The market might be filled with 4x4s and SUVs that are all show and no go when it comes to fulfilling the promise of their off-road looks, but the Toyota Land Cruiser is certainly not one of them. It has become a true stalwart of the Toyota range, and it is far more likely to be found in the service of the UN than a yummy mummy on the school run.
This is a hardcore 4x4, for those who have a real need to get to the places that other vehicles cannot reach - and it has the aggressive looks to match. Flared wheel arches and a solid Jeep-like grille lend the Land Cruiser a certain presence on or off the road.
There is only one engine available for the Toyota, a 3.0-litre turbo diesel which produces a relaxed 171bhp and a useful 301lb ft of torque. This hefty beast is teamed up with a full-time four-wheel-drive system and a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The latest Land Cruiser is even better off-road than ever, with a plethora of fancy systems that get it across difficult terrain better than a driver could do on their own. Admittedly the really good stuff is saved for the top-spec model costing nearly £50,000, but it's worth it if you're going to genuinely inaccessible places.
The Land Cruiser is surprisingly civilised on the road, thanks largely to the fancy technology that helps it out off-road. Whilst the ride can get bouncy, it is kept mostly in check by an adaptive suspension system that changes the settings depending on the road surface. The handling is no better than you would expect though, so it's better to relax and enjoy the cruise.
On the motorway the roar from the diesel engine can get somewhat intrusive, and the sheer size of the car punching its way through the wind means things can get noisy there too, but on the positive side the seats are spacious and extremely comfortable. The cabin is fairly cavernous, in fact - five people can be accommodated in comfort with loads of room for luggage. There is a seven-seat option available for the car, but that does eat into boot space.
The Land Cruiser is a dependable, talented off-roader that doesn't disgrace itself on the road either - you can see how the car has built up a dedicated following over the decades.