If you want the toughest, most reliable off-roader out there, you’ll be hard pushed to beat the Toyota Land Cruiser. Perhaps for the first time in recent memory, the Land Cruiser has gone from a dependable workhorse to something that’s actually quite desirable.

It first arrived in 1951, and there have been all manner of versions over the years, with cumulative sales totalling more than 11 million. But in recent years this Toyota’s more rough-and-ready nature has meant it’s fallen off the pace next to newer rivals like the Land Rover Defender, which manages to mix exceptional off-roading ability with great on-road manners, with the Land Cruiser always feeling a bit agricultural. 

With the outgoing version being on sale for 15 years, this new Land Cruiser is long overdue, and Toyota has left no stone unturned. There’s a cool new design inspired by Land Cruisers of years gone by, as well as a thoroughly modernised interior, something that let this 4x4 down previously. Toyota has worked to make it more suitable for on-road driving yet without compromising on the rugged ability it’s renowned for.

While Toyota’s line-up might have predominantly moved to hybrid models in the UK, the Land Cruiser will continue to be sold with more traditional diesel engines – ideal for those towing heavy trailers or caravans, as you’re able to hitch up to 3,500kg with a braked trailer. This also puts it into competition with the off-road focussed Ineos Grenadier.

The Land Cruiser is also Toyota’s largest car here in Europe, and will serve as a flagship to the range. Because of rules that require manufacturers to meet electric car targets, and for CO2 emissions, the firm has said it will have to limit UK Land Cruiser sales. It will likely mean demand will outstrip supply if it’s anything like the Land Rover Defender and Suzuki Jimny, both of which were especially popular at their launch.

To find out if you should place your order for the next batch coming to the UK, we’ve driven it extensively off-road in Scotland, and spent a week living with one. If you want to know how we test cars, have a look at our handy explainer page.