You may already know all about the Toyota Land Cruiser’s off-road capabilities and the feats it can show off with Multi-terrain Select and Crawl Control. With the click of a button, you can display front, rear and side camera views. Multi-terrain Select helps maintain wheelspin and brake lockup to improve driving on the five most common off-road surfaces. But did you know it is the perfect getaway vehicle for a bachelorette party? My girls and I loaded up and headed off to Portsmouth, NH for a weekend over the summer to have one last celebration before becoming a Mrs. And the 2019 Land Cruiser was just the right accessory.

My fellow blog-mate, Chris, knew we would need something big to fit all of our gear and he certainly delivered. Based on his previous experience on a trip with the Land Cruiser’s sister car, the Lexus LX570, he knew the big Toyota would be a great fit. We had 43 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row seats folded to the side. It managed to fit 4 beach chairs, an umbrella, 3 pieces of luggage, a cooler and plenty of small bags stuff with snacks, wine and games. You do need to be strategic with your packing, however, due to the 3rd row seating not being able to fold down flat.

At no point could any of us say we were uncomfortable; the Land Cruiser is a literal tank. Though, being a tank, it was far from fuel efficient. Chris lost some points, here, with his pick. With a combination of city and highway driving, we were lucky to hit 16.5 mpg. Though, given its rating of 13 city and 18 highway, I dare say that’s pretty good. And given its size, it does not stop on a dime. That made Boston traffic a bit of a chore. But the 5.7-liter V8 with 381 hp and 401lb-ft of torque was powerful and got us moving, so I could keep up with the best of them. Luckily the big V8 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, unlike some of its competitors. It demonstrates Toyota’s effort to improve fuel economy, although it is difficult with a big bus like this.

We arrived into Portsmouth in style. Although unchanged for 2019, its boxy exterior has a commanding presence. The Land Cruiser is only offered at one trim level, so there is no need to ponder over what features you could live without. It comes standard with necessities most of us have become accustomed to – automatic LED headlights, power folding and auto-dimming mirrors, adaptive cruise control, safety tech, Bluetooth, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment, wireless smartphone charging and JBL sound system. We did not have an occasion to try it, but our tester also featured the prices rear-seat entertainment system with two displays.

Toyota coins the Land Cruiser as “the peak of capability and comfort.” I cannot disagree. It makes a good case for being a member of the large SUV community. Chris had an opportunity to take some photos before we left and reports back that the unkempt field didn’t slow the big brute down. Any of my bridesmaids can certainly attest that the Land Cruiser is capable of handling road trip duty. It provides the creature comforts we want and in the event of a girls trip or apocalypse. Either way, you will be sure to come out on top.

-Danielle Assenheimer