TOYOTA L. CRUISER AMAZON SW 1998-2006 Review
Good Points
- Fitted with plenty of luxuries
- It can easily fit seven adults at a time
- Superb off-road ability
Bad Points
- Repairs can prove costly
- Parking can prove to be a struggle
- Expensive to run
Engines
There are only two engines available: a 235bhp 4.7-litre V8 petrol and a 201bhp 4.2-litre turbo diesel. The V8 petrol is an automatic-only option, whilst the diesel comes with a manual as standard and the automatic as an option.
Performance & Economy
The 4.7-litre V8 petrol is the quicker of the two, going from 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds compared to the diesel’s 13.2 seconds. The petrol is the less economical of the two, achieving only 17mpg - and that’s the official results. You are more likely to get around 13 or 14mpg in real world driving. The large petrol powerplant is an extremely smooth unit, though, and the automatic gearbox that accompanies it is equally smooth. The diesel achieves a much more respectable 25mpg and as such is the best choice of the two engines because it also offers much more torque which is better for towing and any serious off-roading.
As for insuring the Land Cruiser Amazon, it is no more expensive than most of its rivals. The large Toyota is classified group 15, just like the Range Rover.
You can also create your own reviews in our car owner reviews section.
Introduction
The Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon is more like a limousine inside than a 4x4, being able to seat seven adults in comfort and style. It offers a relatively competent and smooth ride on the road, but doesn’t quite match up with newer 4x4s for road-handling. It is off-road where it excels with its high ground clearance, low-range gearbox as well as centre and rear diff lock, enabling it to tackle almost everything with ease and confidence.
Exterior & Interior
The Amazon comes with the Land Cruiser’s recognised looks, but now with a more rounded and accomplished style to it. From the inside the Amazon feels like a limousine, being able to seat seven people comfortably thanks to two removable seats that fit into the large boot. The seats are all comfortable and spacious and all the back seat passengers receive plenty of head and legroom. The boot is spacious when the two spare seats are folded away. When the middle row of seats is folded flat it starts resembling a panel-van. The dashboard is neat, but with buttons and switches on the left and right of the driver as well as on the centre console you sometimes have to hunt around for the right switch.
There is only the one trim level in both models but it comes with everything you are likely to need such as air-con, sat-nav, rear view camera for reversing and parking, heated front seats, automatic climate control and leather upholstery.
Drive
Compared to newer 4x4s, the Amazon doesn’t handle nearly as well on the road as, for example, the Range Rover and BMW X5. The ride is smooth, but the steering feels light on the road and there is plenty of body roll in the corners. The suspension can be stiffened at the flick of a switch which helps to counteract the body roll, but then you get a bumpier ride instead. Its huge size is another problem as it has a huge turning circle. The large wing mirrors that help to reduce blind spots and the rear view camera go some way to making it easier to manoeuvre and park. The brakes come with plenty of feel and they performing superbly, bringing the Amazon to a stop in remarkably short distance.
It’s off-road where the Amazon excels with the low-range gearbox along with rear and centre diff lock helping to prevent the wheels from slipping on loose or muddy surfaces, making it a superb off-road machine. The air suspension can also be raised to manoeuvre higher obstacles. The car has very short front and rear overhangs so the entry and departure angles are enough to tackle most slopes and ditches.
Faults & Repairs
The Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon is an extremely reliable car as you would expect from Toyota. No recalls have been carried out through its lifetime and there are no major problems to report. There were a few glitches when it was first released, but most of these were sorted out the following years and the only thing you should be aware of is that the cylinder heads on the diesels are prone to cracking which can prove costly to fix.
The servicing costs are not cheap, but they are no more expensive than their rivals. Any repairs can be fairly expensive with Toyota’s average repair costs coming in higher than most.
