2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

Detailed Review

The current generation of the Toyota Land Cruiser, the J200 series has been in production from 2008 to present. It competes with the Nissan Patrol, the Range Rover Vogue, and the Land Rover Discovery. The 200 series has encountered some criticism due to what many consider as a bland design.

Under the bonnet, the Land Cruiser comes with 2 engine options: a 4.7 Litre V8 petrol engine and a 4.5 Litre Twin Turbo Diesel engine. The Petrol engine develops 234kW at 4800 rpm while the Diesel engine develops 200kW at 3400 rpm. This is nowhere near the Range Rover marque that throws out 375kW at the top of the lineup but nonetheless, the Land Cruiser is still a very potent 4×4.

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Grades
Japanese Grades
Toyota Land Cruiser GX, Toyota Land Cruiser AX, Toyota Land Cruiser AXG, Toyota Land Cruiser ZX

Kenya, Australia, and Asia Grades
Toyota Land Cruiser GX, Toyota Land Cruiser GXL, Toyota Land Cruiser VX, and Toyota Land Cruiser VXL/Sahara
For more details on these grades, Read here

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Interior
Legroom & Space
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a spacious car with capacity to comfortably carry 8 people in a 3 row configuration. The seats are made of good quality leather that is soft and comfortable to seat on. At the first row, the seats are electrically adjustable and the legroom is exceptional. Similarly, on the second row, the seating space is great. On the third row, the legroom is modest, not as good as the Land Rover Discovery, but close. The fact that it can seat 8 people is a huge advantage only matched by the Nissan Patrol Y62.

Cabin Storage
Everything in the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is meticulous and well laid out. From the first row to the third row, there are plenty of storage compartments. These are useful for storing items such as smartphones, beverages, handbags etc. For the 1st row, there 4 cup/bottle holders, door panel storage, dashboard-storage, a glovebox and a cooler box. For the second row, the storage is on the front seat jacket pockets and door side pockets. For the third row, there are storage compartments on either side.

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Boot Space
In the 5 seater configuration, the boot is big and can carry luggage for a large family with space to spare. The third row seats easily fold up at the pull of a lever. In the 8 seater configuration, with the 3rd row seats down the Land Cruiser still manages some decent boot space. In the 2 seater configuration with the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded, the boot space is humongous rivaling that of a full sized van.

Extras: DVD player, Navigation, Keyless Entry, Dual Zone Climate Control, Cooler Box, Touchscreen

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Exterior
The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is an imposing vehicle. It comes standard with 18 inch or 20 Inch alloy rims depending on the grade.

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Fuel Consumption
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.7L V8 Petrol Fuel Consumption: 7.1 km/L (On Average)
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.5L V8 Diesel Fuel Consumption: 9.7 km/L (On Average)

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Acceleration
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.7L V8 Petrol accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.7 sec.
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.5L V8 Diesel accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.9 sec.

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Fuel Tank Capacity: 138 Litres (93L main tank and 45L sub tank)

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Stability and Handling
The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is a behemoth weighing in at 2.6 tonnes. Even with all that heft, its surprisingly nimble and maneuverable. The Petrol V8 sprints from 0-100 km/h in a mere 7.7 sec whilst the diesel does it in 8.9sec. That’s quick by 4×4 standards. The diesel V8 is much more exciting to drive with its unmistakable grunt and loads of low-end torque

On the road, thanks to the KDSS suspension, the Land Cruiser V8 is stable and takes corners at speeds where the Prado TX will wobble. The steering is well judged and maintains perfect balance across the speed spectrum. The transmission is in sync with the engine and delivers power on time. Off the tarmac, the Land Cruiser will chew up anything you throw at it. Its capable of going to extremes where few of the so called 4x4s will dare venture.

Service Intervals
Minor Service: Done at 10,000 km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, and Engine Oil
Major Service: Done at 15,000km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel/Diesel Filter, ATF Filter, Cabin Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads, ATF Oil, and Engine Oil

Spare Parts Availability, Cost & Where to buy
Spare parts for the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 are much more affordable compared to the Range Rover and the Nissan Patrol. In the long term it’s the cheaper car to own. On the average, body parts and sensors are expensive and some are not readily available in the market. Service parts are well priced and available in all major towns across the country.
For a list of Toyota Spare Part dealers in Kenya, follow this link

2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Reliability
The driving conditions in Kenya are significantly different from those in Japan and Europe. Reviews done for those markets largely do not apply to the Kenyan market. There are differences in roads, fuel, climate, spares, and technical expertise. To give you accurate and reliable local insights, we interview experts such as mechanics and car dealers, who have in-depth knowledge of the Kenyan market. We also test the cars ourselves. Our aim is to give you the right information to enable you make an informed decision when buying a car.

When it comes to reliability, nothing beats Toyota. Its the industry standard definition and is exemplified in the Toyota Land Cruiser. As we mentioned earlier, it has been in production for 7 decades and this is all due to its reliability. The same however cannot be said of the Range Rover and the Nissan Patrol.

Based on interviews with local Toyota specialists, there are a few things to look out for. The most common problems reported are KDSS failure, water pump failure and high oil consumption. The KDSS failure is by far the most expensive to fix. All these failures point to poor maintenance.

It’s highly recommended that you read the owner’s manual before operating the Toyota Land Cruiser V8. To download the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Owner’s Manual, Click here.

Resale Value: Very Good

Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Competitors: Nissan Patrol, Range Rover Vogue, Land Rover Discovery

Cost of Ownership
Purchase Price: From Ksh.5,500,000
Comprehensive Insurance: Average Ksh. 220,000/ per annum- Or
3rd Party Insurance: Ksh. 7,000/- per annum
Change of Tyres(If neccessary) Ksh. 140,000/- for 4 Tyres
Find the Latest Toyota Land Cruiser Prices

What we like about the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser V8
1. Big and Spacious 8 seater ideal for large families
2. Capable off-road
3. Reliable

What we don’t
1. Difficult to maneuver in tight spaces

Conclusion
There are few cars that can match the credentials of the Toyota Land Cruiser V8. It is a perfect family vehicle that is targeted at people who value safety, comfort and reliability. Its not a particularly cheap car to own and maintain but the long term utility is immeasurable.

Where to the Toyota Land Cruiser in Kenya 
If you are shopping around for a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, you are in the right place. We guarantee the lowest prices in the market, plus a high level of transparency and security. We strictly vet our dealers and they provide quality cars. To receive quotes and photos from our dealers, fill the form below or call the number provided.