Land Rover gets all the media attention

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/05/2014 at 18:30 • Filed to: Truck Yeah

what with its terrain dial, and adjustable air suspension...but when it comes to really useful and practical off road tech, I think no one does it better than Toyota. A few examples.

Crawl Control - touted as being a cruiser control for off roading is actually a very very cool way for the car to work itself out of a hole.

A-Trac - Is one of the best electronic differential locking simulators there is

KDSS - Freaking brilliant, it actually forces the opposing wheels apart as opposed to just decoupling the sway bars, which on independent suspension does...basically nothing. It connects two hydraulic rams attached to the sway bars (front and back) to each other via accumulators. If the back wheel drops, the rear ram extends, pulling fluid from the front ram which contracts, pulling the opposite wheel in. It actually PULLS the wheels apart for better flex.

Turn assist - Do some heavy touring on some tight switchbacks and then tell me you wouldn't kill for this feature.

The thing I like about their off road tech is that its all designed to actually work to make the car more capable, not just sell the car at the dealership. On a related note; Toyota sucks at selling people on their tech.

Yeah, I know I'm Totally a Toyota Whore, but I feel like its very good technology that often gets overlooked. Good news is that what used to be expensive Land Cruiser only tech has made its was down market with the 4runner where you can get Crawl control, A-trac (and a real locker), and KDSS. Turn assist is Land Cruiser only for now.

DISCUSSION (4)

Nibby > HammerheadFistpunch
03/05/2014 at 18:37

Toyota's body on frame trucks and SUVs have a storied history and reputation. People probably hear more about LR cause they pretty much only make SUVs/crossovers whereas Toyota makes all sorts of vehicles.

I agree with you though, I'd choose a 4WD Toyota over any RR/LR. Except maybe the Defender but I wouldn't want to drive a Defender daily.

Also, it was funny that I explained to the sales guy how to lock the center diff in the Seq.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nibby
03/05/2014 at 18:46

I remember having an arguement with at least 2 dealers about the CDL versus lockers when I was hunting for my 80.

"does this have the locker option?"

"it has a central locker button, yes."

"No, does it have the front and rear locker dial?"

"it has a button that locks everything centrally."

"No, you don't understand, that only locks the center differential, does it have the front and rear locker option?"

"Its got the central lockers yes. It locks everything up from the center..."

Again, Toyota...you have much work to do here in training.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > HammerheadFistpunch
03/05/2014 at 20:14

I like the LX470 until I heard the bit about the optional electronic locking diffs being dropped for it. Um, what?

HammerheadFistpunch > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
03/05/2014 at 20:22

hmm, i thought the 470 had it. the land cruise uz100 has one, same car