From the factory, the Toyota Land Cruiser is not bulletproof. However, there are plenty of places out there that will help create a bulletproof Land Cruiser. What exactly does making an SUV bulletproof require, and is there a high price on this process?

Is the Toyota Land Cruiser a good car?

Toyota calls the Land Cruiser a “timeless icon.” That it is. The 2021 Land Cruiser starts at $85,565 and only goes up from there. It gets an EPA-estimated 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 on the highway. It has room for eight.

The Heritage Edition starts at $87,995 and gets the same mileage per gallon. The Heritage Edition has five seats but has the availability for eight.

Both editions offer Toyota Safety Sense Pre-Collision System, vehicle stability control, 10 airbags, and three-point seatbelts for all positions. A 5.7-Liter DOHC 32-Valve V8 engine with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) gets 381 horsepower.

How much does an armored Toyota Land Cruiser cost?

Most people do not need an armored Toyota Land Cruiser. Frequently, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), security organizations, or random Very Important People will use one.

Mahindra is one brand that offers such an option. The work done by Mahindra is “tested and certified to BSI PAS 300, VSAG VS6, VPAM BRV 2009 and ERV 2010 standards against ballistic and blast threats, and driveability tested in accordance with BSI PAS 301 for an armored vehicle when operating at its in-service operational mass and achieved good results.”

This defines the various types of ballistic impacts, such as shotgun, rifle, or handgun blasts. It tested for resistance from the side, roof and included projectile fragments.

With that said, there is no pricing available. Since the Land Cruiser costs almost $90,000 to start, it is presumably an expensive process. Carat Duchatelet, a company that produces bespoke high-security vehicles, offered a glimpse at a price.

The company noted to Army Recognition back in 2019 that a sedan costs anywhere from 100,000 to 1,2 million euros. That’s about $122,155 to $1,466,448.00 million. Vincent Lambert, CEO of Carat Duchatelet, said, “An exceptional car takes from 6 months to 1 year.”

What is the process of armoring a vehicle?

What does the process of making an armored vehicle entail? Mahindra lists a few specifics. The SUV is fitted for radio and has multi-layered ballistic glass. The engine, battery, fuel tank, and ECU are protected from tampering.

All four are fit with a run-flat system. You can include a siren, intercom, and public address system. Plus, upgraded brakes and heavy-duty suspension. All of this can add thousands of pounds to the vehicle, so upgraded brakes and suspension are imperative.

And then there are some additional options, should you need such upgrades. Some might add a secondary electric system or a battery isolation system. The company of your choice can also include a blackout or stealth mode and a fire suppression system.

The options are pretty limitless when it comes to outfitting your SUV, with an unlimited budget, of course. So your Land Cruiser will not be bulletproof or armored from the factory, but it is possible to do.