2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

By Jim Woodman

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

If your idea of an active lifestyle means hitting the trails and getting away from urban sprawl, you’ll certainly want a vehicle that takes you just about anywhere imaginable.

Today there are so many four-wheel drive options and vehicles for off-road enthusiasts that it leaves many of us overwhelmed with what works or doesn’t. And the reality is that very few people actually use their vehicles for hardcore off-roading.

Toyota’s banking on the fact its new seventh generation Land Cruiser, which hits dealerships in October 2007, will turn a few heads in the off-roading community.

There’s no question a big part of Toyota’s heritage is the Land Cruiser. While Land Cruiser leads the SUV markets in Saudi Arabia, Australia and Russia – and 130,000 are sold worldwide – 2007 U.S. sales will only be about 3,000 vehicles. In contrast, Toyota will sell about 30,000 Sequoias in the U.S. this year.

The takeaway here is that Americans love their big SUVs and Land Cruiser is priced high enough that many would-be buyers end up jumping over to Lexus, specifically the LX470.

For starters, Toyota has introduced an all-new 5.7 liter V8 which delivers 90 more horses than the 2006 4.7 V8 while consuming less fuel than its predecessor – 13/18 as opposed to 12/15 city/highway. Nothing wrong with an engine that generates more power on less fuel. Toyota accomplishes this with a bunch of electronic wizardry, within its 6-speed automatic transmission, that’s probably more interesting to the tech geeks.

Off-road Marvel

Of course the biggest reason you’ll want a Land Cruiser is for its off-roading prowess. Last week, I had the opportunity to join a group of journalists in Big Sky, Montana to drive the Land Cruiser over very rugged and challenging terrain. In fact, had you told me these vehicles could make it through some of the black diamond ski runs – with extra deep ditches and challenges thrown in – I wouldn’t have believed you had I not experienced it myself.

The 2008 Land Cruiser features a new CRAWL mode which is essentially a cruise control for off-road driving. With the transfer case shifted into low range, CRAWL controls engine speed and output, along with braking force, to propel the vehicle in forward or reverse at one of three low speed settings. I tried this over some of the most challenging terrain and all I had to do was steer the vehicle and CRAWL handled the rest. If I ever felt stuck, I just shimmied the steering wheel back and forth a couple times and the vehicle did the rest.

Even descending very steep, black diamond ski courses, on a surface of large rocks, CRAWL applied just the right amount of braking pressure and power to the appropriate wheels to safely get me down the mountain. The cool thing, just like regular cruise control, is that you can override it at any time.

There’s also a Downhill Assist Control, which is part of CRAWL, and a Hill-start Assist Control, which is totally automatic. So, for example, if you’re on a real steep ascent and you release the brake before applying the throttle, you won’t slide backwards down the hill. The brake will automatically engage to keep you in place.

While in Montana, I overheard one of the journalists say “this CRAWL features makes off-road driving idiot proof.” Of course, we all know what certain people might try to do with a vehicle so I won’t ever say anything is idiot proof. It’s always possible to steer yourself right off a cliff. That said, after about 20 minutes on challenging terrain, my off-road driving confidence had risen to the point I would’ve driven my Land Cruiser into places that only an idiot might venture.

Hmmm. This is an interesting thought. Could a vehicle this safe actually make people over-confident and, ironically, get them into trouble? I don’t think so but it’s certainly a great topic for a future story.

Chassis and Suspension

Instead of using a unitized body – like most car-based four-wheel drive vehicles – Toyota elected to maintain a separate frame and body for the 2008 Land Cruiser, which is now dubbed the 200 Series. Engineers determined that in order to strengthen a unitized body enough to handle the stress of rough roads and high-capacity towing, they would’ve increased the body’s weight and mass so much that it would completely negate the lightweight character usually gained by unitization.

The new Land Cruiser has a new double-wishbone independent front suspension and four-link rear suspension with a solid live axle. Tubular gas-pressure shock absorbers, a hollow stabilizer bar and coil springs all complement each other to deliver exceptional off-road stability while maintaining a high-level of on-road comfort. I was amazed to see how much each wheel could travel up or down to accommodate big bumps and ditches.

Towing capacity is now 8,500 pounds, up from the 6,000 pound limit on the 2006 model and way over our 3,500 pound criterion for ALV towing consideration.

