Plenty of SUVs look tough – but few are as genuinely rugged as Toyota’s Land Cruiser, which has established a formidable reputation as a ‘go anywhere’ workhorse over the last six decades.

Owners tend to be demanding customers: they may not be preparing to cross the Okavango Delta or negotiate the Siberian Tundra, but they generally need a vehicle that can cope with the rough stuff and won’t let them down.

See more pics of the new Land Cruiser in our gallery below.

And when it comes to durability the venerable Land Cruiser doffs its cap to no vehicle – except perhaps the famously indestructible Hilux pick-up (and that’s another Toyota).

In case anyone had forgotten the off-road capability of its flagship 4×4, Toyota devised a short but taxing course to show off the abilities of its latest generation Land Cruiser.

The launch took place in the grounds of historic West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire, which may not rank among the world’s most inhospitable terrains, but on a wet winter’s day can provide a stiff test for any off-roader.

The slabby looks of the outgoing Land Cruiser have been replaced with a softer, curvier outline – but it still looks a vehicle cut out for serious work.

The new model is nearly two inches longer than its predecessor and better ‘packaged’, to create more room inside.

Construction is traditional bodyon-frame; transmission is fivespeed automatic only; while power comes from a three-litre 171hp diesel.

Economical

It’s capable and surprisingly economical, but not particularly refined when pushed.

Inside, while the Land Cruiser does not lack luxury features, there is a utilitarian feel to the cabin.

Generous levels of head and leg room are offered and there’s a choice of five or seven seats.

The third row of seats folds down easily at the touch of a button to reveal a larger loadspace than the outgoing car.

This space is also more accessible, thanks to the opening rear glass window, meaning you do not have to open the hefty, side-hinged tailgate to put items in the boot.

The Land Cruiser has traditionally offered a rather ‘roly poly’ onroad ride. Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) lessens the effect – but only to a degree.

The Cruiser can’t quite hide its high sides and near two-and-a-half tonne weight.

To assess its off-road abilities I was assigned an instructor and introduced to the car’s range of driver assistance systems. Then it was out into the rain – and mud.

There’s slightly more of a learning curve to driving a Land Cruiser off road than other 4x4s, but once you have got your head round its operatiing system, it works amazingly well.

Lost

You’re never likely to get lost, as the vehicle’s sat nav system has a ‘Hansel and Gretel’ feature designed to cope with routes which have not been mapped.

The system plots points on the display as you drive along and you can retrace your route if you need to turn back.

The Land Cruiser takes river crossings in its stride, can pick its way over rocks, and copes with plunging descents.

But arguably its best off-road trick – and this one is certainly relevant for UK drivers – is the way it negotiates slopes which are plastered in mud.

I ventured up one such hillside at Wycombe, never thinking for one moment that the vehicle would actually make it to the top.

The big Land Cruiser slithered, stopped, rotated through 90 degrees – but still kept hunting for traction.

“Just keep the revs up and the car will do the rest,” advised my instructor.

Eventually one of the tyres found some grip – Lord knows from where – and up we slithered again, to the top of the slope.

The Land Cruiser is certainly capable when the going gets tough, but you have to shell out for the top LC5 version to get all the electronic driver aid goodies.

Well equipped

The base LC3 car, which starts at £29,995, is reasonably well equipped with alloys, climate control, bluetooth and cruise control.

LC4 adds electrically-adjusting heated leather seats, sat nav, a better audio system, a parking monitor and a third row of seats.

But it’s the LC5 which offers the full package of Multi-Terrain Select, with its four driving ‘modes’; adaptive variable suspension with height control; Crawl Control, which helps drivers negotiate wading and slippery surfaces; and the very useful Steering Angle Display, which indicates which way the wheels are pointing when you are off-road.

The LC5 also offers goodies like a rear DVD entertainment system and a sunroof as standard.

Pretty much all you might want then – unless it’s a real luxury interior that you’re after.

In which case, the Land Cruiser cannot match the outstandingly plush cabin of its arch rival, the new Land Rover Discovery 4.

The Toyota, on the other hand, is more economical and cheaper to run, so could prove the cannier buy – especially at the budget end of the range.

The Land Cruiser will cost around £200 less to tax annually than a Discovery.

Note that both vehicles will be hit by the new ‘showroom tax’ for high-emitting vehicles coming in during 2010.

This bumps up the tax on a Land Cruiser to £550 in the first year of ownership and £750 for the Discovery.

By Peter Carroll

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER FACT FILE

• Models: LC3, LC4 and LC5
• Price range: £29,795 to £44,995
• Engine: 2,982cc, six cylinders, diesel
• Power: 171hp
• Transmission: Five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
• Performance: 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds
• Top speed: 109mph
• Economy: 34.9mpg on combined cycle
• CO2 emissions: 214g/km
• Length: 4,760mm
• Kerb weight: 2,400kg
• Insurance group: 14-15
• Servicing: 10,000 miles
• Warranty: Three years / 60,000 miles