Some SUVs are made to move stuff and have become on-road appliances, while others are made to move people. Not just on the road or while inside the vehicle, but by moving them to feel things about the SUV and where it can go. Among the SUVs that can do this is one of the most dependable models that owners never seem to let go of.
Dependability is achieved through several factors. A vehicle must be reliable, which means it has a strong history of low maintenance costs, few recalls, and extremely high ownership satisfaction scores. Another factor is ruggedness. This means the SUV can take a beating and still perform as expected. Like the old Timex slogan says, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”
Legendary Durability Built Into Every Component
Engineered For Extreme Conditions And Global Use
A durable, dependable, and rugged SUV can withstand rough use and occasional neglect and still perform as expected. For a vehicle to offer these qualities, its components must be built to withstand the most extreme conditions and tested under them. For SUVs, this can mean tackling the toughest, hottest, and dustiest deserts on the planet or going to polar regions for extreme cold-temperature testing.
Building a reputation for durability doesn’t come easy. Many automotive brands have striven for top-tier positions in reliability rankings and have fallen short, but some have secured their positions and never let go. They have historically developed the most trustworthy vehicles, and owners hang onto them for years because the vehicles never seem to fail.
Consistently Ranks Among The Longest-Lasting Vehicles
How many vehicles can boast of reaching 250,000 miles or more consistently? Most vehicles are lucky to make it to 200,000 miles, and some components, like CVTs, turbochargers, and suspension parts, aren’t made to withstand the extreme conditions that owners expect of their SUVs. Thankfully, there are at least some SUVs built to go the distance, crossing the 250,000-mile threshold and keeping on going without batting an eye.
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Proven Body-On-Frame Construction That Prioritizes Longevity
Truck-Based Platform Enhances Structural Strength
The SUV so dependable that owners never seem to want to let it go is the Toyota Land Cruiser. The durability and reputation for reliability come from overbuilt components, excellent four-wheel-drive systems, and engines designed for longevity rather than efficiency.
Unlike crossovers, the Land Cruiser’s body-on-frame design improves its durability under stress and over the long term. Instead of being built for comfort, the Land Cruiser is built like a truck, giving it the extra toughness needed to handle some of the harshest terrain on the planet. Regardless of the Land Cruiser chosen, a truck platform underpins the SUV, giving it the desired strength.
Designed To Handle Heavy-Duty Use Without Premature Wear
If World War II brought the Jeep Wrangler, the Korean War brought the Toyota Land Cruiser. At the US Military’s urging and in response to its needs against North Korea, Toyota developed a rugged, off-road SUV to handle jungle terrain. This heavy-duty build has stood the test of time, making the Land Cruiser one of the most highly respected and admired vehicles available.
Regardless of generation, the Land Cruiser is built to handle off-road driving in extremely harsh conditions, making it a great choice for off-road enthusiasts. In this SUV, you can see views and explore trails that other SUVs can’t fathom exploring.
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Exceptional Resale Value Reflects Long-Term Owner Confidence
Among The Best SUVs For Retaining Value Over Time
A five-year-old Toyota Land Cruiser still retains nearly 75 percent of its original price. That’s impressively high, and shows market confidence in Toyota as a brand and the Land Cruiser for how it’s built. Most SUVs lost close to half of their original value during the first five years, but not the Land Cruiser. Of course, this is consistent with the Toyota brand, which has more vehicles valued at more than 50 percent of their original cost than any other brand.
Limited Depreciation Encourages Owners To Hold On Longer
What happens when a vehicle depreciates slowly? Many owners will hang onto their vehicles longer if they know they can get most of the original price back after several years. The Toyota Land Cruiser has a lot more going for it than simply the resale value and depreciation, though. This rugged SUV has serious fans and drivers who prefer its build and off-road performance to newer models that don’t have the same proven track record.
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Simple, Proven Powertrains That Favor Reliability Over Trends
Historically Avoids Overly Complex Or Unproven Tech
The earliest version of the Land Cruiser was powered by the F-type 3.9-liter inline-six engine. This was a simple, proven engine that cemented the SUV’s legacy by using proven tech over its lifetime. Before the change to a smaller platform and a hybrid powertrain, the Land Cruiser was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This sounds like an extremely common powertrain, and it is. This engine size has historically been trusted by several manufacturers.
A Modern Choice For Off-Road Excellence
The latest generation Land Cruiser is much different from its predecessor. It’s smaller, less expensive, and utilizes a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Toyota has shifted much of its lineup to hybrids, which gives the Land Cruiser a different feel, but still makes it reliable. The long-term use of a hybrid powertrain makes it easy to trust a Toyota with a hybrid setup.
- Base Trim Engine
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2.4L Turbo Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Four-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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22/25/23 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Toyota
- Model
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Land Cruiser
- Segment
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Full-Size SUV
The V8 is gone, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors handle the Land Cruiser’s power. This powertrain produces 326 horsepower and sends it to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This modern powertrain is more efficient than the old V8, making the Land Cruiser a leader in modern off-road SUVs.
Long Production Cycles Allow Refinement Over Time
By 1980, the Land Cruiser was in its fourth generation. It took ten years for it to transition to the fifth. This pattern continued through the seventh generation, allowing Toyota to refine this flagship SUV over time, creating an SUV that was only tweaked and facelifted during each generation. These long production cycles allowed drivers to rely on the Land Cruiser as one of the most useful and trustworthy SUVs available.
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Global Reputation For Reliability Creates Lifelong Ownership Loyalty
Trusted Worldwide By Governments And Fleets
The proven dependability and durability make it easy for fleet operators and governments to choose the Land Cruiser over other SUVs. Its proven toughness makes it the go-to vehicle in areas where vehicles are expected to venture deep into the rugged terrain and return. When failure is not an option, the Land Cruiser has proven itself.
Strong Enthusiast And Owner Communities Reinforce Long-Term Ownership
Long-term ownership fosters a culture of preservation rather than replacement. In a world where everything seems disposable, it’s nice to see some vehicles continue to function and perform after several decades. The Toyota Land Cruiser is still one of the most driven and trusted SUVs on the market. Toyota boasts “10 million and beyond,” showing that the Land Cruiser has been a trusted staple of the off-road SUV community for decades. The latest generation masterfully blends modern powertrain technology with an old-school truck platform, making the modern Land Rover fit perfectly into Toyota’s evolved lineup.
Sources: Toyota, iSeeCars, Kelley Blue Book