At the beginning of 2021, an updated version of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) will be released on the Russian market - the most common and, perhaps, the most “long-lasting” series of the Land Cruiser family. Oddly enough, the Japanese manufacturer, which usually does not abuse the patience of its customers, demonstrates the exact opposite position regarding the 200 series: making small changes every year, it declares with no less tenacity each time a deep restyling. Why and what all this is for is unknown; but the Land Cruiser 200, with all its features, is a comfortable and reliable SUV, endowed by its creators with an attractive appearance, and its demand in the near future is not in danger.
Photo: updated Toyota Land Cruiser 200 2019
Now let’s learn more about whether the updated Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) belongs to the new generation. At the beginning of 2021, many experts, followed by ordinary car enthusiasts, seriously assumed that the manufacturer would still please connoisseurs of its products by officially announcing the release of the second generation of super-spacious SUV. But the hopes were not justified, and initially they were not based on anything other than fantasies: Toyota, which announced an upcoming restyling back in 2021, has simply remained silent since then, leaving motorists to figure out the details on their own. The bias that has arisen in the minds of potential buyers towards the “new generation” can be understood: the Japanese auto giant has never modified the Land Cruiser 200 to this level, and the time seems to have come. But dreams remained dreams: Western, and soon Russian, car enthusiasts will be able to enjoy pleasant and useful, but still insignificant changes.
The second classic question is the right of the 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) to be called an SUV. And here everything is ambiguous. On the one hand, the increased dimensions (5 m or more) and relatively high ground clearance (23.0 cm) clearly indicate that the updated car belongs to the SUV class. On the other hand, in the modern world there are also crossovers whose length exceeds 5.4 m (at least the new product from Rolls-Royce expected by aesthetes), and the ground clearance is only slightly inferior to the value mentioned above.
Another argument is the maximum allowable number of passengers in the cabin of the updated Toyota Land Cruiser 200. There are eight of them - according to the standard scheme (two-three-three). It may be true that there are seven (two-two-three), but this option is more expensive and is not applicable to a basic car. It would seem, why not an SUV? But for a long time there have been crossovers from the same Toyota and its “compatriots” like Subaru and Nissan, also designed for seven or eight adults, including the driver. So, in this regard, the 2021 Land Cruiser 200 cannot be clearly assigned to one class or another.
The last argument is the installed engines. Here, the updated Land Cruiser 200 also has nothing special to boast about: two options, a 4.5-liter diesel and a 4.6-liter gasoline, are, of course, not bad at all and develop decent power - but, as in previous cases, crossovers have existed for a long time, in which have much stronger units installed. Well, the question remains open.
It's time for two of the biggest arguments in favor of the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200's off-road capabilities. The first of them is the body height, reaching 2 m. This is something that is not found in crossovers, no matter how luxurious they are. The second, no less important and still decisive, is the opinion of the manufacturer. Since the release of the very first model, Toyota has not stopped, including in official Russian-language statements, calling the Land Cruiser 200 an SUV - therefore, we can stop there.
It should only be noted that for a Japanese, European or American driver this problem does not exist at all: according to the Western classification, large crossovers, SUVs, pickups and some other types of large and powerful vehicles belong to the SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) group. That's all; no additional divisions are provided. A Russian car enthusiast will either have to agree with the opinion of the manufacturer, or remain with his own: “class affiliation” does not affect the reliability of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in any way.
But the safety of the updated 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) should be discussed separately. It goes without saying that no one will blame the Japanese for their negligent approach to preserving the health and life of the driver and passengers in the cabin. However, the equipment of the basic version of the SUV causes, if not indignation, then surprise. How Toyota, which values its own reputation so much, took the path of South Korean and Chinese automakers by refusing to include side airbags and fog lights in the list of basic equipment will forever remain a mystery. However, there is no escaping the fact: the cheapest version of the Land Cruiser 200 is equipped with only two airbags - for the driver and the passenger next to him, and is simply devoid of foglights.
How does this threaten the owner of a basic SUV? The absence of side airbags will lead in the event of a severe collision (frontal or tangential) to the passenger hitting one of the hard surfaces that are abundant in the cabin of any car. The result is more or less serious damage and injuries, including fractures and internal hemorrhages. Consequently, the owner of the updated Land Cruiser 200 will either have to try to overcome thoughts about the possible consequences of an understaffed interior of the car every time he sets off, or spend his own money and time purchasing and installing the missing airbags. Another option, the most successful, but not always feasible, is to purchase an advanced SUV, equipped by default with all the necessary elements of active and passive protection.
