Tough test for when it's a jungle out there

JEEP and Land Rover would have you believe they're the only two firms in the world producing hardcore 4x4s capable of tackling the most extreme off-road conditions.

But Toyota's Land Cruiser has long been the preferred mode of transport for those worried about breaking down and being stranded in the wilds.

The latest 2005 version of the Land Cruiser isn't much different from the model it replaces. Powertrain, brakes and clutch are all improved and that's about it.

What is changing is the company's new, aggressive assault on the 4x4 market in Britain and the rest of the world.

Its normally reserved British arm laid on a 630km test drive through the paths, tracks, trails and wastelands of Costa Rica, South America.

To keep up with the pace of the rally-experienced miniexpedition leader we were following, we didn't just have to drive hard but fast - for up to 12 hours a day.

The 166horsepower 3.0litre diesel with six-speed manual box did more punishing offroading in those five days than any right-minded 4x4 owner would put his vehicle through in several lifetimes.

The onboard stability sensors and warning chimes told me I was pushing my luck, particularly on loose graveltopped surfaces, a dozen times a day. Only on two occasions was there any danger of "losing" the car.

And the fact that our convoy of Land Cruisers looked and felt muddy and dusty but were otherwise in perfect shape after our epic journey through, up and over Costa Rica confirms that you'd have to be pretty daft to crash such a capable beast.

If they can survive treatment like this they'll have no trouble coping with London's notorious potholes - or an ungritted M11.

Land Cruiser ownership starts at under Pounds 30,000 but peaks close to Pounds 40,000. It's on sale in the UK now, complete with either the new five-speed auto or six-speed manual gearbox.

It's a highly capable piece of modern, robust engineering. If Toyota's designers had put just a little bit more effort in, this could have been the best 4x4 on the planet.

(c)2004. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.