The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser, with its upright bodywork and wide, flat hood, is unmistakably linked to the historic Land Cruiser line. Called Land Cruiser 200 internally, it's an all-new Land Cruiser, but the exterior design retains the traditional distinct flare on the front fenders, horizontal four-slotted grille and rear liftgate of the previous-generation Land Cruiser 100. A slightly reduced, more sophisticated greenhouse and compound front headlamps are the most obvious differences, as is the lower, more fluid beltline as viewed from the side. LED tail lights are another contemporary touch.

The effect is to replace dated styling cues with contemporary design, without stepping outside of the Land Cruiser lineage. There is no bling factor in the Land Cruiser design, which is solid, stable and grounded in every sense of the word. It is designed to be impressive more for what it is, than how it looks.

The all-new Land Cruiser may look a lot like its predecessors, but it's clear that every effort has been made to reduce wind noise and clean up the coefficient of drag. The wipers use an aero blade design for quiet operation, sweep a larger area, and retract low on the windshield to reduce wind noise. The mirrors are shaped and mounted so as to keep whistle to a minimum, and the rear tow hitch has a cover to clean up the rear bumper. Overall, it's just a little sleeker, which adds up to a more modern appearance. It's about 2.4 inches longer than the previous generation, which is mostly used to improve second row leg room.