Toyota Land Cruiser V8 review

All this course is utterly alien to the original BJ and subsequent (and wildly successful) FJ Land Cruiser, but it does allow the V8 to whisk its seven occupants to the countryside in comfort while giving the same go-anywhere ability once the tarmac runs out.

Actually, make that luxurious comfort, which is evident throughout the car. While some makers brag about their two-zone climate control, where the driver and passenger can set the temperature individually, the Land Cruiser V8 has a four-zone system that hands control to the rear-seat passengers as well.

They also get a heating element under their leather seats, another rarity, and music is delivered through a nine-speaker hi-fi. That also comes with a stackable DVD player as well, so at rest you can watch films via the dashboard’s 8in screen.

While travelling, that screen also delivers satnav, which comes with maps for 24 European countries as standard, as well as a traffic rerouting function. And when you’re reversing the screen displays the view from the back thanks to a rear-mounted camera.

Back in 1967 when Toyota launched the five-door version of the FJ Land Cruiser, the most advanced safety item was a padded dashboard. Now the V8 comes with an amazing 12 airbags to fully protect occupants, including those in the very back seats. Even the driver and front passenger’s knees are given their own airbag protection.