It may look like a standard Land Cruiser from the outside, but this inconspicuous LC250 is both more and less practical. On one hand, the SUV-turned-van can only seat two people. On the other hand, it offers a massive cargo area. Rather than hiring a third party for the conversion, Toyota UK removed the rear bench itself at its Burnaston production facility in Derbyshire.
The previous-generation model also received the van treatment, so it’s no surprise the Land Cruiser Commercial is back. With the back seats gone, the off-roader can swallow up to 2,000 liters (nearly 71 cubic feet) of cargo. Need more? It can tow up to 3.5 metric tons (7,716 pounds). It retains the SUV’s five-door body style, as adding a sliding door would’ve required too much investment for a niche model.
One of its main advantages over a conventional van, such as the Proace, is its ability to venture off-road. Oddly enough, Toyota doesn’t compare it to the Proace but to the Hilux. The newcomer targets buyers who don’t need the pickup truck's extra seats and cargo bed but want the off-road prowess, greater comfort, and improved tech of the two-seat SUV, er, van.
After removing the rear seats, Toyota installs a metal bulkhead with a mesh upper section. The rear-side windows remain but are mostly obscured by newly added steel panels. “Mostly,” because light still seeps in around the edges. Even so, the opaque panels do a good job of shielding the cabin from prying eyes.
Accessing the cargo area doesn’t necessarily require opening the rear doors or the electrically operated tailgate. The window hatch can be opened independently, making it easy to toss in smaller or lighter items. Other goodies include automatic two-zone climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a nine-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Toyota Land Cruiser van conversion
As you can imagine, permanent all-wheel drive comes standard. To sweeten the deal, Toyota includes a variety of driver assistance systems, such as Crawl Control, Hill-start Assist Control, and Downhill Assist Control.
The Land Cruiser Commercial starts at £52,729 ($71,600) and comes exclusively with a 2.8-liter diesel engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission carried over from the standard SUV. The latter is getting a mild-hybrid setup for better fuel efficiency, which Toyota says will also be offered in the van.
In the meantime, orders for the non-electrified model will open on August 1, with the first deliveries scheduled for September.
Source: Toyota
