The latest Toyota Land Cruiser is practical and made to last, but as a tow car it’s miles off the best machines in the heavyweight class, and struggles to justify its price tag.

For well over £50,000 you have the right to expect a smooth, refined engine. Instead you get a noisy four-cylinder lump that delivers modest performance. It took the Land Cruiser 19.3 seconds to tow from 30-60mph – more than eight seconds slower than the Land Rover Discovery.

Stability at speed proved underwhelming, with the caravan moving around if the driver backed off the throttle. In the lane-change test the Land Cruiser leaned heavily, and the back of the car lost grip on the two fastest runs.

Like most big 4x4s, the Land Cruiser coped well with the hill-start test. The handbrake held so long as it was pulled on firmly, and the engine easily pulled to the top of the hill. Reversing up a slope was also straightforward for the big Toyota.

Our practicality testers were a lot more impressed than the drivers. With the third row of seats stowed they found plenty of room for a typical load of holiday luggage. The handy reversing camera and unhindered access to the towball and electrics also contributed to the Land Cruiser’s strong score in this aspect of our judging.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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