We've already put the hotly anticipated new Toyota Land Cruiser through its paces on the blacktop,
but now it's time to see how the long-awaited 300 Series handles the rough stuff
its predecessor was so famous for conquering. Let's hit the bush.
As the first all-new Land Cruiser since 2007, Toyota's self-proclaimed king of the road is
based around a lighter, but stiffer ladder frame chassis, but also features a brand
new power train, redesigned body, overhauled interior, and a host of new features and tech,
along with an approachable price hike. The Sahara trim grade reviewed here now costs just under
seven grand more than the model it replaces, but this previous range topper is now just the
third dearest variant behind the Sahara ZX and GR Sport. It may have lost its flagship status,
but the Sahara still has an imposing presence. Its refreshed styling with wide
horizontal grille and slim line headlights delivering a robust yet sophisticated air.
Ground clearance is up slightly to 235 millimetres, while the Land Cruiser Sahara sports
healthy off-road geometry and a generous wading depth, but the old hydraulic kinetic dynamic
suspension system, which decoupled stabiliser bars for greater axle articulation in the rough stuff,
is gone. There is now an electronic arrangement, E-KDSS, but it's only available on the GR Sport.
And while the old V8 oil burner is also history, Toyota says this new 3.3-litre twin turbo diesel
V6, now pumps out even more power and torque while also delivering improved fuel economy.
Helping matters is a 10-speed automatic transmission replacing the old six-speeder
hooked up to a dual-range transfer case and full-time four-wheel drive.
And you'll be keeping our rugged Aussie environs at bay in this sublime and spacious cabin
with a new layout, new instrumentation, and new multimedia touch screen. We'd probably
go with the black interior trim over the beige if serious off-roading is on the agenda, but all the
leather, the soft touch trim, and the firewood grain accents sure do add a touch of class.
The leather accented driver seat is supportive and comes with a heap of electronic adjustment,
while the leather-wrapped wheel has power adjustments for tilt and reach
plus heating. Front seats also score heating and ventilation. Cabin storage
is reasonable. We've got a large lockable glove box and a sizable centre console bin
with a cooling function. The wireless smartphone charging pad is a neat addition, but I still think
the Sahara could do with a dedicated tray to throw your wallet and keys in when you first jump in.
Still, the multi-directional lid on the centre console bin
is pretty neat and it's big enough to swallow a couple of bottles.
And despite the vehicle size and high bonnet line, vision is generally good and aided by a
comprehensive camera setup, including a top-down view that makes parking this big rig a breeze.
I love this new layout which groups together all the various features in a really logical fashion.
Pairing a phone is easy and this new 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen is
simple and intuitive to use. This Sahara also scores a head up display and a new
7-inch multi-information display in addition to a high-quality 14-speaker JBL sound system.
There's integrated satnav plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity,
plus a total of five USB-C charging outlets throughout the cab.
And while it's yet to be assessed by NCAP, the new Land Cruiser fairly bristles with safety features.
All the staples are covered while Toyota Safety Sense suite packages many of the latest advances.
There's good head and legroom in the second row, plus heating and ventilation for the two
outboard seats, and in the Sahara, the kids are gonna love these large entertainment screens.
And back here in economy, the two third row perches are really for kids only, but they do
have a power folding function and electric seat back adjustment. Luggage capacity is greater in
five-seater variants, but in this seven-seat Sahara, there's still plenty of room with the
third row seating folded flat, along with tie-down anchor points and a 220-volt accessory socket.
There's a full-sized spare too, which is located at the rear of the vehicle, underneath the body.
Off-road ability is at the heart of the Land Cruiser ethos,
so let's see what this next gen Sahara can do.
The old 200 Series Sahara was impressive, but this new
300 Series Sahara is a good step forward, and it all begins with its drive train.
I was a big fan of the old V8, but this V6 twin turbo diesel is a ripper.
It's so refined, as is the slick new 10-speed auto.
There's still pleasing growl when you plant your right foot and masses of lazy lowing
grunt for crawling your way up climbs and in technical terrain. I really like the amount of
feel and response at the pedal too. There's masses of feedback
and it's really easy making small throttle adjustments in technical going.
There's also a super fast shifting between high and low range with a
lot of triggering crisp detailed camera views and inclinometers on the multimedia display.
The centre diff lock is standard across the Land Cruiser range,
but only the GR Sport gets front and rear lockers.
A new multi-terrain select feature lets you choose between dirt, sand, mud, rock,
snow, and auto settings to maximise traction, and there's hill descent control and a crawl function.
While the Sahara now misses out on Toyota's kinetic dynamic suspension system, it certainly
does have healthy axle articulation along with a mix of plastic and middle underbody protection.
Cornering clearance has improved and it is reasonable at 235 millimetres,
but we've still managed to find its limits a couple of times here today, mainly with the
side steps. Needless to say, for owners intent on heading off road, lift kits, more aggressive
rubber, and more extensive protection will be pretty high on the accessories priority list.
The ride is really very civilised despite the Sahara also missing out on adaptive variable
suspension, an auto-damping feature as found on the Sahara ZX and GR Sport.
With a lighter and stiffer chassis and a new suspension system, the Sahara remains controlled
and composed over bigger hits while it also smooths out higher speed corrugations nicely.
Add in excellent noise suppression and next to no vibration,
and you're truly closeted in this cockpit. It's a world away from the harsh environment outside.
It's still a big bus in tight going, but the cameras sure help and the turning circle is
actually pretty good. While the steering ratio is short at just over three turns lock to lock.
Overall, I'd say this new 300 Series Sahara doesn't put a foot wrong. I'd stop short at
saying it's a light-year progression over its already incredibly capable predecessor,
but certainly it moves the needle in many respects.
We achieved an average fuel economy figure of 15 litres per 100 kilometres over a mix of off-road
driving, which still equates to a fairly healthy range from the now smaller 110-litre
tank. Of course, it's also dearer, not that it was ever a bargain buy,
while its short 10,000-kilometre, six monthly service interval continues.
As a comfortable, capable off-roader with the room and features to keep adventurous families smiling,
the new 300 Series Land Cruiser Sahara has just about everything you could want
and plenty of tricks up its sleeves. It feels like a Land Cruiser should feel,
and it does what a Land Cruiser should do, and it builds on its predecessor's legacy in fine style.
Yes, it's a whole lot of coin and buyers currently face a long old wait for stock,
but the new 300 Series Toyota Land cruiser Sahara
is a bold melding of form and function and a worthy successor for this iconic family dynasty.