Is The Toyota Land Cruiser Bulletproof?

So you’ve heard the Land Cruiser is indestructible, everlasting, and maybe even imperishable and you’re curious to know if it’s also bulletproof. How can a vehicle be classified as indestructible if it’s not even bulletproofed right? If you’ve ever driven the Land Cruiser off-road, you’ll know it doesn’t need to be bulletproof to be the king of the overlanders.

Toyota Land Cruisers are not manufactured as bulletproof cars and Land Cruisers straight from the factory will not be bulletproof. However, Land Cruisers are widely used in wartime environments, government agencies, and are “indestructible” off-road vehicles that can have armored upgrades.

Not that we want to know why you want a bulletproof vehicle, but is there a particular reason why you’re interested in finding a bulletproof car? Here’s hoping you’re just curious and have heard on the grapevine that the Land Cruiser is deemed so indestructible it might as well be bulletproof.

Well, we have a few things to tell you about the well-loved Land Cruiser below.

Is the Toyota Land Cruiser Bulletproof?

Although heavily used in war environments and nations with extreme weather and un-drivable road conditions, the Land Cruiser is not technically a bulletproof car if bought straight from the factory for suburban use.

Toyota does make their everyday vehicles tremendously reliable and has excelled in engine and body innovation and technology in vehicles for years and are in some cases, much further along in technology than their competition. (Not including electric vehicles at this time).

So while the everyday Land Cruiser is not bulletproof, some companies will alter and upgrade a land cruiser (and other vehicles) for specific use in security-type organizations.

Organizations like the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the Governmental Organization (GO), other security organizations, and the United Nations (UN), that use armored vehicles for protection and humanitarian services.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a favorite among these well-known and established agencies because of its reliability and ability to drive pretty much anywhere you want. From rugged landscapes like the Australian outback to muddy forests, to other countries with tough and harsh environmental conditions like Africa.

Land Cruisers are also heavily relied on for their 4WD traction and grip in slippery and snowy conditions.

So why not make it an armored bulletproof vehicle for that added protection, which is probably the only thing that’s missing from a factory-built Land Cruiser.

Journalist, Nick Francis, for a popular newspaper called The Sun in the UK, is a Land Cruiser fanatic and wrote a piece on the Land Cruiser being the car of the future in a post-apocalyptic world where the Land Cruiser is the only vehicle that survives the end of the world.

Who Makes Bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers?

There are a few companies around that will build you an armored/bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser, but it won’t come cheap.

Companies that design, manufacture, and build armor equipment for vehicles are usually sought after by national and government agencies that require extra protection and safeguarding for military-related situations.

Here are some of the companies that design and manufacture additional armored materials for Toyota Land Cruisers:

Mahindra Emirates Vehicle Armoring

Tested and certified, Mahindra calls it “sophisticated-up, armored luxury”.

The armored Land Cruiser is one of the most popular to upgrade because the Land Cruiser is already so reliable and tough. Mahindra states on their website that the armored Land Cruiser is considered one of the toughest armored vehicles to operate and is popular among government agencies.

Here are some of the options Mahindra provides in an armor upgrade:

• Additional protection levels
• Protected fuel tank, engine, battery, and ECU
• Siren and intercom system
• Upgraded heavy-duty suspension and braking system
• Multi-layered ballistic glass
• Shield and start safe
• Stealth mode
• Fire suppression system
• Tire inflation system
• GPS, navigation, and surveillance
• Electric winch
• Roof rack and bulbar
• Window gun ports
• Single pierce firewall, door struts, and blast mitigation mat
• Steel and alloy wheels

Honestly, the list doesn’t end there but you can check out the other features on the Mahindra website here.

Armormax

Armormax is another company that confirms that the Land Cruiser is one of the most popular SUV 4WD vehicles to have additional armored protection installed due to its already popular performance.

Here are some of the armor upgrades Armormax provides for the Toyota Land Cruiser:

• Voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system
• Backup cameras
• Heat-treated ballistic alloys
• Opaque armor added to the entire passenger compartment, doors, and the roof
• Ballistic layered glass replaces the original windows for bulletproof glass
• Reinforced suspension
• Protected and armored battery, radiator, fuel tank, and ECM
• Run-flat tires
• Smokescreen system to create a smokescreen cloud to efficiently escape being chased
• Electric door handles
• Road tack dispenser
• Bomb blankets

Talk about your heavy-duty armored vehicles, bomb blankets and road tack dispensers? This is the kind of equipment you only ever see in action and spy movies.

Aurum Security

Aurum Security is based in Germany and is said to have made some of the best and most protected civilian vehicles in the world.

They produce armored military and civilian vehicles and have some of the most experienced German engineers working alongside them to produce and manufacture protection systems for vehicles.

The upgraded and armored Toyota Land Cruiser is Aurum’s flagship vehicle, is one of the best in the world, and passes certifications on a ballistic level.

Here is what Aurum offers in their armored vehicles:

• 100% cabin protection
• Ballistic protection
• Blast resistance
• Single plate armoring of all doors
• Reinforced door frames
• Hot formed firewall
• Enhanced suspension in the front and rear springs
• Anti-rollbar assemblies in both the front and rear of the vehicle
• 4-piston calipers in the rear brakes and 6-piston in the front
• Stainless-steel hoses
• High-temperature ceramic brake pads
• Heavy-duty run-flat tires
• Operable windows
• Radiator and engine protection
• Police siren and communication equipment

Again, this is some pretty hectic equipment designed for extreme situations.

How Much is a Bulletproof or Armored Land Cruiser?

Most of these companies won’t reveal their prices to just anyone. Considering an armored vehicle is a seriously large investment and those who want to pursue an armored vehicle usually have a good reason to. Like war vehicles for example.

An armored Toyota Land Cruiser, built by Aurum Security, went on the market for civilian sale in March 2021 in the United States for US$277,000, and that’s not the most expensive option either.

According to Army Recognition, a specifically designed and armored sedan can cost anywhere between 100,000 Euros (US$114,000) and 1.2 million Euros (US$1.4 million) and will take anywhere from 3 months to a year to manufacture.

So, we imagine the costs to outfit a Land Cruiser with heavily armored materials would cost roughly the same, maybe slightly cheaper depending on the options you choose. We also imagine it won’t take as long to outfit an already made vehicle with armor equipment because the Land Cruiser is already built and designed for extreme conditions.

If you happen to have a million US dollars to spare, now you know where to go to get your Land Cruiser armor upgrades!

Conclusion

While civilian Toyota Land Cruisers are not specifically designed to be bulletproof, they are hard-wearing vehicles that outmatch many other competitors on the market in everyday and military use.

Land Cruisers are a popular option among government and non-government agencies that require the use of armored and bulletproof cars because Land Cruisers are already heavily relied on for their longevity, and they have powerful capabilities to drive through and on any terrain.

Your Land Cruiser might not be bulletproof, but in the world of 4WD off-road adventures, the Toyota Land Cruiser is unmatched, unbeatable, and pretty indestructible.