THE Land Cruiser celebrates its 60th birthday in 2011. It’s come a long way - both literally and figuratively - since it was developed as a cheap Japanese copy of the classic American Jeep.

The original Land Cruiser was a crude, utilitarian device (despite the name having been chosen because it sounded more “dignified” than Land Rover, according to designer Hanji Umehara) but it was superb off-road.

Subsequent Land Cruisers have become progressively more luxurious to the point where the current model is priced against the Land Rover Discovery but they haven’t lost their off-road prowess.

Indeed, the big Toyota’s reputation for ruggedness has made it the vehicle of choice for the United Nations and Nato.

Forget Land Rover and Jeep. In the world’s trouble spots it’s the Land Cruiser that you’ll see prowling the streets looking for the first hint of hostility. From desert sand dunes to snow capped mountains, the Land Cruiser has proven itself. Over the years it’s been frozen in ice, shot blasted with grit and covered in mud. No wonder so many satisfied owners shower them with praise.

But downtown Darlington isn’t Darfur - although, after this winter, some of County Durham’s roads do look as though they have been carpet-bombed from 30,000 feet - and the Land Cruiser will need more than the off-road ability of a mountain goat if it is to pose a serious challenge to the Discovery.

The latest Land Cruiser shares a platform with the Lexus LX570, a big SUV not sold in the UK, so it’s off to a good start. Convenience features include “keyless” starting, sophisticated climate control with separate air vents and controls for rear seat passengers, ten air bags and a monster premium audio system. The JBL Synthesis system provides 7.1 audio sound via 17 speakers and an 11 channel 605w digital signal processor. The multi-disc unit can play DVDs and there’s a separate drop down TV monitor for back seat passengers.

The leather clad driver’s seat reminded me of a big comfy armchair. A third row of seats in the boot spring up automatically at the touch of a button. The airy cabin has plenty of room for all the family.

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the instruments but the fascia looks rather old fashioned and cluttered. Practical rather than luxurious, it takes more than a wood wrap on the steering wheel and some wood veneer to take on established premium SUVs these days.

And with an asking price of nearly 50 grand that’s the league the Land Cruiser is playing in these days.

It may not feel as posh as an Audi Q7 or a BMW X5, but it can always show them a clean pair of heels off the road.

Toyota has turned its biggest SUV into a rolling technology showcase. Alongside hill descent control and sophisticated four-wheel drive with diff locks you’ll find active ride height control, hill start assist control, active traction control, multi-terrain select and vehicle stability control.

Most impressive of all is crawl control which offers a choice of five selectable crawling speeds. Choose one and the car select sthe right combination of gear, throttle and traction to maintain your speed on uneven ground. If you get stuck, crawl control is a godsend.

Cameras monitor the Land Cruiser’s exterior, feeding real time images to the colour LCD monitor - handy for those “breathe in and pray we don’t hit a rock” moments - a front mounted camera even shows which way your wheels are pointing (not as daft as it sounds, it’s easy to get confused when you’re ploughing through deep mud).

The chassis has been strengthened for off-road abuse with bigger brakes and uprated front suspension. Skid plates are fitted to the underbelly; even the roof is strengthened to protect occupants in the event of a rollover.

All of which makes the Toyota a supreme off roader. Believe me, if you’re a farmer, or someone who regularly tows a horse box or a caravan, then buying a Land Cruiser is a no-brainer. Nothing comes close. Not even the excellent Discovery and certainly not pseudo off-roaders like the X5.

On the road the 3.0-litre diesel is beefy enough to keep up with other traffic. It’s not as punchy as the American version, which gets a 5.7-litre petrol V8, but the diesel’s hefty torque makes the Land Cruiser flexible and easy to drive. A 0-62mph time of 11 seconds is a decent result for a car that weighs two-and-a-half tonnes.

The only wheel choice is 18-inch. That’s because big tyres with large flexible side-walls are more useful when you’re mud plugging.

People who haven’t driven a Land Cruiser might imagine it’s a bit of a dinosaur - a throwback to a different time when the Range Rover came with rubber mats and instructions on how to best hose out the cabin. It even has an ash tray and a cigarette lighter.

Yet, in its way, the Toyota is every bit as extreme as a Subaru STi or a Mitsubishi EVO. Venturing off road in a Land Cruiser is just as challenging as taking a supersports hatchback on a race track.

And like the Subaru and the Mitsubishi the Land Cruiser is packed with gadgets and gizmos that turn a cack-handed driver into an expert.

It’s a stunning piece of kit that’s as relevant now as it was back in 1951. Here’s to the next 60 years.

SPEC CHECK: Engine: 2,982cc turbodiesel Max output: 127KW Max torque: 302 lb/ft @ 1,600 rpm Max speed: 108 mph 0-62mph: 11.7 seconds Official combined fuel consumption: 34 mpg Fuel consumption on test: 29 mpg CO2 exhaust emissions: 214 g/km Equipment: Electric windows, leather heated seats, premium JBL 17-speaker CD/DVD player and touch screen sat nav, rear view monitor, hard disk navigation with CD ripping facility, electronic traffic avoidance, smart start and entry, steering angle display, parking distance sensors front and back, illuminated entry system, Bluetooth, accessory power sockets.