Toyota Land Cruiser 200. Tested by the Canaries

An SUV that continues the legacy of the legendary "hundredth" series, which once conquered the median strip of Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Tinted windows, special signals, a couple of tough guys — the standard set for this big Japanese vehicle. It's interesting to see how well it lives up to its reputation.

Before the trip, let's take some time to inspect it. The Land Cruiser 200 has grown: length increased to 4950 mm (+60 mm), width to 1970 mm (+30 mm). The appearance is still brutal, but there's a noticeable effort by designers to add dynamism.

I get into the cabin not through the front door, but through the trunk. It's now divided into two parts: first, the glass hatch opens upward, then the metal one downward. This scheme simplifies loading heavy items. On the lower door, by the way, it's convenient to sit with your legs dangling — for example, admiring conquered rocks.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota

Due to the reduced engine compartment, the cabin has become more spacious: the distance from the gas pedal to the trunk door increased by 130 mm. Seems like a small thing, but it's pleasant. There are only seven seats, no other option. The first and second rows are comfortable, but the two rear seats are clearly for children. However, the folding design of the second and third rows is well thought out: a couple of movements — and you get a flat platform that seems capable of holding more than one refrigerator.

Enough inspection, time to hit the road. The first twenty kilometers of asphalt passed calmly. But soon the road disappeared, and sand with stones crunched under the wheels. From time to time, sharp boulders struck the body loudly. The further into the mountains, the larger the stones became, and the sand almost disappeared. The terrain changed rapidly, and within a few minutes our convoy was surrounded by high cliffs. The flowers promised in the song never appeared — only white seagulls reminded us that somewhere nearby were the ocean and beaches.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota

A mountain loomed before us. Over the radio, the command came: "Forward!" Where forward — there's no road there! But the command was repeated. Engaging the Crawl Control system (standard on the petrol version), I directed the vehicle almost at a vertical wall. And a miracle happened: the SUV, grinding like a giant turtle, crawled upward. It seemed the wheels had acquired suction cups preventing the vehicle from tipping over. I haven't felt such adrenaline in a long time! Later, engineers explained the secret: high ground clearance (230 mm front, 240 mm rear) and short overhangs allow tackling serious obstacles. Maximum approach angle is 32°, departure angle 25°.

The surprises didn't end there. The organizers spared neither the vehicles nor us: the rocky ordeal lasted at least ten hours, during which we covered only a hundred kilometers. The only disappointment was the hill-start assist system: you release the brake — and the vehicle, contrary to expectations, rolls back about a meter before stopping. This needs refinement.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota

During the trip, we changed tires six times, shredded to pieces. The standard spares weren't enough — a pickup with wheels saved us, without which many wouldn't have returned to base.

When the stones ended, the road turned into a washboard. To avoid shaking, we had to accelerate to sixty. On one such section, a wild goat darted out from the side — its running path intersected with the route of the vehicle ahead. The animal had no intention of yielding to the huge SUV. My colleague at the wheel avoided a collision at the last moment. The goat survived, and we witnessed an interesting fact: the new Land Cruiser barely rolls. Later, we repeated the maneuver on asphalt — same result. Credit goes to the upgraded rear 4-link coil suspension, which reduced rolls and improved ride smoothness.

In Russia, the Land Cruiser is rarely used for its intended purpose. More often, it's a security vehicle for escort. Perhaps there's something to that, but acceleration to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds isn't impressive, and a top speed of 220 km/h isn't the best indicator for an escort. Although the lack of rolls and the fairly sharp steering for an SUV can be praised, the true element of the "two-hundredth" is where there are no roads, only directions. Thank God, Russia has plenty of such places. Japanese marketers understand this: in 2008, they plan to sell over 9,000 vehicles in our market — half of all European sales.

Stones, sand, and mountains

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota

The Canary Island of Fuerteventura, where the first test of the Land Cruiser 200 was held, is nothing like a green paradise. The author of the old hit about flowers and the ocean apparently never visited. The place, of volcanic origin, consists of about eighty percent sharp stones of various sizes that quickly turn tires into rubber shreds. Another fifteen percent is desert with white sand dunes and thorny bushes. And only the remaining five percent are the famous beaches, wrested from nature by man with great effort.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota

Driving
On real off-road, the Land Cruiser 200 will find few rivals. Main advantages — absence of large rolls and solid suspension travel.

Interior
Many buttons will require time to learn. Material quality is beyond reproach. Ergonomics are top-notch, and the new model is more spacious.

Comfort
On bad roads, the Land Cruiser 200 delivers maximum comfort available to an SUV. Dual-zone climate control allows setting different temperatures for front and rear rows — everyone will be satisfied.

Safety
Ten airbags provide the necessary level of safety, and the considerable dimensions also contribute.

Price
The cost matches customer expectations. Expensive and rich.

Pros and cons
+ Excellent off-road capability, absence of large rolls during sharp maneuvers.
- Lack of lateral support in seats, imperfect operation of hill-start assist.

Our opinion

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200
© Photo: Toyota