When Toyota introduced a Commercial version of the Land Cruiser last year, the legendary off-roader suddenly became more affordable.

This wasn’t just down to the tax savings, either. By pairing back the fripperies, designers were able to drop the price from a heady £80,000-plus to £54,425.

For £25,000 less, you’d expect a lot less vehicle. But the Commercial has the same 2.8-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel-drive system with high and low ranges.

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It does lack the rear diff lock and disconnecting anti-roll bar found on plusher models, though these will only be missed by the most seasoned of off-roaders.

Most of the cuts have been made on the inside, where there’s a smaller screen and, crucially, no second or third row of seats.

© James Andrews

Instead, they’re replaced by a flat, rubber-clad floor from front to rear and a mesh bulkhead to stop cargo clobbering the driver and passenger in the back of the head.

Most of the conversion is nicely done. But the way the steel blacking plates for the rear windows have been casually pop riveted to the trim would make even the roughest farm mechanic wince.

How much power?

Like passenger versions, Toyota has been puritanical with the power output.

Just 205hp and 500Nm is served up with an old-school diesel clatter, which results on a 0-60 time of 12sec.

Though underwhelming in the top-spec models, it’s more fitting for the workaday Commercial.

Plus, if it proves to be as reliable as some past Land Cruiser engines, buyers will soon forgive the lack of performance.

More recent 2026 models have the engine teamed with a 48V mild hybrid system, which aims to refine power delivery and improve fuel economy in certain situations.

That said, performance figures are unchanged and most drivers will be hard pressed to spot the difference.

The eight-speed gearbox is a slicker affair, getting the truck up to cruising speed with minimal fuss.

Proper off-roader

Ride quality is another area where the Land Cruiser struggles to match more luxurious SUVs.

But tarmac pounding isn’t its primary calling – this is an off-roader at heart and Toyota has done its best to keep the running gear simple, solid and reliable.

The underpinnings are as retro as chicken Kiev and Black Forest gateau, with a traditional ladder chassis and mechanical coil suspension.

There’s also a solid beam axle at the rear, which is considerably tougher and lower maintenance than many wishbone setups.

This theme continues with the transfer case, which houses high and low ranges and a manual locking centre differential.

Unlike the fancy automatic unit fitted on the Discovery Commercial, this relies on the driver pressing a button on the centre console.

Clearly, Toyota has had to make some concessions to modernity – the engine is fitted with all the latest emissions technology and it’s dotted with sensors.

However, it remains one of the most rugged vehicles you can currently buy in the UK from a mainstream manufacturer.  

Land Cruiser load area © James Andrews

Verdict

The Land Cruiser is still an old-school machine and the commercial version brings the price down to a more affordable level.

Power output, or rather the lack of it, will be off-putting for some and road manners leave a little to be desired.

But it more than makes up for this with its off-road ability and relative simplicity for a modern vehicle.

Dogged reliability of past Land Cruisers has created an enviable reputation and maintained bumper second-hand values. We’ll have to see if this one can uphold the mantle.