Commercial 4×4 offers practicality and performance

The Utility version tested is the lower of two specifications, but it comes with a reasonable level of equipment.

The Land Cruiser Commercial shares its design with the standard passenger version. Drive is mainly through the front wheels, but the all-wheel drive system distributes power to the rear when needed. The vehicle is available in long or short wheelbase variants. The same 2.8-litre diesel engine is shared, and either a six-speed manual in the Utility specification, or a six-speed automatic in the Active variant.

Well designed and finished

The model supplied for the Farmers Guide test was the short wheelbase (SWB) in Utility specification.

Ruggedly made, well finished and looks the part. Inside, the seats are durable, the steering wheel is chunky and comfortable, and controls are logically arranged. Doors open wide for easy access, and there is plenty of space for taller drivers.

Behind the front seats is a substantial load retaining mesh barrier. The two rear side windows are blanked out, and the area usually used for rear seating is converted to a flat floor.

Practicality

As well as the side-hinged rear door, there is a handy access hatch through the top-hinged rear window. The floor is tough steel with a durable rubber cover. A decent tool kit is included, stowed inside the rear door.

Toyota quotes a total load space volume of 1,574 litres, and the maximum load capacity is 593kg. Based on the two-door standard Land Cruiser, there is no side access to the load area, but the long wheelbase (LWB) version is based on the four-door standard vehicle, so loading from the sides is possible.

The rear door is hinged on the right and opens to the side, which means a large space behind the vehicle is needed to open it fully. However, if smaller items are being loaded the top section of the rear door opens – hinged at the top.

Maximum towing is 3,000kg, and we tried the vehicle towing a loaded trailer on- and off-road. There is a huge amount of torque, and a constant speed is maintained without changing down the gears even when climbing steep slopes. Acceleration is brisk, making it easy to pull away from junctions.

Power and performance

The 2.8-litre, 4-cyl engine is quiet and smooth. It develops 204hp, and the maximum 420Nm of torque is produced in a wide band from 1,400–3,400rpm, making the vehicle extremely forgiving and easy to drive.

There is a low range too, selected by a twist control on the dashboard. The rear differential can be locked electronically for extra traction, using a button beside the range selector.  Test-week economy was impressive, averaging 38mpg in a wide variety of situations from towing to travelling off-road. On one longer journey it achieved 43mpg.

Comfort

The higher Active specification includes rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera – which could be handy and help protect against knocks in the farmyard.

Double wishbone front suspension and four-link suspension with coil springs at the rear provides a great combination for transporting people and load carrying. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and they contribute to the ride quality. Some short wheelbase vehicles give a choppy ride, but this wasn’t the case, although the longer version should be even better.

The view from the driver’s seat is very good. The front corner pillars are narrow, and the side windows are large. The protective load mesh is tough, but isn’t so thick that it interferes with the view through the rear window.

One impressive feature of the vehicle design are the external mirrors. These are large and perfectly located to obtain the best possible view down the sides of the vehicle, and for reversing a trailer they are ideal.

Off-road

The Land Cruiser has good credentials for off-road use too, and certainly adequate for most UK farm situations. It has 205mm of ground clearance, an approach angle of 31 degrees, a departure angle of 25 degrees and a climb angle of 42 degrees is quoted. Maximum wading depth is impressive at 700mm. The week-long test certainly didn’t push the vehicle to its limits in terms of challenging terrain but crossing plough furrows at field edges and trailer ruts during sugar beet harvesting wasn’t an issue, and it steered in and out of deep ruts on a woodland track with ease – and without needing to select low range or lock the rear differential.

Verdict

The Land Cruiser Commercial proved excellent. It comes with the right level of equipment and is comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Towing capacity of 3,000kg will satisfy most farm requirements, and the rear load space capacity is ideal for transporting replacement parts, sacks of feed and livestock bedding and workshop tools. The vehicle looks the part – it’s business-like and solid, and extremely well finished with no squeaks or rattles. It’s well thought out, and the all-around vision is excellent. Nimble on-road and capable off-road, it also has a very tight turning circle.

The number of genuine 4×4 commercial vehicles to choose from has reduced in recent years, but this would be well up our list of candidates.