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| Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8-litre D-4D diesel |
Toyota’s mighty Land Cruiser gains a new engine this summer, ensuring the go-anywhere SUV remains one of the finest all-round propositions on the market.
At the same time, equipment specifications have been upgraded and extra models have been added to the line-up.
New 2.8 D-4D engine
The three and five-door Land Cruiser both adopt the new 2.8-litre D-4D unit, which replaces the current 3.0-litre engine. The focus is on improved driveability with better torque delivery, plus lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions.
The 2,755cc, 16-valve DOHC engine produces a maximum 174bhp (130kW). Matched with the current six-speed manual transmission, it develops peak torque of 420Nm between 1,400 and 2,400rpm. A new six-speed automatic transmission (replacing the previous five-speed) allows even more pulling power to be delivered, with an extra 30Nm on tap between 1.600 and 2.400rpm.
The new automatic benefits from control systems that help Land Cruiser achieve around a nine per cent improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Provisional figures show combined cycle performance at 39.2mpg and 194g/km for the five-door model.
Higher equipment specifications
The introduction of a new powertrain is accompanied by attractive new standard equipment features.
The entry-level Active grade models now come equipped with DAB digital radio for better quality radio reception. The options list has been extended to include Toyota Touch 2 with Go, which adds intuitive and comprehensive navigation functions to the vehicle’s high-resolution, touchscreen-controlled multimedia system (£750).
Customers can also specify leather seats for the vehicle. On three-door models this also includes heated front seats and leather door trims (£1,395); on the five-door Active the package includes power adjustment for the front seats and triple-zone automatic air conditioning (£2,795).
The Icon model also adopts DAB and the more sophisticated Toyota Touch 2 with Go Plus, adding voice command recognition, 3D city mapping and a text-to-speech function. At the top of the range, Land Cruiser Invincible gains the same new features, plus all the elements included in the new optional Safety Pack (details below).
Option packs
Land Cruiser’s new Safety Pack option (for Active and Icon models, £2,635) equips the SUV with a wealth of features to help avoid accidents and support safer driving on and off road. They include Adaptive Cruise Control and Pre-Crash Safety system; Lane Change Assist; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Blind Spot Monitor; and a Multi-Terrain Monitor, which gives a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings.
A Protection Pack (£595) is offered for all five-door models, adding side mouldings, a rear bumper protection plate and a boot liner.
Extended model range
The introduction of the new engine also heralds an increase in the Land Cruiser model range with the re-introduction of the Active grade five-door/seven-seat version, available, with either manual or automatic transmission. The three-door/five-seat Land Cruiser Active remains in place, exclusive with manual shift.
Engine 2.8 D-4D
Transmission 6MT 6AT
Body style 3dr 5dr 3dr 5dr
Max. power (bhp/kW) 174/130 174/130
Max. torque (Nm @ rpm) 420 @ 1,400 – 2,400 450 @ 1,600 – 2,400
Max. speed (mph) 109 109
Acceleration 0 – 62mph (sec) 12.1 12.7
Combined cycle fuel consumption (mpg) 38.2 37.7 n/a 39.2
Combined cycle CO2 emissions (g/km) 193 197 n/a 194