Test drive Toyota Land Cruiser 200
Toyota Land Cruiser is a cult car for Russia. Since the 90s of the last century, this SUV has been considered a symbol of success in our country. It is often used both as an escort vehicle, as a vehicle for transporting high officials, and as a personal transport. At the height of the crisis in March this year, the Land Cruiser 200 entered the top 25 best-selling models on the Russian market. And this at a cost of $ 39. To understand what is special about this bulky SUV, we let people with different car preferences ride it.
Something is wrong with this "two hundred". I shamefully overslept the new restyling? No, everything seems to be in place. Walked around several times, sat inside, went out, for some reason opened the fifth door. The Land Cruiser is like the Land Cruiser - rough, very American, with an unpretentious, but high-quality and ergonomically sensible interior. Massive, orthodox outside. That's it. Not toned.
In Moscow, we are accustomed to seeing them completely different - blue-black from the thresholds to the roof, including windows, with short and thick special communications pins. There are others, without power paraphernalia, but just as powerful, stocky, convinced of their own rightness. Old believers among cars, reluctantly and condescendingly accepting technological innovations that really help the driver, and rejecting the heresy of unnecessary bells and whistles. And this severity and simplicity - it gives rise to a sense of reliability, a stone wall, which is also confirmed by opinions in the secondary market.
He is on the road like this - a comfortable asphalt paver with directional stability "Sapsan". At first it seems as if the 235-horsepower diesel engine lacks power - the "two-hundred" car breaks off with a noticeable effort, but when overtaking on the highway you realize that there is a reserve here, like in an oil well.
It so happened that I had never driven a Land Cruiser 200 before, and I was somewhat worried about the fanatical popular love for him, as if he annexed Crimea (they say it works) and made a dollar at 30. Too many disputes about cars were stopped by the phrase “Kruzak - it's a car ”and the silent nods of all the participants in the conversation.
And when the crisis hit, many of these people took money to Toyota dealerships to save the savings. In March 2015, Land Cruiser entered the top 25 most popular models of the Russian car market, and this is the first time in modern history when a car worth $ 39 has climbed so high. And as absurd as the idea of a car as an investment may seem, it seems to work in this case. Next time I'll nod too.
Technique
The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 we tested is powered by a 4,5-liter V235 diesel engine with 288 hp. (the same unit on European cars produces 615 hp) with a maximum torque of 3 Newton meters. Peak power is reached at 200 rpm and torque ranges from 1 to 800 rpm. The car accelerates to 2 km / h in 200 seconds. The maximum speed is 100 kilometers per hour. Average fuel consumption in the combined cycle is declared at 8,9 liters per 208 kilometers.
He is on the road like this - a comfortable asphalt paver with directional stability "Sapsan". At first it seems as if the 235-horsepower diesel engine lacks power - the "two-hundred" car breaks off with a noticeable effort, but when overtaking on the highway you realize that there is a reserve here, like in an oil well.
It so happened that I had never driven a Land Cruiser 200 before, and I was somewhat worried about the fanatical popular love for him, as if he annexed Crimea (they say it works) and made a dollar at 30. Too many disputes about cars were stopped by the phrase “Kruzak - it's a car ”and the silent nods of all the participants in the conversation.
And when the crisis hit, many of these people took money to Toyota dealerships to save the savings. In March 2015, Land Cruiser entered the top 25 most popular models of the Russian car market, and this is the first time in modern history when a car worth $ 39 has climbed so high
And as absurd as the idea of a car as an investment may seem, it seems to work in this case. Next time I'll nod too.
The moment to the wheels is transmitted using a 6-speed "automatic machine". The transmission is all-wheel drive with Multi-terrain Select and Crawl Control systems with five presets for certain road terrain, limited slip differentials and a crawler gear. This set of systems should help the 2,5-ton frame SUV not bury itself under its own weight and confidently overcome off-road conditions.
Suspension LC200 - independent on two parallel levers at the front and with a continuous axle at the rear. Controlled stabilizers equipped with hydraulic cylinders are united by a common line with bypass valves. A version with air suspension is also supplied to Europe.
I saw the real target audience of Land Cruiser only once, when I was driving along the stone serpentines of the largest quarry in Europe with the chief engineer of the Uralasbest enterprise. He is definitely not hindered by either high ground clearance, large wheels, or transmission capabilities - the stones on the road for BelAZ are quite solid, and in the lowlands of the quarry, in bad weather, ruts of dirty slurry are formed. But to drive this car in the city, as is customary among our fellow citizens? On a mastodon that sways in all directions and carries two extra tons of iron? Thank you, I'd rather something more compact and modern. Simple plastic buttons, smooth leather and ginger wood imitation - these are the notorious "nineties", even in spite of the touch media system and modern devices with a color display.
I don't work in an asbestos quarry, and I don't need a big car to prove something to someone. I don't park on sidewalks or drive into a swamp to pick berries right from the driver's seat. On my personal table of ranks, the Land Cruiser occupies a backyard seat, and I saw no reason to own one. Until I needed to drive my wife and youngest child. I put the little one in the child seat and carried him into the car. He opened the back door, put the chair on the seat, easily fastened it with belts, without performing acrobatic studies or arching between the chair and the doorway. His wife jumped in and brought in the rest of the things. Settled down. I was surprised at the spaciousness. And, catching a pause between my reflections on the place of the Land Cruiser in the car market, I asked a question that instantly brought down all my ideas: "So how much, you say, does it cost?"
