) Other than including the speed limit on most roads it basically sucks when compared to those older Nav systems. Especially if you want to use it off road. Both the LR4 and the Acura allow you to upload GPX files to mark out routes or waypoints - and there are numerous public domain GPX files out there. I could also layout a route in a mapping app, export the GPX files and then load them into the vehicle to use on the Nav system. The guys who publish the Funtreks books sell GPX data for all the routes in their books was very helpful. And in the LR4 I could switch to offroad Nav system mode and it would show (elevation lines, roads, my GPX tracks/waypoints, a compass) and it would allow me to track/record a new route and backtrack on that route. The LR4 Nav system for offloading blows away the LC. And, yes, of course I could jury rig my iPad to compensate for my $80K vehicle. But with that big screen they have on the 2016 I had hoped they would do more with it. They didn't. Their "upgrade" to Entune for the 2016, if in fact there was an upgrade, still leaves them well behind the competition.
Yes, the LC is reliable. But sometimes I fell that they are banking on their reliability and not working hard enough at keeping up in other areas - areas that re not high risk, not innovative and not hard as others have already done it.
In fact, I find the whole Entune thing disappointing.
Did you consider a Pre-owned Range Rover?
Markuson
SILVER Star
I think just about everyone here would agree that the Nav system is lame.
On the other hand...nothing compares to Google maps on an iPad over the screen area in my 200, and I've yet to see ANY nav system better than Google. Do we really need a nav in cars any more? Not really. If I could remove it from my 2008 all together...I would.
Beyond that.... 17 years in Land cruisers and never stranded even one time...and I drove my 100 to the ends of the earth. Never failed me once.
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Entune *is* disappointing. BMW's systems wasn't stellar, but even coming from that for the last 4 years, I find Toyota's NAV severely lacking... to the point of not using it. Anybody with enough ingenuity can work around the system, but I don't understand why they have to be so outdated for a vehicle at this price point... It's my main complaint.
Good question, Angelo. I never liked the Range Rover. For me, the LR4 was special due to its very versatile use of interior space and the feeling, if not reality, of simply more space inside. The RR had nicer 2nd row seats but with our LR4 the 2nd row (and 3rd) was stowed 95% of the time. The Land Cruiser, now with my 3rd row removed, is "adequate" with the 2nd row rolled forward when I want to sleep in it and when moving/driving I have covered the 2nd row with towel-like covers and use it for cargo. So I can make it work. Not as convenient as the LR4 but workable.
I hear ya. No doubt that I feel more confidence that the LC will get me there - wherever that is. And we typically use Earthmate (with my inReach) and sometimes Gaia GPS on my iPad when going off road. Maybe what adds to the disappointment is that 1) the added this much bigger screen, and it just seems lame to duck tape my iPad over it
, and 2) others have shown that it is not hard to do a few more basic things like being able to import GPX files, being able to simply lay in a route to a "city" without needing to include a full address (great for gauging distance on roadtrips and including rivers and streams on the map to more easily orient where you are. To me, Toyota is simply too lazy to do a good job. So, yes, we'll continue to my iPad to compensate. (BTW, the voice command system is also surprisingly limited compared to what I have experienced with others.) Oh well. At least they have Siri Eyes free. Maybe I'll see if I can get that to work better.
I guess this is my real issue. Not that I expect Nav systems to be awesome. But what they have feels years old. No excuse in my mind. No excuse.
Now, as for the the camera system on the 2016, I am very impressed compared to what I have seen on other vehicles. And that large screen does help. Not that I would fully trust the side view cameras on a shelf road with a big drop off to one side. But it is helping me get familiar with the perspective and the position of all 4 wheels when I am driving.
The LR4 kills it in space for sure. I wish Land Cruiser would make flat folding seats. I hate the tilt forward second row when traveling as they rub and push against the front row. The only other vehicle as capable is the G-Wagen but I'm not dropping over $100k to get worse gas mileage and spend another $5+k on replacing the suspension system with ORC and Radflos plus being stuck with crappy cupholders and no storage. Lol! You couldn't have picked a better more reliable beast for your needs. Congrats again.
Thanks, Angelo! It is a great vehicle. I can certainly find nicks to pick with any vehicle and that is true with the LC. But they remain impressive, if understated, vehicles. And whereas my bronze LR4 with the MaxTrax on the rack on top and the sliders and the Compomotive wheels with KO2s did get noticed (and remembered) in our area, our white LC is, well, understated. There are plenty of white bulging SUVs around and most people wouldn't know it for what it is. Which is actually OK with me. Stealth can have its benefits.
Though I had no issues with my LR4 and put it through more rough terrain than 98% of the LR4 owners, I had begun to realize that I would get to the 150K miles mark in another 4 years at my current rate. So I had begun to be more judicious in how much I drove it. And that began to take some of the fun out of it. I became more and more concerned about wearing it out early or breaking it. With the LC I don't have those concerns. I can still drive 30K per year (my average will more likely be 25K - and I don't commute to work) and have it for 10 years. Probably more like 15. Unless the 300 series comes out and keeps all the off road and trailer towing goodness while making significant improvements in the use of interior space and with the nav/infotainment system, etc. then I may have to update. But that is a long way off as I will never again be one of those who buys a new model/generation in its first couple of years. I did that with my Acura MDX and it was a mistake. But I digress...
Though I had no issues with my LR4 and put it through more rough terrain than 98% of the LR4 owners, I had begun to realize that I would get to the 150K miles mark in another 4 years at my current rate. So I had begun to be more judicious in how much I drove it. And that began to take some of the fun out of it. I became more and more concerned about wearing it out early or breaking it. With the LC I don't have those concerns. I can still drive 30K per year (my average will more likely be 25K - and I don't commute to work) and have it for 10 years. Probably more like 15. Unless the 300 series comes out and keeps all the off road and trailer towing goodness while making significant improvements in the use of interior space and with the nav/infotainment system, etc. then I may have to update. But that is a long way off as I will never again be one of those who buys a new model/generation in its first couple of years. I did that with my Acura MDX and it was a mistake. But I digress...
Markuson
SILVER Star
I hear ya. No doubt that I feel more confidence that the LC will get me there - wherever that is. And we typically use Earthmate (with my inReach) and sometimes Gaia GPS on my iPad when going off road. Maybe what adds to the disappointment is that 1) the added this much bigger screen, and it just seems lame to duck tape my iPad over it
So, yes, we'll continue to my iPad to compensate. (BTW, the voice command system is also surprisingly limited compared to what I have experienced with others.) Oh well. At least they have Siri Eyes free. Maybe I'll see if I can get that to work better.
I keep reminding myself that when my 2008 was designed...there were NO IPADS...and even the first iPhone came out during it's development! Hard to believe, since touch-screen phones have become old news in the short 8 years since, and similarly hard to believe that in 2007, iPads were still 3 YEARS away! We are so spoiled! lol.
For 2007...what's in my LC is pretty up to date. But now we expect new streets to be at our fingertips...heck, even street-view and over-head satellite detail that shows every bush, shrub and rock in the boonies. Just incredible. Bottom line though? -The LC's screen tech and Nav is behind...in a vehicle that should be breaking new ground. Still...I would have no other vehicle on earth in the category. Love it.