Approximately the same applies to fog lights. These components of car optics (perhaps not very necessary in a temperate climate and in conditions of normal road lighting at night) are certainly needed by the Russian driver. It is, of course, unacceptable to navigate in the evening or at night solely by your own vision, and using low beam lights is uneconomical and inconvenient. The driver will have to either buy and install foglights himself or at the nearest auto repair shop (but this may negatively affect the performance of the original optics), or continue to use low beams, or purchase a more expensive version of the SUV.
But the updated 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) also has undoubted advantages. These include, firstly, a magnificent appearance. Secondly, an SUV can be both easily integrated into the urban environment and used outside the city with no less success; for example, for a short-term family or friends outing into nature or a trip to the country. Of course, a driver who gets behind the wheel of a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 straight from a passenger car, bypassing the crossover stage, will have to get used to the increased size of the car and the longer response time due to its weight for some time. There is no tragedy here, however: the Land Cruiser 200 is a truly easy-to-drive SUV, and the logical organization of the interior space will make it easy for even a beginner to adapt to it.
The following will provide information regarding the appearance, interior and technical characteristics of the updated Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below). The potential buyer can only study the information offered and make an informed decision, which he will not have to regret in the future.
2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 exterior (photo)
The appearance of the updated 2021 Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) has undergone virtually no changes since the previous restyling. The proportions have become more harmonious, and for one of the trim levels (Executive) the design of the radiator grille has been slightly redesigned - that’s probably all. About other elements of the car’s “appearance” we can simply say that the manufacturer chose not to touch them.
Among the technological innovations present in the updated SUV are automatically folding rear-view mirrors, equipped with their own backlight, which helps the driver better navigate dangerous areas in the dark. The innovation is, of course, pleasant, but, like those listed earlier, it is far from revolutionary.
The main component of the front view of the car (photo below) is a huge, densely chromed radiator grille in the form of a slightly downward hexagon. The manufacturer chose not to round the corners of the grille, maintaining strict geometry that emphasizes the solidity of the body and the overall endurance of the SUV.
From the inside, the radiator grille is reinforced with vertical bars located at equal distances from each other. For external protection, Toyota used wide and also chrome-plated horizontal metal strips. These elements, coupled with a wide, strongly protruding edging, have not only a decorative, but also an applied purpose, practically leveling out the inevitable decrease in the strength of the body of the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 caused by the presence of wide, completely open openings in it. Both the grill frame and the jumpers in this case act as stiffening ribs - and, knowing the love of Japanese developers for crash tests, we can conclude that the above-mentioned parts cope with their job.
The real decoration of the “nose” of the car are the completely straight headlights, located at a turned angle, not only adjacent directly to the radiator grille, but also connected to it by long and narrow chrome-plated “bridges” emerging from it.
Following the general trend, which has gained popularity in recent years, the Japanese manufacturer abandoned the use of frosted or corrugated glass, which it had not previously particularly liked. Now the constituent elements of the headlights are covered with crystal clear, additionally tempered glass, capable of withstanding not only light non-directional impacts, but also a serious collision, excluding, of course, a head-on one.
Toyota designers, fortunately they have impeccable taste, made sure that the niches and optics of the Land Cruiser 200 completely coincide with each other, leaving no ridiculous protrusions or illogical depressions, which, after a short-term fashion for them has passed, are perceived by connoisseurs of aesthetics exclusively in irony key.
The headlights are clearly divided into components typical for an SUV:
- low beam lights;
- driving lights;
- turn signals;
- parking lights;
- a two-row LED strip emphasizing the rest of the optics.
Fully transparent glass will allow the buyer, and then the owner of the updated Land Cruiser 200, to ensure that there is no mechanical damage to each of the elements. Depending on the configuration, the optics of an SUV can be completely halogen, halogen with LED inserts (including the same bottom strip) or exclusively LED. The latter option is preferable: LED headlights last longer, and they are also less sensitive to external influences, including shocks or overheating. Toyota does not provide laser optics for any of the configurations: such headlights, in addition to the fact that they are much more expensive than LED ones, have been used relatively recently and have not yet proven themselves well enough.
The fog lights of the 2021 Land Cruiser 200, if installed, occupy space in deep chrome-plated niches located almost at the very edges of the “nose,” which reliably protect these components of the optics from impacts. There is no need to worry that a pebble accidentally flying out from under the wheels of the car in front will damage or completely disable the fog light, forcing the driver to get to the destination using low beam lights or, less effectively, LED strips.
The wide air intake of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 is divided (and strengthened) in the middle by a massive bumper with complex stamping. It is noteworthy that even the semi-closed design of the air intake and the presence of elements covering it from the outside do not interfere with air exchange: the owner of an updated SUV can be firmly confident that none of the elements of technical equipment will overheat or fail at the most inopportune moment.
