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Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009) Review

Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009) At A Glance

3/5

+Big, roomy, tough and stacked full of kit. Very capable off-road and as a tow car. Seats up to eight people.

-Feels very big, especially in urban environments. Lacks the refinement and road manners of a Discovery 3.

Insurance Groups are between 28–30
On average it achieves 90% of the official MPG figure
What do owners think of the Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Real MPG average for a Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

90%

Real MPG

18–33 mpg

MPGs submitted

92

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

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Reviews for Toyota Land Cruiser (2003 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals

Nissan Pathfinder
3/5
Rugged looks. Seven seats. Strong build. Tidy handling and very capable off road. Good value for money.
Mitsubishi Shogun
2/5
A rugged hard-worker that can tow heavy loads without breaking sweat and conquer terrain that would faze...
Kia Sorento
3/5
Has the hardware and ability for serious off-roading. Easy-going, pleasant drive. Useful tow car. Owners...

Ask Honest John

Can I make a claim if I think an MoT has been falsified?

"Last year I bought a Toyota Land Cruiser from a dealer with 12 months MoT. It seemed spot on. Looked good, full service history, 12 months MoT, dealer 4.8 stars. All boxes ticked. The car was bought to pull a 2 tonne food trailer. After my first job when I was unhitching I noticed a rag hanging out of the back. Upon inspection the back end was literally hanging off, I could have killed someone. I paid the garage I use to give a full inspection quoting me £4500 to totally remove both front and rear sections along with numerous other MoT faults. I contacted the dealer, he hung up, closed his number and liquidated the company which seemed drastic but I have been told it is more likely tax evasion. One year later I have not been able to locate him. My question is can I make a claim for the repairs against the MoT station for all the work I had done to make the car roadworthy? The only monitor and repair if necessary note on the MoT pass was: Underbody covered with thick black sealant."
An MoT test is an annual inspection that ensures a vehicle meets minimum road safety and environmental standards. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that their vehicle is safe and roadworthy at all times, regardless of the MoT result. The MoT certificate is not a guarantee of the vehicle's condition, and it does not cover everything that might need repairing or replacing. If you believe that the MoT station failed to identify a fault that should have been detected during the inspection, you may have grounds for a claim against them. However, you would need to demonstrate that the fault existed at the time of the MoT and that it was significant enough to render the vehicle unroadworthy. This might require an independent assessment from a qualified mechanic or vehicle inspector. You also have the option to report an MoT station to the DVSA here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-an-mot-tester If the fault was not related to the MoT test, but rather a pre-existing issue that was not disclosed by the dealer, you may have a claim against them for breach of contract or misrepresentation. However, if the dealer has liquidated the company, it may be difficult to recover any damages from them. In any case, if you are considering making a claim, you should seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor who specialises in consumer law or automotive disputes. They will be able to assess the strength of your case and advise you on the best course of action.
Answered by David Ross

I need a reliable, sub-£10k vehicle to tow a horsebox. What do you advise?

"I'm looking for a good tow car under £10,000 to tow a horsebox with minimum braked towing weight of 3000kg. Running cost and reliability are most important."
We'd recommend a Toyota Land Cruiser. You'll be looking at quite an old one (probably from around 2007) but they're very reliable and capable of towing 3000kg. Alternatively, a SsangYong Rexton makes an excellent tow car and you'll get a much newer one for your budget.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you recommend a towing vehicle for a small budget?

"I want to buy an SUV which tows at least 2-tonnes, it must be auto and ideally have 4WD as well. I tow a horse trailer which has a 1600 kg MAM and travel about 250 miles per week to work. But I only have about £4000-6500 to spend. I have looked at the Kia Sorento (would be about a 2004-2006 model with 80,000-100,000 miles at this price), Hyundai Santa Fe (can find slightly newer than the Sorento), also Tiguan, Shogun (possibly a bit too much for what I need), Land Cruiser (same as Shogun, but a lot pricier). I have avoided anything Land Rover due to reliability issues I have read about. Are there any you would recommend for this purpose in this price bracket, any you'd strongly avoid, or any I may have not considered? Thank you."
You're certainly thinking along the right lines - we'd be avoiding Land Rovers at this price, too, and the Kia Sorento/Hyundai Sante Fe/Mitsubishi Shogun/Toyota Land Cruiser all sound like more sensible options. Have you considered a SsangYong Korando? They're very popular with the towing fraternity due to their two-tonne towing capacity. You should be able to find a fairly tidy 2012 model within budget. We'd also recommend a Honda CR-V. Certain models can tow up to 2000kg. It should be a very reliable choice, too.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Could you recommend me a powerful, off-road vehicle?

"I'm a sheep shearer and I'm struggling to identify the right vehicle that meets my needs: • Room for all my shearing equipment (stand, toolboxes, motor, 5ft sq. wooden board...) • I do quite a few miles visiting over 200 farms a year but all within one hour of our house • Often visit farms and shear at places with no road so 4x4 capability is preferable • Need to be able to tow a trailer full of building materials e.g. sand, cement, gravel etc. • Where I live is hilly, so it needs some power to get up the hills. I currently have a 4x4 Renault Kangoo that is on its last legs. Currently considering a pick-up (probably Toyota Hilux but not sure which year), a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Land Rover Defender. Budget around £8000. I'd really welcome any advice you could offer. Thank you!"
The Toyota Hilux would be my recommendation: it's brilliant off-road and has a strong reputation for reliability. The 2.5-litre turbodiesel is the best engine in the range. It has lower fuel costs, compared to the 3.0-litre, and delivers its 343Nm of torque much lower down the range (at 2800rpm) which makes it better suited for hilly terrain. For our Toyota Hilux review and used buying guide, see: https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/toyota/hilux-2005
Answered by Dan Powell
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