New Toyota Land Cruiser vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: off-road battle
June 16, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser looks cool and it’s packed with tech, but it should be no match for our 2002 V8 model off road, right? We’re about to find out.
This is the new Toyota Land Cruiser. We already know this iconic off-roader is brilliant on the rough stuff after we put it through its paces against the Dacia Duster, but is there a way you can get equal off-road ability for a fraction of the price?
Well that’s where our 2002 V8 Toyota Land Cruiser comes in. We paid just £5,000 for this car, making it around 94% cheaper than the new one. We’re going to pitch these two cars head-to-head in a series of challenges to see which is the best mud-plugger.
The car which wins each test will be awarded two points, the loser gets one point and if a car doesn’t complete the challenge it gets zero. Mat will be driving the old car, while Racing Driver Sam is piloting the new one.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: the stats
Let’s start by comparing the numbers on these two cars. Our 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser has a 4.7-litre naturally-aspirated V8 with 235hp and 434Nm of torque. This is sent to all four wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox, and it has a low-range mode as well as a centre locking differential.
As for the new car, it has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with 205hp and 500Nm of torque. It also has a low-range mode and a centre locking differential, but it has an electronic locking rear diff as well.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: uphill drag race
The first challenge for these cars is a drag race up a slippery slope. This is a test of both grip and power.
The old Land Cruiser got off to a flying start, which is mostly thanks to its more powerful naturally-aspirated engine. The new car’s turbocharged diesel took some time to come on boost, at which point it started to close the gap.
Ultimately though, it was too little too late. The old Toyota Land Cruiser won by whisker, meaning the score is currently 2-1.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: race through the woods
Next up is a test of these cars manoeuvrability. We set up a short course around some tight bends, and the car which completes it in the quickest time wins.
The new car went first, and it was super super easy to slot through. It did bottom out once over a big bump, but it completed the course in 30.83 seconds.
It would be easy to just chuck the old car through with reckless abandon seeing as it’s not worth as much as the new one, but in the interests of fairness we drove it sensibly and tried not to damage it. Slow steering and a wider turning circle counted against it here, and it finished in 31.06 seconds.
So that brings the scores to an even three-all.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: hill descent
Now for a challenge which actually requires a slower time to win. We’re going to descend down a hill without touching the brakes to see which one is the most controlled.
Usually this would be a test of the car’s hill descent control system, but our 2002 Land Cruiser doesn’t have that. The rules are the rules though, so Mat will have to stay off the brakes the whole way.
And the results were inevitable really. The old Land Cruiser went down so quickly that Mat actually had time to go up and down again before the new one had crawled across the finish line.
That makes it 5-4 to the new Land Cruiser.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: uphill step test
For this test we’ll be driving both cars up an uneven, stepped slope to test their ground clearance, grip and chassis articulation. This isn’t a race, it’s all about smoothness and it’ll be judged by our off-roading expert Graham.
It was a close call. Both cars climbed the slope effortlessly, but the old car was let down by its side steps. Despite technically having more ground clearance, the steps bottomed out and ended up getting bent in the process.
That means the new car has the win, so its lead increases to 7-5 over the old car.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: side slope test
It’s another test of chassis articulation as both cars face the side slope test. They’ll both be driven at a sharp angle to see how they cope. The aim is once again smoothness, and we’re aiming to keep all four wheels on the ground.
And it’s another win for the new Land Cruiser, because the old one ended up cocking a wheel towards the end. This basically means the new car has more travel in its suspension, meaning more contact with the ground and better traction.
Mat has his work cut out now, because the scores are now 6-9 in the new Land Cruiser’s favour.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: a good old-fashioned drag race
Now it’s time to do what Carwow does best – a drag race. We’re still on mud, but this time it’s a simple, flat sprint to the finish line.
And the old car’s more powerful engine came in very handy here. The instant torque from that big V8 meant it claimed an easy win. The new car did start to catch up towards the end, but it wasn’t enough.
So as we go into the final challenge the scores are at 8-10 to the new Land Cruiser. Victory for the old car is impossible now, but it could still be a tie if the new Land Cruiser fails this next test.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: the rock crawl
We’ve saved the most difficult test until last – a rock crawl up a very bumpy slope. The winner is the car which does it the smoothest, so it’s important to carry just enough speed to get up and not so much that it looks messy.
Our old Land Cruiser went first, and was a fairly undramatic climb. There was a bit of wheelspin as it approached the top of the hill, but on the whole it was a pretty smooth and controlled ascent.
However, the new car simply walked up the hill. It made this challenge look effortless with zero wheelspin and with all four tyres on the ground at all times, so it was an easy victory.
New vs old Toyota Land Cruiser: the results
So that leaves us with the final results. Our £5,000 Toyota Land Cruiser put in a great performance, and it proved that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get something which is epic off-road.
However, it still wasn’t good enough to beat the new Land Cruiser. It may be £75,000 more expensive, but all the advanced electronics and the more sophisticated suspension meant it took home a 9-12 victory in this test.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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