The last element of the front view of the car is the hood, consisting of a central recess and two parallel side elevations, gradually falling towards the edges. The purpose of this configuration is purely decorative: in the event of a collision, wide, unpronounced pseudo-stiffening ribs will not affect the strength of the body in any way. The hood lid goes, quite logically, into the windshield, which would seem to fall inside the cabin, if not for the convex shape and wide holders of the same configuration, completely merging with the roof at the top point.
The top of the car is equipped with high through roof rails, attached for greater reliability to three points, the middle of which is shifted slightly back, and, depending on the configuration, a sliding hatch driven by modern electronics, or a panoramic roof with its own lighting. In the production of sunroofs and panoramic roofs for the updated Toyota Land Cruiser 200, exclusively high-strength tempered glass is used that can withstand vertical impacts.
True, it is difficult to say how much a panoramic roof is needed by a domestic car enthusiast: in most regions of the country, with their predominantly harsh weather and a minimum number of warm days a year, it will only help to quickly remove heat from the cabin, and therefore increase energy costs for heating the SUV from the inside. Whether a motorist from Yakutia or the Krasnoyarsk Territory needs this is up to them to decide.
The side view of the car (photo below) suffers a little from the manufacturer's use of overly large square arches designed for wheels with a radius of 17 (basic) or 18 inches. Tire sizes - 285/65 and 285/60, respectively; Toyota does not provide any other options for “shoes”, and in the near future, the situation probably will not change radically.
But the side line of the updated Land Cruiser 200 is truly impeccable: wide and high, it starts near the side mirrors and throughout its entire length almost maintains the parallelism of the upper and lower edges. The line ends with a sharp vertical decline, turning into the lower edge under a slight rounding.
Fortunately, the developers of the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 did not experiment with stamping the side doors, leaving the “three-dimensional” pattern that attracted buyers, deepening downwards and merging with the surface slightly short of the line of horizontal handles.
Taking into account the high ground clearance, side sills for the updated Land Cruiser 200 are simply necessary, and the manufacturer has not forgotten about them. They may not be too wide, but they are durable and covered with anti-slip material, which will definitely not be out of place in the Russian winter.
The rear view of the Land Cruiser 200 (photo below), although not bad, is downright boring. There are no memorable details here, with the exception of a wide chrome strip with an engraved "Land Cruiser" lettering connecting the large taillights, which extend onto both the tailgate and the "sides" of the SUV. Also pleasing is the corrugated floor protruding beyond the luggage door, which creates additional support when loading heavy or large objects inside the car.
The color range of the Land Cruiser 200 body includes the following shades:
- white;
- silver;
- grey;
- dark grey;
- black;
- Navy blue;
- red;
- olive.
The buyer is not yet offered any other tones; Perhaps Toyota will create a separate offer for the Russian client, including additional shades. In addition, nothing will prevent the car enthusiast from independently choosing the color that he thinks is suitable.
Interior
The test drive allowed us to notice that the changes in the cabin interior are not particularly noticeable. The front panel is now covered in dark leather with small wood inserts and aluminum trim. Many additional keys have replaced the shift selectors. The center console has become strict and solid. It can be plain or chrome-plated. In its upper part there is a large multimedia screen with a trapezoidal chrome frame and airflow ducts on the sides.
Below it there is a whole button panel, where the emergency warning button is located. Under the multimedia screen there is a three-zone climate control control unit with an LCD screen and two “knobs” with buttons. At the very bottom of the center console there is a small glove compartment with a lid.
Interior (photo of car interior)
Depending on the configuration, the cabin of the updated 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (photo below) will accommodate seven or eight people, including the driver. In the first case, the second row seats are separate, equipped with their own electric drives; in the second they are the same “sofa” as that located on the third - back row.
All chairs, regardless of their location, are equipped to the maximum extent with heating, ventilation and even electric massage; the latter option, more typical for SUVs in the upper price category, will undoubtedly appeal to the owner of an SUV, although not a budget one, but still not the most expensive.
On the dashboard of the 2021 Land Cruiser 200 (photo below), fully electronic or equipped with analog instruments in deep wells, are located from left to right:
- tachometer;
- on-board computer display with the information necessary to control the vehicle;
- speedometer;
- auxiliary light indicators.
The center console (photo below) of the SUV is equipped with:
- 9-inch touch display giving the driver or front passenger access to:
- an audio system with 6 or 14 speakers, a built-in radio receiver of standard AM/FM bands, a CD player with the function of playing mp3, wma and wav files;
- original trip computer;
- settings of systems and complexes installed in the car;
- built-in weather center;
- readings from existing sensors.