Prices and the
The most affordable Land Cruiser 200 is the diesel version in the Elegance configuration. Such an SUV will cost at least $ 39. The car is sold with 436 airbags, brake force distribution systems, emergency braking assistance, when starting up and downhill, tire pressure monitoring system, 10-inch rims, bi-xenon headlights with washer, fog lights, cruise control, electric drives for all windows and side mirrors, keyless entry, heated front seats and washer nozzles, dual-zone climate control, an audio system with 17 speakers and a full-size spare wheel.
I don't work in an asbestos quarry, and I don't need a big car to prove something to someone. I don't park on sidewalks or drive into a swamp to pick berries right from the driver's seat. On my personal table of ranks, the Land Cruiser occupies a backyard seat, and I saw no reason to own one. Until I needed to drive my wife and youngest child. I put the little one in the child seat and carried him into the car. He opened the back door, put the chair on the seat, easily fastened it with belts, without performing acrobatic studies or arching between the chair and the doorway. His wife jumped in and brought in the rest of the things. Settled down. I was surprised at the spaciousness. And, catching a pause between my reflections on the place of the Land Cruiser in the car market, I asked a question that instantly brought down all my ideas: "So how much, you say, does it cost?"
The top version of the 235-horsepower car (Brownstone) will cost from $56. In addition to the above, it includes 347-inch wheels, a third row of seats, roof rails, an electric sunroof, leather upholstery, automatic high beam control, front and rear parking sensors, ventilated front seats with memory settings, power steering column and fifth door, heated steering wheel, side mirrors and rear seats, four-zone climate control, DVD player, subwoofer, color display, rear view camera, navigation system with hard drive and satellite anti-theft system. But the spare wheel here, unlike the cheapest version, is small. The price fork for a 18-horsepower gasoline version, which is sold only in the Lux configuration, is from 309 to 3 rubles. depending on the number of seats.
As for competitors, the initial version of the LC 200 simply does not have them. The cheapest car of a similar size is the previous generation Cadillac Escalade, which can be bought for at least $ 40. The new Escalade should go on sale in the coming months and will cost from $ 278
From 3 630 000 rubles. the price of the new Audi Q7 begins with a 3,0-liter 333-horsepower engine. A Mercedes-Benz GL 400 with a gasoline unit of the same power will cost at least $ 41, while it will not have rear side airbags ($ +422), tire pressure monitoring systems (+ $ 315) and engine start / stop buttons (+282 $).
Another "Japanese" - Nissan Patrol (405 hp) - costs at least $ 50 627 In general, despite fewer airbags, it is superior to the basic version of the LC200. In the initial configuration, it has a three-zone climate control, leather interior and a navigation system.
The latest possible contender is the Chevrolet Tahoe, priced from $ 41 for the entry-level version with a 422L 6,2 horsepower engine. There are also fewer airbags, but there are 426-inch wheels, leather upholstery, electric steering column, memory for front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, and a rear-view camera.
Once the owner of a black Land Cruiser demanded my phone number, threatening to fix the body of my car in case of refusal. Since then, the car has not evoked the most pleasant associations. Getting to know any car begins long before you get behind the wheel. After all, stereotypes accumulate most often because of the behavior of the owner of a particular car on the road. So, for example, in my understanding a typical Land Cruiser driver is arrogant and stubborn. The one who is indifferent to the movement of the lanes and who always has the main road. To be honest, I did not feel any thrill, getting behind the wheel of a Land Cruiser, and was going to impartially study the phenomenon of a typical Kruzak driver.
In the interior of an SUV, you feel like a hero of a movie about the "nineties": large leather seats, wooden inserts on the steering wheel and dashboard, except for a huge wired telephone in place of the armrest. All this luxury seems out of place and outdated. On the first day of acquaintance with the car, I moved along the Moscow streets calmly and measuredly, sincerely fearing for those around me. The Land Cruiser's good visibility is deceiving. In the city traffic, many cars are guessed by the barely visible roofs.
The driver, like the front passenger, has handles above his head and on the A-pillar. Quite strange, because it is more logical for the driver to hold on to the steering wheel on the road. Everything fell into place when in the American TV series I spied that the handles on the A-pillars were used for a comfortable fit into the car. You get used to looking down on the world pretty quickly. In the case of a Land Cruiser, the sensations of driving a car are not only about taxiing, but also how the car is perceived on the road by other road users. The perception of a Land Cruiser on the road is like the effect of garlic breath: stay away from you, and whatever you do, you cannot fix it.
On a Land Cruiser, you don't want to get stuck in traffic jams or ask for help when leaving a courtyard crowded with cars. From a Japanese SUV, I want other impressions - many hours of traveling out of town in a large company and off-road wanderings.
