Car Statistics: Toyota - Land Cruiser Series 09 (4 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

Chunky and solid, the Landcruiser is difficult not to notice, but mainly because of its size. It's a typical looking 4x4 and revisions to the front grille and bumper have done the job of modernising it. It looks best when caked in mud.

Handling (3 stars)

For a two-and-a-bit-tonne car, the Landcruiser is surprisingly civilised. Toyota has tamed bodyroll and refined the Land Cruiser's ride thanks to an adaptive damping system which alters depending on the vehicle speed and road surface. It still bounces around a bit though which is enough to deter most drivers from any over-enthusiastic manoeuvres.

Comfort (3 stars)

The cabin isn't the most peaceful place to be as the diesel engine isn't especially quiet and the sheer size of the Land Cruiser creates a fair amount of wind noise. While the ride is largely forgiving, large potholes and more undulating road surfaces have a tendency to highlight its shortcomings. The seats are large and armchair-like yet offer good support.

Quality (4 stars)

The interior has undergone several upgrades to give it a more upmarket feel, but although it looks good - the centre console is very similar in its layout to the Discovery - there are a few cheap feeling plastics around the cabin. It leans towards being practical and robust rather than luxurious. As for reliability, the Landcruiser has a reassuring solidity and will probably enjoy a 200k-plus lifetime with very few problems.

Performance (3 stars)

The 3.0-litre diesel does a decent job in pulling it along - 11 seconds for 0-62mph is reasonable for a vehicle as big as this, but it's a couple of seconds slower than a Discovery, which is also heavier by half a tonne.

Roominess (4 stars)

The Landcruiser's biggest asset is its size, and it will easily swallow up five adults and their luggage and there are plenty of storage options throughout the cabin. The LC3 models get a folding third row whilst the LC4 and LC5 models third row seating is electrically adjustable, but when in use both layouts compromise boot space.

Costs (3 stars)

Given the mass of car the engine has to deal with, a fuel consumption figure of 34.9mpg is not to be sniffed at. In fact it's hugely impressive and gives the Land Cruiser a theoretical range of around 668 miles per tank. Likewise CO2 emissions are competitive at 214g/km, putting it in VED band K at a cost of £215 per year.

Value (2 stars)

The Land Cruiser is a good buy if you're after the lower spec LC3 model which is competitively priced, but if you want all the off-roading kit you could be looking at an additional £10k on the price. Land Cruisers aren't known for having particularly good residuals either.

Stereo (5 stars)

The stereo is very good; sound comes out of six speakers as standard and up to 9 with the upgraded system. The sat nav is excellent and very easy to use. We love the 'hansel and gretel' feature that constantly tracks the route you've taken when off-roading so you'll never get lost.