Front view
In Kenya, the Land Cruiser V8 is more than a car: it is a statement of arrival. For business in Nairobi, a family wedding or the long drive upcountry, it pairs rugged durability with real prestige, and it makes the longest days on the road feel easy.
Who the V8 suits
- Executives and VIP guests who need to arrive in the car Kenya respects most, at a ministry, an embassy or a board meeting in Upper Hill.
- Families home for the holidays with a long list of visits upcountry, where comfort over five or six hours matters more than fuel.
- Wedding and ruracio parties who want the lead car to look the part, with room for parents and elders.
- Anyone heading towards the Maasai Mara, Nanyuki or the Rift Valley who wants size, quiet and four-wheel drive on the way.
The V8 is not the right car for everyone. If you are mostly in town, parking at malls and in tight estates, the Toyota Prado is easier, and the Mazda CX-8 costs less to run.
Seats and luggage
The V8 seats up to seven, with a third row in most versions; layouts vary between versions, so ask us about the one for your dates. With five people on board, the boot takes the big suitcases of a family flying home. With all seven seats in use, plan on soft bags, or send the luggage ahead in a second car. Tell us how many people and suitcases are coming, and we will tell you honestly whether it fits.
Handed over at JKIA
Most V8 hires start at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Add your flight number when you book and we track your flight. The evening before you land we send your driver's name and number on WhatsApp, and your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. We load the bags, film a walk-round video of the V8 with you, show you the fuel level, spare wheel and jack, and you drive away, or sit back if you booked a chauffeur. Delivery to JKIA is KES 1,000, the same as anywhere in Nairobi. Read our airport promise.
On the road
The V8 is at its best on the long highways: quiet at speed, sure-footed in the rain, and high enough to see over the traffic. Heading "shags" or towards the Mara, the four-wheel drive and ground clearance give you real confidence on wet tarmac and rough patches of paved road. It stays on paved roads, and game drives are for our Land Cruiser Safari or your lodge's own vehicles. It is a big, thirsty car: budget for fuel, fill up in the bigger towns, and remember you return it with the same fuel level you got it with.
With a chauffeur
Many V8 clients never drive it. A chauffeur costs KES 4,000 a day within Nairobi and KES 5,000 a day outside Nairobi, plus your driver's food and overnight accommodation away from Nairobi. With our chauffeur driving there is no security deposit. Read our chauffeur standards.
What a V8 trip costs
The table below works out the full price for 3, 7 and 14 days from today's daily rate: the car, delivery and collection, the cleaning and service fee, and VAT. Every car's rate is on our prices page.
Compare with
- Toyota Prado: the same Toyota toughness, lighter on fuel and easier to park.
- Land Cruiser Safari: the one car we allow on game drives.
- Mercedes-Benz S 350: the flagship saloon for VIP guests in town.
- Guide: Land Cruiser V8 vs Prado, which one fits your trip and budget.
What the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 costs for a real trip
All in, self-drive: the daily rate, delivery and collection in Nairobi (JKIA included), the cleaning and service fee, and VAT at 16%. Fuel is extra, and you return the car with the same fuel level.
| Hire | Total, VAT included |
|---|---|
| 3 days | KES 90,480 ≈ $698 USD / £527 GBP / €623 EUR |
| 7 days | KES 206,480 ≈ $1,592 USD / £1,203 GBP / €1,422 EUR |
| 14 days | KES 409,480 ≈ $3,157 USD / £2,385 GBP / €2,821 EUR |
The refundable security deposit is on top, and is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection.
With every Urban Escape car
A 2019 model or newer, serviced and cleaned before each hire, with comprehensive insurance, unlimited mileage, GPS tracking, 24/7 help and a replacement car if the car has a manufacturer (mechanical) issue. Add a vetted chauffeur for KES 4,000 a day in Nairobi or KES 5,000 outside. Cars stay in Kenya and on paved roads; only our Land Cruiser Safari goes on game drives. Pay a refundable reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (we send a card payment link, or M-Pesa details by WhatsApp, phone or email), then the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash. Free cancellation until the car is handed over.
Why clients choose the Land Cruiser V8
- Unmatched road presence
- Four-wheel drive for rain and long drives
- Leather, first-class comfort
- Made for long drives upcountry
Ideal for
- Executives and VIP travel
- Upcountry and family visits
- The long drive to the Maasai Mara
- Weddings and family events
Toyota Land Cruiser V8 hire: questions
How much is Land Cruiser V8 hire in Nairobi?
The daily self-drive rate is at the top of this page, before 16% VAT, and the table above works out 3, 7 and 14 days all in. Delivery is KES 1,000 each way, and a chauffeur adds KES 4,000 a day in Nairobi.
How many seats does the Land Cruiser V8 have?
Up to seven in most versions, with a third row. Layouts vary, so ask us about the V8 for your dates and tell us how many people and suitcases are coming.
Is the Land Cruiser V8 good for a trip to the Maasai Mara?
Yes, for the long drive there: it's big, quiet and comfortable for five or six hours on the road. It stays on paved roads and can't be taken on game drives. For game drives, hire our Land Cruiser Safari, or let your lodge take you out in its own vehicles.
Should I choose the Land Cruiser V8 or the Prado?
The V8 for more space, power and presence; the Prado for a capable 4x4 that is lighter on fuel and easier to park. Our V8 vs Prado guide compares them side by side.
Can I hire the Land Cruiser V8 with a driver?
Yes. A chauffeur costs KES 4,000 a day within Nairobi or KES 5,000 a day outside Nairobi, plus your driver's food and overnight accommodation away from Nairobi. There is no security deposit with our chauffeur.
Can you deliver the Land Cruiser V8 to JKIA?
Yes, for KES 1,000. We track your flight, send your driver's name and number the evening before, and meet you in arrivals with a sign bearing your name.
Is the V8 good for a wedding?
Yes. It is a favourite lead car for the couple or for parents and elders, usually with one of our chauffeurs. Tell us the date and venues and book early for December.
Deposit: when your money comes back
You see the exact security deposit for your car in your quote before you book, and again on your booking page. It is fully refundable and due with your remaining balance by handover. It is not an extra charge: it is returned when the car is returned. Your security deposit is refunded immediately after the return handover inspection. It comes back the same way you paid it: by M-Pesa to the number it came from, to the bank account you paid from, back to your card, or in cash. We check the car together and film it, just as we did at handover, and you get a written return receipt. If nothing is owed, you get it all back.
Only these can be taken off:
- fuel below the level you received, at the pump price
- traffic and speed camera fines, parking and tolls, at cost
- a late return, after the 1-hour grace period
- new damage shown on the handover and return videos, up to your Excess Fee for Damage
Anything taken off is on a written list, with the video or a receipt to show it, and there are no admin or processing fees.
Booking with a chauffeur? With one of our chauffeurs driving there is no security deposit and no Excess Fee for Damage. Read our fair damage promise, the rental terms in plain words, every car's price and deposit, and how JKIA airport handover works.