THERE'S an old saying among off-roaders which may or may not have a germ or two of truth about it: "You need a xxxx (ie a European-made 4WD) to get you into the forest, but you'll need a Land Cruiser to get you out of it..."
For legal reasons I'm not about to name the "European-made 4WD", but you get the inference that the trusty Toyota Land Cruiser is highly regarded among the off-road brigade.
It may not be the most fashion-conscious SUV on the market and it certainly isn't the fastest but there's little doubt about its credentials as a vehicle that does what it says on the tin.
I drove the Invincible version which at a substantial £52,495 packs a lot of kit within its sizeable dimensions - nearly five metres long and close two metres high.
Heated front and second row of seats, electric ventilated front seats, parking sensors, triple zone climate control and leather upholstery are some of the treats aboard.
But the real goodies are reserved for serious off-road stuff and include multi-terrain ABS, four-wheel active height control, traction and vehicle stability control plus limited slip differential.
My fear was that although the Land Cruiser could happily scale Everest with its proverbial hands tied behind its back, would it be able to double-up as a comfortable and civilised everyday family transport?The quick answer is a resounding yes.
Powered by one of the largest four cylinder diesel engine around - 2,982cc - it develops 188bhp which isn't particularly gutsy considering the substantial weight of the big seven-seater.
Nevertheless it picks up its heels well thanks to masses of torque and a beautifully smooth five-speed automatic gearbox.
The bare figures of a 109mph maximum and 0-62mph in 11 seconds don't really do the Toyota justice.
It's smooth, quiet and there always feels a comfortable reserve of power. Fuel consumption was also a pleasant surprise.
My average of 35mpg was a fraction above the official combined figure - an unusual achievement.
Inevitably, there's a greater degree of cornering roll round bends than you'd find in a saloon or even a newly designed SUV but so long as there are no quick directional changes the Land Cruiser remains composed and comfortable, soaking up poor surfaces better than most.
And the steering is more precise than I had anticipated. The high driving and seating position gives all aboard a good vantage point. The turning circle isn't exactly compact, partly thanks to the big wheels so it pays to leave extra space.
If you have the final row of seats folded, as I did most of the time, there's 621 litres of luggage space in the back which is enough for most needs.
I struggled to find the external boot opening button which is pretty much concealed, and resorted to the owners' handbook.
A five year, 100,000 mile mechanical warranty is standard along with a 12-year anti-rust guarantee.
Toyota has been making Land Cruisers for more than 60 years so it's hardly surprising that the latest edition is so polished. But it's deeply impressive to find that it so accomplished away from the rough stuff.