Fed up with eye-watering vehicle prices and a limited choice of 4x4s for work use?
Well, Toyota's latest 4x4 offering could prove a useful and practical alternative for those seeking some wallet-preservation...
We are talking about the Land Cruiser Commercial Utility - yes, a stripped-out Land Cruiser with just two seats, a useful load space and the ability for VAT-registered users to reclaim tax.
It is available in short wheelbase three-door guise and long wheelbase five-door as tested here, and both follow the same format that could be misrepresented as poverty-spec. Far from it, this has got everything you need, but without the unnecessary luxuries which bump up the price.
Aside from the steel wheels and 17in tyres, it is not a vehicle that is found wanting.
Many airbags, ABS, stability control, trailer sway control, seatbelt pretensioners and a tyre pressure warning system get a thumbs up.
Electric front windows, air conditioning, heated and power adjustable door mirrors and Bluetooth phone connectivity add to the equipment list and a half-height steel bulkhead with mesh upper section protects the occupants.
And it does not eat into storage space - there is plenty of space behind the front seats, in addition to inside the cabin.
The left side of the mesh section can be hinged backwards, allowing longer loads to be passed through, above the passenger seat.
Accessed
And a bolt-in, flat load floor replaces the rear seats, giving a useful cargo area with tie-down points which can also be accessed through the rear side doors.
It also has a power unit that Hilux drivers are crying out for - a 175hp, 2.8-litre four-pot.
There is plenty of shove and the six-speed manual gearbox is easy to use.
A diff-lock and low range is part of the standard specification, as is permanent four-wheel drive.
Rear side windows are blocked out but, unusually, the rear door's glass is see-through and we would recommend a film protection to hide the load area from prying eyes.
The interior is spartan, yet functional.
While there will be many who bemoan the lack of a tailgate - the rear door swings sideways - the window glass can be raised separately, should access prove challenging when reverse parked.
Verdict
No-frills enclosed load-carrier with 'true 4x4' off-road ability available in short- and long wheelbase versions to suit different capacity needs.
