- John Reilly
Land Cruiser takes batch of awards
28 May 2003: Toyota's recently arrived Land Cruiser is making its presence felt in the Irish market place and amongst the more knowledgeable 4x4 journalists on this island. So much so, that it has swept up five of the top nine accolades on offer in Irish 4x4 and Off-Road magazine's 2003 Awards.
Nissan's X-Trail, the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Range Rover and the Nissan Pathfinder Pick-up were the other four vehicles honoured as main category winners.
Included in Land Cruiser's massive medal haul was the Best Overall 4x4 for 2003 Award, the magazine's premier accolade. Land cruiser addeds to this with best commercial and best passenger 4x4 awards for swb and lwb 4x4s.
Commenting on the awards, Road Test Editor Rob King said "Toyota's superb, all-new, Land Cruiser brushed every competitor aside in the jury room as it did in their on and off road tests. Imposing, with a lively 3.0-litre common rail diesel mill, full-time, four wheel drive, low ratio box, a dynamic, 'go anywhere' chassis, and car-like cabin fittings and a superb driving position, this new, no-compromise, Land Cruiser epitomises all that is best in the modern 4x4 vehicle."
Specification and build-quality were numbered amongst Land Cruiser's strong points; as were the choice of trim levels and the availability of three and five-door passenger and commercial variations on short and long wheel bases.
Strongest challenges to the Land Cruiser came from opposite ends of the market. Range Rover, last year's winner of the award, put in the strongest bid. Despite its opulent equipment, enormous luxuriously appointed interiors, terrific power trains, and strong build, it lost out on a price tag too few people could aspire to in Ireland.
Hyundai's Terracan, which filled third spot in the Best Overall category was seen as excellent value for money in a commercial format that qualifies for zero-VRT. However, it lacked the cachet of ownership of its two rivals - and doubts about its ability to match the winner's handling on and off-road ultimately cost it the title.
Irish 4x4 & Off-Roads 2003 Award Winners:
Toyota Land Cruiser, Best Overall 4x4; Nissan X-Trail, Best 4x4 SUV Passenger; Hyundai Santa Fe, Best 4x4 SUV Commercial; Toyota Land Cruiser, Best 4x4 SWB Passenger; Toyota Land Cruiser, Best 4x4 SWB Commercial; Toyota Land Cruiser, Best 4x4 LWB Passenger; Toyota Land Cruiser, Best LWB Commercial; Range Rover, Best Luxury 4x4 and Nissan Pathfinder / Navara, Best Pick-up.
©2003 irishcar.com