Paved Road Impressions

Since the Land Cruiser is a full-time four-wheel drive vehicle, your on-road driving choice is simply high or low range. Driving in high on paved roads felt like I was driving a much smaller vehicle. It didn’t feel top heavy like many of the big trucks or SUVs when hugging mountain roads.

My Land Cruiser was outfitted with a Navigation System and DVD Entertainment System with a wide 9-inch screen. Because I was driving on so many remote roads, many were not mapped and I found it almost impossible to find my way back to the hotel via its suggested route.

 Basically, the Navigation System would tell me that the guidance would start once I got to the suggested route. Only problem was that I couldn’t see where the route started. I’ve always thought a directional arrow or shaded outline should at least show you what direction to head in order to pick up the route in the event your route’s not even on the screen.
Inside the Land Cruiser is all luxury. To be honest, if you get all the upgrades and leather packages I’m not sure why you really need the Lexus. A note to Lexus owners: a LX 570 will be out in a few months that mirrors this latest Land Cruiser.

A big push-button to the left of the steering wheel starts the vehicle – one only need have the key fob in their pocket. Smart keyless entry is also accomplished in this manner, meaning you literally never need to take the key out of your pocket.

A new air conditioning system – and I’m not making this up – has 28 air vents and four independent climate control zones. Yes, Toyota realizes there can be a big difference if you’re a passenger or driver exposed to a bright sun and may want cooler air than those on the shady side. Allergy sufferers will be glad to know there’s also a micro-dust and pollen filter coupled with a seven-level blower control.

The instrument panel features bright Optitron gauges with clear turquoise illumination. There’s also a multi-informational display that shows gear selection, odometer, trip meter, fuel consumption, cruising range and tire pressure for all tires, including the spare.

A JBL premium audio system with an in-dash six CD/DVD changer and 14 speakers delivers exceptional sound and clarity. My vehicle was also outfitted with a back-up camera, second -row seated seats, headlamp washers and Bluetooth(r) controls.

Safety Features Galore

Safety-wise this Land Cruiser is loaded. A new four-wheel multi-terrain anti-lock braking system selects the most optimal ABS profile for on-and off-road driving surfaces. Electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, traction control and stability control are all standard.

If you like airbags, Land Cruiser sorts you out with ten – the most found in any Toyota vehicle. I won’t go into all of them, but suffice to say they’re everywhere including separate knee airbags for the driver and front passenger.

At a suggested base retail price of $63,200 it’s easy to understand why more people aren’t buying Land Cruisers. At that price, most tend to migrate up to luxury brands. But the seventh generation is going to turn some heads, especially for those that fancy themselves as off-road enthusiasts.

Toyota believes they’re going to wow a lot of the Land Cruiser faithful and are predicting their sales to jump to 8,000 units for 2008. While this may seem lofty, given their ’07 numbers, I’m not inclined to disagree after getting an outstanding demonstration of what this vehicle can accomplish.

Quick Facts:

Base price: $63,200
Price as tested: $70,445
Horsepower: 381 Hp @ 5600 r.p.m.
Torque: 401 lbs.-ft. @ 3,600 r.p.m.
0 to 60: N/A
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: Yes
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Fuel economy: 13/18 m.p.g. city/highway
Comments: Price as tested reflects a fully-loaded vehicle with Navigation, DVD Entertainment, cooler box, rear spoiler — basically all the bells and whistles. Price doesn’t include a $685 destination fee.

2007 Lincoln Navigator

Lincoln’s flagship sport-utility vehicle features seating for up to eight passengers.
By Nina Russin

2007 Lincoln Navigator

At this moment, I feel like biggest thing on the planet. I’m driving the 2007 Lincoln Navigator, a Titanic-sized sport-utility vehicle whose interior mimics a well-furnished yacht. From where I sit, people look like ants. Every vehicle on the road, except for the Hummer, seems diminutive by comparison. I think I might need a ladder to disembark, but fortunately, there’s a sideboard that deploys when I open the door. Still, I feel like a Lilliputian aboard the great ship Gulliver.

With seating for up to eight passengers and a 135-foot cargo floor, the new Navigator is not a vehicle for the feint of heart. Curb weight on the four-by-four model is just over 6,000 pounds. Don’t even ask about fuel economy. There is none.

