CARS.COM — The last time we performed a Car Seat Check on the Toyota Land Cruiser was for the 2013 model year, when the aptly named eight-seat SUV was a big, burly, spendy, fuel-guzzling behemoth with more off-road capability than most families likely needed. A light refresh for the 2016 model year didn’t change much, if anything, on any of those fronts. And although the Land Cruiser offers much in the way of comfort, backseat space remains troublesome in the 2017 version — and that impacts car-seat accommodation.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Three
How many car seats fit in the third row? Two
What We Like
- There are two sets of easy-connecting lower Latch anchors in the second row, under leather strips and Velcro-ed in place about 2 inches into the seat bight.
- Two of the second row’s three top tether anchors in the outboard seats are located about a third of the way down the seatback, easily accessible under hinged plastic flaps.
- The forward-facing convertible seat installed easily in the second row and sat level thanks to the flat seat cushions; we raised the head restraint to get the forward-facing convertible to sit flat.
- Our booster seat also installed easily in the second row and fit well after we raised the head restraint. The booster also fit well in the third row. All seat belt buckles are hinged and fold into the seat cushion — a superior setup to floppy buckles, which can be tough for kids to use independently.
- Third-row access is great thanks to second-row seats that tumble forward easily with the pull of a lever, leaving a wide pathway. Although the step-in height could be a challenge for kids, the running boards makes it easier to get in and out.
What We Don’t
- The second row’s middle top tether anchor is located at the base of the seat, under a difficult-to-remove plastic cover.
- The third row offers no lower Latch anchors or top tether anchors.
- Although the infant seat was easy to install, we had to move the front passenger seat forward a lot to accommodate it in the second row, putting our 5-foot-8-inch tester’s knees about a half-inch from the glove box; the same went for the rear-facing convertible.
- Removing the head restraint to get a good fit for our booster seat in the third row required, per the owner’s manual, a flathead screwdriver — making it a pain in the neck.
