Japanese automaker Toyota launched the Land Cruiser back in 1951, and they brought it to the US in 1958 in order to compete with Jeep. Since that time, the market has seen convertible, hardtop, station wagon, and utility truck versions of the Land Cruiser on its way to becoming the luxury SUV that it is today. However, through that transition, the Land Cruiser never let go of its off-road roots. Today, it stands apart by offering consumers an unparalleled blend of on-road performance and off-road capability.

The 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser is a full-size luxury SUV that is available only in a standard equipment package. However, most premium luxury SUV trims wilt in comparison to the Land Cruiser's standard equipment. In addition to 18-inch alloy wheels, it offers keyless entry, keyless ignition, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, quad-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and power folding outside mirrors, power heated front seats with driver memory functions, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a sunroof, and fog lights. The LC also includes a premium JBL 14-speaker audio system with a 6-CD changer, Bluetooth, Bluetooth streaming audio, a USB port, and an auxiliary audio port.

Toyota rolls most of the options into one expensive Upgrade package. These options include interior wood trim, a center console cooler box, heated second-row seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, a back-up camera, a navigation system including real-time traffic, and a rear spoiler. The rear spoiler and the navigation system are the only two options that the customer can order individually outside of the Upgrade package.

For the 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser there is just one engine, a 5.7-liter V8 that generates 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Toyota pairs the engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system that has both high- and low-range gearing. What sets the Land Cruiser apart is Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). The KDSS, which is included in the standard equipment package, improves both off- and on-road performance by automatically loosening and stiffening the front and rear antiroll bars as it reacts to the terrain. The EPA rates fuel mileage at 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined.

Standard safety features on the Toyota Land Cruiser include front and second-row side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags with rollover detection, driver and front passenger knee airbags, active front head restraints, antilock disc brakes, brake assist, multi-terrain programming, and stability control. The LC also comes standard with Toyota's Safety Connect system, which is comparable to OnStar. The advanced seatbelt system, included in the Upgrade option package, automatically tightens the seatbelts as the brakes are applied, or if the stability control system detects tire slippage.

The 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser is an amazing vehicle, but all of that luxury and performance comes at a premium. The MSRP is just a hair under ,000, and there's not a whole lot of wiggle room here. For the customer who wants both maximum luxury and maximum off-road capability, the 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser is the perfect vehicle. If one favors one aspect, then they can achieve similar performance or quality at a lesser price. Consumers interested in the Land Cruiser should also test-drive and consider the Cadillac Escalade and the Mercedes Benz GL. Other comparables include the Land Rover Ranger Rover and the Lexus LX.