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TOYOTA L. CRUISER AMAZON SW 1998-2006 Review
Good Points
- Reliable and durable
- Excellent off-road characteristics
- High level of comfort and standard equipment
- Good auto gearbox
Bad Points
- The engines are very thirsty
- High price
Engines
The Land Cruiser is a serious machine and it’s not supplied with small engines. The choice is between big and very big. There’s a 4.7-litre V8 232bhp petrol engine and a 4.2-litre V6 201bhp diesel engine.
Performance & Economy
The Amazon is up there with the world’s best off-road vehicles. It’s equipped with a professional off-road gear and the hearty engines make the car very capable. There are few road conditions that the Land Cruiser couldn’t tackle. The majority of its competitors offer smaller 2.5 to 3.0-litre engines with their base models. It’s normally enough, but extra horse power and torque may come in handy. The V6 diesel engine develops 430Nm of torque and is equipped with either a manual or auto gearbox. With the manual option it can return 25mpg.
The large V8 petrol unit is only offered with an auto gearbox and many people are apprehensive about a combination of large engines and auto gearboxes. This one is an exception, the 4-speed auto gearbox offered by Toyota is very well optimised and it switches quickly and efficiently. The petrol engine will deliver just 17mpg though, so be prepared to have hefty fuel bills.
The Amazon is a very expensive car both as an initial investment and in maintenance. The low fuel economy doesn’t make it any better for your wallet. You also pay a premium for the luxury equipment and for the name that the Land Cruiser has established during the 6 decades of making near-perfect off-roaders.
You can also create your own reviews in our car owner reviews section.
Introduction
The Amazon or Series 100 is the larger of the two Land Cruisers offered in the UK. This car is bigger and offers a better performance than the civilian version known as the Land Cruiser Prado or simply Land Cruiser. The Amazon is the ultimate 4x4 car offering both luxury and excellent off-roading capabilities.
Exterior & Interior
The body shape is similar to the 1980s design of the Series 80 Land Cruiser. The new car, however, has been completely restyled featuring more expressive features and larger optics. The wheelbase hasn’t changed, but there’s slightly more space in the cabin thanks to longer overhangs. The Amazon is a large and impressive car, it is only a couple of inches shorter than the Range Rover.
With almost 73 inches in height, the Land Cruiser is one of those cars that is barred from the majority of multi-storey parking facilities. If you need to go shopping, choose your parking location carefully!
The Series 100 is the first Land Cruiser to feature an independent suspension at the front. The older models all came with a solid axle. This move has made the Amazon more comfortable, but has slightly reduced its off-roading capabilities. That’s why a special edition model with both solid axles was introduced in Australian, African and South American markets. It’s essentially a Series 80 car with the Series 100 body on top. It was an important move considering that over half of all 4x4 used in harsh environments are Toyotas. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to buy the special edition in Britain.
The Land Cruiser Amazon offers a very high level of equipment. The entry level trim is equipped with fog lights both front and rear, cruise control, a high end security system, alloy wheels, adjustable steering column, air con, car audio, an additional brake signal and full electric windows among other goodies. The cabin is spacious and comfortable. It was offered with seating arrangement for 5 to 8 passengers. With the rear seats folded, the boot space is 1370 litres – not the best in the class but still reasonable.
Drive
Despite its large size, the Amazon is easy to drive. It doesn’t feel as big as it actually is. Due to its high fuel consumption and body length, the car is impractical in the city, although the improved suspension ensures a high comfort level at both low and high speeds. The excessive turning circle makes parallel parking a big challenge, and don’t forget that most multi storey car parks will be out of bounds.
Faults & Repairs
Durability and reliability is what characterises the Land Cruiser Amazon. The engines are capable of taking a large load and the majority of Land Cruisers haven’t seen much abuse because they are often bought as status cars. If you’re buying a used Amazon that has been used for off-roading, it’s worth checking the body, especially underneath the car. The factory offers a high-level rust protection but if the body panels get damaged or dented, they can develop rust quickly.
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