Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Station Wagon 2008 - Present

Another Land Cruiser, another car the size of a cruise liner. The V8 is the replacement for the Amazon as Toyota's premiere off roader. It is among the biggest available in the UK and offers room for seven people to travel in comfort. The rear row of seats has been given a bit more room than was enjoyed in the Amazon, but access to them can be a little tricky. Suitable for gymnasts and children if possible. The seats are well cushioned and offer good support. Long journeys are a breeze in the V8. the cabin is sufficiently big that the air conditioning has four separate zones to ensure that all of the occupants are catered for.

The V8 features a new diesel unit, with a twin turbo 4.5l V8 powering the Cruiser. This new engine offers a miniscule improvement on the old diesel engine at 27 mpg. As there is no longer a petrol option the V8 can claim to be a considerable improvement on the Amazon model, the petrol option was especially thirsty. Performance is slightly down on many rivals from Audi, Mercedes and VW, but the V8 is pleasantly surprising, with 0 - 60 in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph, so not a slouch by any means, especially for it's size.

The V8 still features the hangover that plagued the Amazon and this is the way the car's handling is set up. It's too off road centric and while that means that you can drive this remarkable machine virtually anywhere it doesn't engender as much confidence on tarmac as you'd want it to, as they're not cheap. Off road the V8 is incredible. There have been improvements with the handling but the V8 still feels it's size on the road, certainly more than it's German rivals. Really if you're looking to at a behemoth of a jeep you should consider where you're going to use it.

The Land Cruiser will not be for everyone, and nor should it. It's versatility off road is very possibly second to none, maybe the Range and Land Rover would give it a run for it's money but little else will. On Road though the V8 does have a tendency to feel it's size and doesn't engender the level of confidence that as the owner of a fifty grand motor you should have.

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