On paper, the Toyota Land Cruiser has the makings of a very practical tow car. The full-size spare wheel means there’s no need to worry about towing after a puncture. What’s more, it’s on the outside of the vehicle and not under the boot.
Mirrors are easy to fit, the noseweight limit is high, and self-levelling suspension should keep the car stable even with a fully loaded boot and a caravan hitched.
However, that on-paper promise doesn’t translate on the road. We found the Land Cruiser to be short of grip and wallowy. Even in a straight line some correction was needed to keep a constant course. The numb and over-light steering didn’t help. Through the lane-change test the Land Cruiser was pulled around by the caravan at 30mph, let alone at 35mph.
To be fair, the Toyota’s interior is spacious and equipment levels are generous, but you can buy better.