NEW WHEELS
The latest Toyota Land Cruiser has just arrived in South Africa – and many South Africans are licking their lips, says
The international launch of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 took place on 10 June this year via a video broadcast on YouTube. Ten days later, the first vehicles were sold in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and by the time you read this, a cargo ship with the first consignment of Land Cruiser 300s will have moored in Durban’s harbour.
The 300 series is built at the Yoshiwara plant in Japan – it’s always a good sign when a product is manufactured in its country of origin.
What do we have here?
The 300 Series is the first new Land Cruiser since the 200 Series made its appearance in 2007. At the time of going to press, Toyota was still cagey with the exact details, but what we do know is that the 300 series will be sold in South Africa with two engine choices.
The 3,5 ℓ V6 petrol engine (series number V35A) comes from the Lexus LS 500, where it has already earned a reputation for smooth power delivery. This engine uses twin turbos and provides 305 kW of power and 650 Nm of torque. The 3,3 ℓ V6 turbodiesel (the F33A) is brand new and generates 227 kW of power and an impressive 700 Nm of torque (according to Toyota). The 3.3 V6 replaces the outgoing 4.5D V8 that generates 195 kW and 650 Nm.
Both engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Inside and out
The dimensions of the 300 Series remain basically the same as those of the 200 Series. In terms of weight, however, the petrol version is a full 200 kg lighter, while the diesel has lost about 100 kg. This weight saving is due to Toyota’s new TNGA chassis (it stands for Toyota New Global Architecture) and the way the bodywork is attached to it.
New welding techniques and a change in layout of the drive system allowed Toyota to further strengthen the chassis. This is good news for 4x4 enthusiasts as well as those who regularly put foot.
The 4x4 enthusiasts among us will be further pleased to see that the solid rear axle has been retained, with only the front wheels using independent suspension.
Besides the two engine options, the 300 Series will be available in three trim levels: The GX-R, ZX and GR-Sport. The former is the base model, although the word ‘basic’ certainly cannot be mentioned in the same breath as ‘Land Cruiser 300’; the ZX replaces the 200-series VX-R model; and the GR Sport is, well, the one that excites us the most.
This rig has a stronger focus on off-road driving and you will recognise it by the black grille, wing mirrors and wheel arches (hardly any chrome). Toyota is reticent about the mechanical bits, but the name GR Sport is usually associated with upgraded suspension.
Inside, there are large digital screens in the instrument panel, in the centre console and
behind the headrests of the front seats. The largest of the screens on the centre console shows a 360 ° image through several cameras, including what goes on under the front bumper – a 4x4 aid already being used in the new Land Rover Defender.
If you’re not a touchscreen fan, we’ve got good news for you. The interior of the 300 Series teems with physical buttons for the radio, driving modes, air con and seats.
What about the competition?
The Land Cruiser 300 competes with the Nissan Patrol, Land Rover Defender and MercedesBenz G-Class.
The Patrol does not have the same prestige in South Africa as, for example, in Dubai or Australia, although one of Toyota South Africa’s bigwigs confided to us in a campfire conversation that he considers the Nissan Patrol to be a worthy oponent.
The Land Rover Defender sells
well here on the southern tip of Africa and you typically see a large number of them in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
But Land Rover has decided to distance itself from its humble beginnings as an honest, basic vehicle – something that grieved traditional Landie owners. In contrast, Toyota has decided to retain quite a few elements of its original Land Cruiser.
The Mercedes G-Class may be a competitor in terms of category, but let’s be honest: the kind of person who buys a G-Class probably wouldn’t consider a Toyota.
The outgoing Land Cruiser 200 sold an average of 80 units a month before the pandemic hit us, which is not bad at all for a specialised vehicle that costs more than a million rand.
We believe the 300 Series will equal and even surpass these sales figures, provided the economy recovers after the scars left by the pandemic and state capture have healed.