But for those who can afford it, the Navigator is a very luxurious way to transport lots of people and their gear on or off the road. Despite its weight, the Navigator accelerates hard off the line, propelled by a 300 horsepower V8 engine, which delivers up to 365 lbs.-ft. of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission shifts seamlessly. I never noticed shift shock during my week-long test drive.

Visibility around the truck is remarkably good. The ample side mirrors are easy to adjust, and feature side marker lights that flash with the turn signals, to make the vehicle more visible for cars to either side. While no vehicle with a 119-inch wheelbase turns on a dime, the rack and pinion steering system feels positive at all speeds. The test vehicle came with optional twenty-inch rims and low-profile tires ($1,495), providing a wider footprint than the standard eighteen-inch wheel package. The fully independent suspension is plush but not overly soft.

Standard four-channel antilock brakes provide a margin of comfort for a vehicle with so much mass, especially for drivers living in winter climates. Roll stability control is also standard. Ford’s safety canopy with rollover sensing utilizes side-curtain airbags with tethers to hold all three rows of passengers in place in the event of a rollover.

Standard high-intensity discharge headlamps provide a long, bright beam of light for night driving.

Engineers reduced the noise-intrusion over the previous model by adding additional insulation to the headliner and dashboard. They also utilized additional padding in the carpeting to reduce road noise, and thicker side glass to minimize wind noise. The body of the current model has a stiffer chassis than the old model: that translates to less squeaks and rattles, and better handling characteristics. Finally, engineers tuned the side mirrors to minimize wind noise into the cabin.

Luxurious, spacious interior

The Navigator can seat up to eight passengers, with a 40/20/40 split second-row seat and 60/60 split third row seat. All passengers have plenty of cupholders to choose from: all big enough to hold water bottles. There are map pockets in all four doors as well as on the seatbacks of the first-row seats. Ten-way power front seats with seat heaters are standard. So are power-adjustable pedals for smaller drivers. The driver’s seat is easy to adjust for comfort and forward visibility, and is firm enough to provide good lower lumbar support.

The center console up front has a large, deep storage compartment that’s big enough for a purse or small pack, a change dispenser and a MP3 jack. Both first and second-row passengers have access to a 12-volt power point. The second row seats fold and tumble to easy access to the third row.

Buyers who regularly haul lots of gear will love the power folding rear seats. They deploy with a single button, folding flat into the floor. A single lever to the side of each second-row seat folds the seat flat as well, creating an exceptionally long, functional load floor. The Navigator will easily hold a couple of bikes inside with the third-row seats folded, assuming the front wheels are removed.

Buyers looking for additional cargo space can upgrade to the extended-length, Navigator L model. The Navigator L’s wheelbase is twelve inches longer than the standard car, adding 25 feet of additional cargo space behind the third-row seat. However the standard car is quite long as it is: 208 inches end to end. The L model adds another fifteen inches, making it almost impossible to park in a standard garage, or fit comfortably in most driveways. 

The test truck came with an elite option package ($5,450) that included satellite radio and a rear-seat DVD system. I didn’t test the DVD player, but the fourteen-speaker audio system delivered excellent sound throughout the vehicle. The option package also includes a free six-month subscription to Sirius satellite radio, an electro chromic dimming rear mirror and the power deploying running boards.

Plenty of towing capacity

The Navigator is a body-on-frame design, which is ideal for towing large loads. The four-by-four truck tested can tow up to 8750 pounds. The rear-wheel drive model adds another two hundred pounds of towing capacity, for buyers who don’t need the off-road capability.

The Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L are produced in the United States, at Ford’s Michigan truck plant. They are currently available for test drives at Lincoln dealerships throughout the country.

Likes: Excellent ride and handling characteristics, with above-average steering response for a vehicle of this size. Visibility is good all the way around the car. The interior is comfortable and versatile. The power folding third-row seat is a great feature.

Dislikes: Poor fuel economy means relatively high maintenance costs. Those drivers living in urban areas where parking is limited should make sure that they can accommodate a vehicle of this size.

Quick facts:

Base price: $50,655
Price as tested: $58,420
Horsepower: 300 Hp @ 5000 r.p.m.
Torque: 365 lbs.-ft. @ 3750 r.p.m.  
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: No
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Fuel economy: N/A