It wasn't so long ago that the Toyota Land Cruiser was a rugged, bare-bones competitor for Land Rovers and Jeeps. Over the years, luxurious elements sneaked onto the options list, and we now have a Toyota with a base price that handily exceeds that of Lexus's flagship LS 460 sedan.

The $79,605 Land Cruiser has room to spare. It seats eight and has room for three car seats in a single row. A mammoth 5.7-liter V8 that produces 381 horsepower moves the Land Cruiser's bulk with authority. Towing capacity checks in at 8,500 pounds.

Buyers will likely appreciate the lower profile of a non-luxury brand. But for those who care about image or dealership experience, the similar Lexus LX 570 is only slightly more expensive at $82,630.

The Land Cruiser keeps things simple for luxury buyers — all features have been made standard for 2014.

Except for deciding to buy a Land Cruiser, and choosing a color, you don't have to make a single decision. The Land Cruiser makes luxury details standard such as leather trim, navigation heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a cooler box, USB port, four-zone automatic climate control system, rear privacy glass, keyless entry with push-button start and an anti-theft security system.