The recent 2018MY Toyota Land Cruiser’s facelift
comes with what many potential customers might have missed: the entry-level
Utility trim level.
Toyota UK describes it as a “workhorse” grade, aimed
at those who want the durability and dependability of a Land Cruiser but couldn’t care less for things like leather
seats, chrome inserts or even alloy wheels.
The new Land Cruiser Utility comes
with a set of 17-inch steel wheels, which to these eyes look the business,
eliminating the fear of curbing them and even probably offer a better ride
quality too.
And don’t let the entry-level spec scare you as the
cheapest Land Cruiser still comes with roof rails, front fog lights, air-conditioning,
dusk-sensing headlights, cruise control, smart entry and a six-speaker audio
system with CD player, Bluetooth, aux-in and USB ports.
Toyota offers the Land Cruiser Utility in three- and
five-door versions. The only available engine is the 2.8-liter D-4D turbodiesel
unit that makes 175 Hp and 309 lb-ft when paired to a six-speed manual
transmission.
This back-to-basics approach is pretty refreshing,
not to mention it makes the Toyota Land Cruiser more affordable than ever: a
three-door Utility with the manual gearbox starts from £ 32,795 (US$ 45,500) in the UK, with the five-door asking for £ 34,095.
