Land Cruiser 300 Review: We NEED This in the U.S.!
The King of Toyotas, the Land Cruiser 300 stops the traffic wherever you take it. Unfortunately, you can’t currently take it to the U.S.
Having had more than enough time with its biturbo diesel sister, we were most excited to finally get our hands on that Toyota Land Cruiser 300 3.5T. The 409 HP 480 lb.-ft 3.5-liter biturbo petrol V6 one. You cannot get it in the States, but it’s in essence a knocked-down Toyota version of the latest LX 600 (which we reviewed HERE).
This engine is perhaps best known for the job it does in those Gazoo Racing Hiluxes. The pickup that has won the past two Dakar Rallies including this year’s race that finished this week. It is also funnily enough the same silky V6 engine that Lexus uses in its staple LS 500 flagship sedan and, of course, the newest Toyota Tundra.
Powered by Toyota’s Dakar Winning V6
Vastly more efficient, powerful, and torquey than the outgoing Cruiser 200’s V8, this engine is used pretty much as is in those Dakar racers. It’s mated to a slick-shifting new 10-speed automatic with a low-range 4×4 set-up in the Land Cruiser 300.
Based on Toyota’s new ladder frame New Global Architecture, the unmistakably angular and dynamic Land Cruiser 300 bears more than a passing resemblance to its great ancestors. This flashy dark grey 3.5T ZX is the glitzier boulevard version. It has more chrome, bigger wheels, and lower-profile tires. Let’s just say that the Tonka toy looks make it a bit of a conversation starter, from Seattle to Syracuse.
Step aboard and you may find that some Land Cruiser 300 bits and pieces will take some getting used to. A glut of buttons and functions, and infotainment logic with three narrow panes on a broad central screen isn’t quite as deft as some upper-class European rivals. This may seem foreign to someone more versed in simpler and easier-to-use MBUX, or iDrive, say. Buttons thankfully back up most of the touch functions, and one soon learns how it all operates.
Cruiser 300 is More Than Just Comfortable
A deep, refrigerated center cubby is a boon, the generous front cup holders handle any beverage and the conductive phone pad, and both USB and USB C ports, work a treat. There’s ample legroom in the rear. The seats are comfy, but it’s tauter and rougher in the back. You do have ample control back there, with four-zone climate, roof vents, controls and. Add two USB C ports too.
More than just comfortable, Cruiser 300 is serene on the road. Wind noise is minimal. You must push it to hear the engine. It does however roar bravely when asked. There’s a fair amount of feedback from rougher surfaces. More so perhaps than the fatter tired off-road oriented GR. But this car is supreme on the smooth highway.
Switch the chassis to Sport Plus and 300 does an impressive performance car launch. The best of both. Not bad for a literal block of flats. We kept it in plush Comfort most of the time, thank you very much! We never took it off-road, but we are already well enough versed in it to know that Land Cruiser 300 is nigh unstoppable on any regular off-road challenge it may face off the beaten track.
Everyone Knows What Land Cruiser 300 is
The gearbox is invisible. You scarcely notice the changes. Unless you listen too closely. Top end is 130 mph and Toyota reckons this petrol version consumes 19.7 mpg. That’s a bit optimistic. Albeit we drove it more in the urban realm, we offset that with a fair bit of freeway work, so to fight it to beat 12 miles per gallon was a bit rich.
Of course, being the King of Toyotas in Toyotaland, the Land Cruiser 300 stops the traffic wherever you may take it. Everyone knows what it is. Powerful and efficient, hugely capable, and vastly versatile, judging by how people react to the omnipotent Land Cruiser 300 is one hell of a car.
The only trouble — assuming you can keep the turbo from drinking all your fuel — is that my American friends don’t get to enjoy the latest Land Cruiser (unless they buy the LX 600). Because this 3.5 Turbo V6 has the alter ego of a sports car. Maybe you can have your cake and eat it, after all.
ROAD TESTED: Toyota Land Cruiser 300 3.5T ZX Engine: 409 HP 480 lb.-ft turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 Drive: 10-speed automatic 4x4 TESTED: 0-40 mph: 2.76 sec 0-60 mph: 6.12 sec 0-80 mph: 8.78 sec 0-100 mph: 15.33 sec ¼-mile: 14.3 sec @ 100 mph 50-75 mph: 4.22 sec 75-100 mph: 6.36 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 130 mph Fuel: 17 mpg Tank/range: 29 gallons/560 miles LIST PRICE: $110,000 in South Africa RATED: 8
Images: Michele Lupini
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