2019 Land Cruiser Is A Recipe Toyota Simply Won’t Change

Toyota is starting to offer the 2019 Land Cruiser, which continues virtually unchanged from last year’s model.

The iconic body-on-frame, full-size SUV offers seating for eight passengers and comes with a really capable four-wheel-drive system and Toyota’s hydraulic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension.

Power comes from a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 381hp and 401lb-ft of torque that’s available at 3,600rpm and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant offers 90 percent of its peak torque from 2,200rpm, making the 2019 Land Cruiser an impressive towing machine as it can pull a trailer of up to 8,100 pounds.

All the hardware necessary for towing is standard, including an engine oil cooler, a connector and a sub-wiring harness for a trailer-brake controller. The 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser also features a Trailer Sway Control system that works through the VSC safety system.

The full-time four-wheel drive system comes with a Torsen limited-slip differential in the center, distributing torque 40 to 60 front-to-rear under normal driving conditions. If slip is detected, the diff shuffles more torque to the axle with the best grip. In addition, the Active Control Traction uses both brake and throttle intervention in order to control wheel spin.

Of course being a Land Cruiser, the big Toyota truck gets a two-speed transfer case with low-range, controlled by the Multi-Terrain Select system. There’s Crawl Control which acts as an off-road cruise control, holding the speed of the vehicle to the target set by the driver on steeper inclines.

Toyota USA offers the 2019 Land Cruiser in just one trim level that practically has everything you want; the only option is a DVD Rear Seat Entertainment system. Standard equipment includes things like perforated leather, heated and ventilated front seats along with a heated steering wheel, Keyless entry, a power moonroof, four-zone climate control blowing through 28(!) air vents throughout the cabin, a premium JBL audio system, wireless smartphone charging and the list goes on.

A full suite of active safety systems is also offered as standard; Toyota has grouped together its latest safety technologies in the Safety Sense package, which includes a Pre-Collision system with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Sway Warning, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and more.