History
The Toyota Land Cruiser has military roots: in 1950, during the Korean War, the US government issued a tender to build hundreds of vehicles, like the popular Willys military, that US troops could purchase for use throughout the Asian market. So in 1951, the Toyota Jeep BJ saw the light. After 3 years, the car was renamed Land Cruiser, as the Japanese decided to promote the model outside of Asia, and, as the company's technical director Hanji Umehara said, this name was chosen so that the car made no less impression than the main competitor at that time - Land Rover .
In the interior of an SUV, you feel like a hero of a movie about the "nineties": large leather seats, wooden inserts on the steering wheel and dashboard, except for a huge wired telephone in place of the armrest. All this luxury seems out of place and outdated. On the first day of acquaintance with the car, I moved along the Moscow streets calmly and measuredly, sincerely fearing for those around me. The Land Cruiser's good visibility is deceiving. In the city traffic, many cars are guessed by the barely visible roofs.
The driver, like the front passenger, has handles above his head and on the A-pillar. Quite strange, because it is more logical for the driver to hold on to the steering wheel on the road. Everything fell into place when in the American TV series I spied that the handles on the A-pillars were used for a comfortable fit into the car. You get used to looking down on the world pretty quickly. In the case of a Land Cruiser, the sensations of driving a car are not only about taxiing, but also how the car is perceived on the road by other road users. The perception of a Land Cruiser on the road is like the effect of garlic breath: stay away from you, and whatever you do, you cannot fix it.
On a Land Cruiser, you don't want to get stuck in traffic jams or ask for help when leaving a courtyard crowded with cars. From a Japanese SUV, I want other impressions - many hours of traveling out of town in a large company and off-road wanderings.
The second generation of the SUV with the J20 index was released in 1955, and the third (J40) - after another 5 years. The SUV closest in technical terms to the current version was introduced in 1989 at the Tokyo Motor Show and was put into production in 1990. After 8 years, the world saw the famous "weave" - Land Cruiser J100. The Japanese say that the development of the machine began in 1992, and the project was finally approved in 1994.
The last generation of the car today - Land Cruiser 200 - appeared in 2007 and survived restyling 2 years ago. Initially, the car caused a lot of discontent among loyal fans of the brand due to the fact that the designers moved away from the traditional appearance of the model for the sake of fashion trends. Toyota Land Cruiser has become the best-selling SUV in the world. Over 50 years, about 7 million units have been sold.
When I studied at the institute, I was sure that the Land Cruiser (then still “weaving”) is a symbol of the fact that life is good. It was a dream car, against the background of which all the others, even the then super-popular BMW E39, seemed like second-class cars. I don’t know how it happened, but in the end I didn’t ride the Land Cruiser 100, but I succeeded on the XNUMX.
Alas, this is the very case when a dream should remain a dream. At a personal meeting, I was disappointed in the car. Not even that: I was not disappointed, but I was 100% convinced that I would never buy it for myself. Mostly, of course, because it's too big. Hence the problems. For example, we drove an SUV to Kazan. And the hours spent on the back sofa, I remember without much joy. In no other car did I feel as sick as I did here.
The SUV is so smooth and soft that you can't read or watch a movie in the back. The only way to defeat the vestibular apparatus is to look through the windshield. The situation changed dramatically when I got behind the wheel. From an SUV weighing over 2,5 tons, you absolutely do not expect such ease of control, and the 235-horsepower engine with a torque of 615 Nm, which drags the LC200 at the start, is more than enough for overtaking on the track.
I was not impressed by the interior decoration either. It is not that outdated (here, for example, there is a touchscreen display), but the plastic is very simple here, and the wood inserts remind of the Camry. Chances are, I'm just too young for this car. My father was delighted with the LC 200. He liked absolutely everything: the diesel engine, solid interior decoration, and most importantly - the huge amount of free space that allows you to transport a bunch of all sorts of things. In general, I will never scold this car. She has many advantages, and I understand that for many, she will be the perfect companion.
Photo: Polina Avdeeva
Alas, this is the very case when a dream should remain a dream. At a personal meeting, I was disappointed in the car. Not even that: I was not disappointed, but I was 100% convinced that I would never buy it for myself. Mostly, of course, because it's too big. Hence the problems. For example, we drove an SUV to Kazan. And the hours spent on the back sofa, I remember without much joy. In no other car did I feel as sick as I did here.
The SUV is so smooth and soft that you can't read or watch a movie in the back. The only way to defeat the vestibular apparatus is to look through the windshield. The situation changed dramatically when I got behind the wheel. From an SUV weighing over 2,5 tons, you absolutely do not expect such ease of control, and the 235-horsepower engine with a torque of 615 Nm, which drags the LC200 at the start, is more than enough for overtaking on the track.
I was not impressed by the interior decoration either. It is not that outdated (here, for example, there is a touchscreen display), but the plastic is very simple here, and the wood inserts remind of the Camry. Chances are, I'm just too young for this car. My father was delighted with the LC 200. He liked absolutely everything: the diesel engine, solid interior decoration, and most importantly - the huge amount of free space that allows you to transport a bunch of all sorts of things. In general, I will never scold this car. She has many advantages, and I understand that for many, she will be the perfect companion.
