The Toyota Land Cruiser has a storied history. For over 60 years its graced Toyota’s lineup and has been recognized as both a luxury SUV and a capable off-roader. Now in the 2021 model year, the Land Cruiser is Toyota’s most expensive model. But is this top-of-the-line SUV really worth all that dough?

What the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser has to offer

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser does have a lot going for it. It’s able to seat either five or eight passengers, is stocked with the latest in creature comforts, and is capable of taking on even the roughest of terrain. 

Driven by a 381-hp V8 engine, Car and Driver reports that this year’s new Land Cruiser “delivers comfortable driving dynamics.” Kelley Blue Book, on the other hand, said, “steering is slow, handling isn’t up to par with other full-size luxury and near-luxury SUVs on the market today, and the brakes are touchy.”

Kelley Blue Book did change its tune when taking this SUV off-road. After hitting the trails, Kelley Blue Book reported back that “its rigid, tough body-on-frame chassis and trail-proven traction systems showed that this near-luxury SUV is a formidable machine on the trail.”

How much does the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser cost?

There’s no denying that the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser comes with a premium price tag. The base model Land Cruiser rings in at $85,415. Meanwhile, the Heritage Edition is priced at $87,745. 

Unfortunately for the Land Cruiser, it’s more expensive than several of its competitors, including the Ford Expedition and the Chevy Tahoe. It also boasts a higher base price than luxury models like the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and the Lincoln Navigator.

If an off-road capable SUV is what you desire, the Land Cruiser is still one of the most expensive options available. The Land Rover Discovery and the Range Rover are priced lower than the Land Cruiser and are more than capable of hitting the trails. The 2021 Ford Bronco is also an option and starts under $30,000. 

It’s reportedly being discontinued after the 2021 model year

As iconic as it may be, the rumor is the Toyota Land Cruiser is being discontinued after the 2021 model year. Though in 2019, Toyota Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations Bill Fay told Motor Authority Toyota was “fully committed to the Land Cruiser for the foreseeable future,” things seem to have shifted.

According to Motor Authority, an anonymous source that claims to be affiliated with Toyota shared with them, “There’s no illusion it’s coming back and it’s completely dead for the moment.” Toyota, unfortunately, has yet to confirm or deny the rumors. 

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser isn’t worth the spend

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser is expensive. And with so many other options available, it’s hard to justify spending over $80,000 on an SUV. Not to mention, is it really worth spending such a hefty amount of cash on an SUV when it’s reportedly on the verge of being discontinued? We think not.