- The bottom is a well-organized panel of additional buttons and washers.
- Side deflectors extended vertically upward.
- Deep niche for recharging electrical devices, equipped with:
- one or two USB connectors;
- 12 volt cigarette lighter.
The central tunnel of the car (photo below), low and decorated with its own lighting, is equipped with:
- gear lever covered with anti-slip material;
- on the driver's side - hand brake with electric booster;
- double cup holder covered with a protective niche;
- an armrest covering the container for storing items needed on the go.
The luggage compartment volume of an SUV, which is already quite significant, can be increased by folding the backrests of the seats in the third and second rows. Items that still do not fit inside the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 can be easily fixed on the roof of the car - directly on the roof rails or using auxiliary devices offered by the manufacturer as accessories.
Reviews
Over the long history of production, Land Cruiser has already found its connoisseurs. But even today, thanks to regular updates, the brand of the Japanese concern continues to conquer the global automotive market. Numerous reviews are proof of this.
Andrey, 38 years old
I doubted for a long time and chose between Land Cruiser and Patrol from Nissan. I decided in favor of the first one and did not regret it. I was especially pleased with the improved cruise control system. Thanks to its thoughtfulness, it is easy to drive through mud, sand, and melted snow. A special option optimally separates torque and braking forces.
Sergey, 29 years old
I had a car of this brand, but of an earlier generation - 100. When they started production of the Land Cruiser 200, I was not impressed. But the updated model surpasses the previous version in terms of luxurious interior and technical equipment. Separately, I would like to note the impeccable handling, which ensures comfort for those in the cabin and safety for all road users.
Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in a new body is an updated SUV that has already become a legend. Its bright and slightly aggressive exterior is fully consistent with the technical capabilities of the vehicle, moving easily and smoothly both on highways and off-road, where there are only bumps and potholes.
Car dimensions
Dimensions of the updated Land Cruiser 200:
- body length - 4.95/5.25 m;
- wheelbase - 2.85 m;
- body width - 1.98 m;
- front track - 1.68 m;
- rear track - 1.68 m;
- height without rails - 1.91/1.95/2.14 m;
- ground clearance - 23.0 cm;
- weight - 2.79/2.84 t.
The minimum trunk volume of Land Cruiser 200 is 560 liters; the largest, obtained by folding the rear “sofa” and the backs of the middle row seats, is 2600 liters.
Technical characteristics of Toyota Land Cruiser 200
All SUVs in the Land Cruiser 200 line are all-wheel drive, equipped with one of three types of engines:
- 4.5-liter diesel: 8 cylinders;
- 32 valves;
- direct injection;
- 217 horsepower at 3600 rpm;
- 430 Nm at 1200 rpm;
- fuel consumption in mixed mode is 9.5 liters per 100 km.
- 8 cylinders;
- 8 cylinders;
The transmission used is a 5-speed manual or the same automatic. Other components of the technical part of the SUV:
- Front and rear ventilated disc brakes.
- Front multi-link suspension.
- Rear torsion beam.
- Four-channel anti-lock braking system.
- Body stabilization system in motion.
- Fully customizable steering column.
- Electric drives for the front and (optional) middle seats.
- Electric drives and heated side mirrors.
- Sensors for fuel level, engine temperature, cabin temperature, road illumination and precipitation.
- Parktronic.
- “Helpers” for going uphill and going downhill.
- Immobilizer.
Cars delivered to Russia will be equipped by default with the Era-Glonass navigation system, as this is necessary from the point of view of local legislation.
Options and prices for the 2021 Land Cruiser 200
In total, the manufacturer offers the Russian buyer six configuration options for the updated Land Cruiser 200, differing in appearance, interior quality, technical specifications and, of course, price:
- Comfort (basic). Cost - from 3.80 million rubles.
- Elegance. Cost - from 4.51 million rubles.
- Prestige. Cost - from 4.74 million rubles.
- Luxe Safety. Cost - from 5 million rubles.
- Executive. Cost - from 5.30 million rubles.
- Excalibur. Cost - from 5.50 million rubles.
The final price of the car will depend on the markups of a particular dealership, the current exchange rate of the ruble against the dollar and the amount of customs duties at the time of start of sales.
Interior of the restyled Land Cruiser 200
As for the car's interior, it, like the interior of its predecessor, is incredibly spacious and comfortable. In addition, the manufacturer provides a choice of several interior shades. The quality of its finishing materials has also increased: leather, plastic and metal inserts, as well as dashboard elements made of expensive wood, will allow you to immerse yourself even more in a feeling of elegance and comfort.
