New 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser
Published Date: 1st Sep 2013
Details, specifications and prices for the new 2014 Toyota Land Cruiser are to be announced shortly which is expected to be on sale in the UK in early 2014.
Toyota has introduced a number of enhancements and improvements that give the 2014 Land Cruiser new looks/styling whilst at the same retaining some key looks synonymous to model. There are also improvements to the interior with improved quality of materials and finish plus new gadgets and features designed to make the 2014 Land Cruiser more ‘user friendly’. 
The 2014 Land Cruiser also boasts improved handling for the 2014 model range. Both the standard and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) set ups now feature on higher-end models and deliver improved stability and a more comfortable/smooth ride.
2014 Land Cruiser – Exterior Design
The new bolder re-designed front-end is one of the standout features with a more prominent grill set in the deeper front bumper. Depending on the trim-level you choose the bars on the front grille have a metallic or silver finish.
The new headlamp clusters with daytime running lights are now part of a single unit with the grille and the entire structure is set higher, meaning it is less likely to be damaged if driving the vehicle off-road. the high and low beam lights, turn indicators and DRLs are all incorporated into the headlight units. Halogen or LED headlights and DRLs are available depending on the trim-level of the vehicle. The units feature subtle Land Cruiser branding and a contrasting black and powder-coated aluminum finish which is a very nice touch.
The over-size bumper has a two-step design that offers improved protection to the headlights above. In spite of adding 20mm to the front overhang, it has a sharply cut-away bottom edge so there is no change to the vehicle’s turning circle which is 5.2m for the new 2014 3 door Toyota Land Cruiser and 5.8m for the 5 door model or its approach angle when driving off-road. The wheelbase and rear overhang are the same as the older model whilst the overall vehicle length is increased to 4,335mm on the 3 door models and 4,780mm on 5 door models.
At the rear of the vehicle the lamp clusters have been re-styled with clear lens blocks and red accents and the license plate is now more prominent. Newly designed 17 and 18 inch wheels have been introduced and the range of exterior colours will include a number of new mica finishes.
2014 Land Cruiser – Interior Design
The new 2014 Land Cruiser’s get new materials and detailing that raise the overall quality and look. The dashboard has been re-styled with a focus on making all the gadgets and features easier to access and use.
The centre console gains a new switch panel that combines the controls for the on/off-road driving options, including a new dial for the five-mode Multi-Terrain and five-step Crawl Control, there are also switches for the all-wheel drive and adaptive variable suspension options..
The user-friendly theme continues with a new 4.2-inch TFT colour screen, set between the main meters in the driver’s instrument binnacle. Additional functions include an angle gauge, traction control operation for each wheel and the status of the differential locks. On screen functions can be selected and changed using steering wheel mounted controls with additional new options available including tyre pressure warning, headlamp leveling, traction control and blind spot monitoring alerts.
The Optitron speedometer and tachometer get a new look, illuminated in blue with thinner needles and the centre console has a new brushed metal finish for the upper audio control panel, above the central 7 inch colour display. There are new piano black and wood grain finishes around the dashboard, door panels, centre console, steering wheel and gear stick, and an aluminum trim has been added to the meter dials, air conditioning dials, air vents, audio panel and steering wheel.
In the 5 door new 2014 Land Cruiser models, access to the third row seats has made been made more convenient by increasing the folding angle of the second row seats from 33.8 to 46 degrees. Seat/upholster y materials have also been upgraded with double detail stitching on cloth upholstery and contrast colour stitching leather interior.
2014 Land Cruiser – Safety
The long list of Land Cruiser safety features will be extended with the availability of Toyota’s Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems on 2014 models.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitor use the same radar technology to alert the driver to any vehicles approaching from either side that may not be visible through the rear screen or door mirrors. If a vehicle is detected, the system flashes it’s warning lights in the door mirrors and an audio warning/buzzer is activated.
2014 Land Cruiser – Performance
The new 2014 Land Cruiser retains the classic body-on-frame construction that helps define its exceptional off-road capabilities. However for day to day use on the roads the Land Cruiser still delivers a comfortable/smooth ride which is further improved in 2014 models.
Both the standard set up and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System are available on higher grade models. The design retains it’s standard double wishbone arrangement at the front and 4 link rear set up with lateral rod.
On the standard system damper performance has been improved, while the KDSS benefits from an increase in thickness for a number of components, including the front anti-roll bar to create a smoother ride.