2025 Toyota LandCruiser assessment | CarExpert

It wasn’t that way back that should you bought a Toyota LandCruiser Sahara, you had been getting the top-dog SUV from the Japanese model.

Then, issues modified with the 300 Collection of 2021. The Sahara bought shuffled down, to the purpose the place there are literally two LandCruiser grades sitting above it in worth.

These variants, the GR Sport and Sahara ZX, are solely accessible with 5 seats so the Sahara does at the least have the title of fanciest seven-seat LandCruiser (although as has been the case for many years, there’s the LandCruiser’s fancy LX cousin from Lexus).

The LandCruiser 300 Collection might have solely launched in 2021 however its evolutionary styling means it’s already wanting a bit previous.

The Sahara’s 18-inch alloy wheels additionally aren’t something flash, although its footwear is better-suited for off-roading than the chrome-finished 20s and lower-profile rubber of the Sahara ZX.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser VX

Inside, the LandCruiser can be nonetheless operating Toyota’s old-infotainment multimedia system, regardless of fashions just like the cheaper Corolla transferring to the model’s newest era of in-car tech. Stories out of Japan earlier this yr recommended such an replace is across the nook.

Nonetheless, it’s not as if the 300 Collection has change into a fossil within the area of simply three years. There’s little on the market that may strategy its mixture of dependability and off-road and towing functionality.

It arguably has only one direct rival within the Nissan Patrol, a a lot older beast that, whereas cheaper, packs a thirstier petrol V8 below the bonnet. Deliveries of the next-generation Y63 mannequin additionally received’t start right here till 2027.

The Sahara we examined was definitely one of many higher-mileage press vehicles we’ve pushed. The truth is, it seems we drove this very car all the way in which again in 2022!

Nonetheless, it’s consultant of what you should purchase new in Toyota Australia showrooms… although the one you’ll take supply of will most likely have a lot decrease mileage!

How does the Toyota LandCruiser examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota LandCruiser towards equally sized autos.

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How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser value?

On take a look at right here is the Sahara which sits beneath the off-road-focused GR Sport and splendid Sahara ZX.

To see how the LandCruiser compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Toyota LandCruiser like on the within?

I really like a beige inside – my very own automotive has one – however simply what was Toyota pondering with this sea of beige?

Like my automotive, the highest half of the dashboard and doorways is gray, offering some distinction. However as an alternative of black carpeting for the ground, there’s beige. You already know, on the little bit of the automotive you’ll put your muddy boots. There’s even beige carpeting within the boot.

I’ve not seen flooring this impractical in a brand new automotive because the white carpets of the Mercedes-Benz EQE. You may remedy this by getting some darkish flooring mats, or simply just by shopping for the Sahara with its different (black) inside colourway.

I’m loath to criticise a automotive firm for providing a vibrant inside, however this one is only a bridge too far.

The inside is traditional Toyota, for higher or worse. The odor of the plastics jogs my memory of my dad’s HiLux work ute from once I was a child, and there are many large-print buttons. There’s nonetheless an honest-to-goodness CD participant within the centre stack, whereas the twin second-row screens can play DVDs and the sunroof is barely a single-pane unit.

The infotainment system hasn’t been up to date to the newest era, so its washed-out blue graphics are wanting drained. Nonetheless, there’s (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, embedded satellite tv for pc navigation, surround-view digicam shows with common decision, and ample response occasions.

There are additionally each USB-A and USB-C retailers, in addition to a wi-fi cellphone charger. You’ll want to make use of the USB-A port for smartphone mirroring, nevertheless.

There are shortcut buttons for the infotainment, whereas there’s additionally an anchored menu that may flip from both aspect of the display and lets you navigate between completely different features just like the local weather management settings, however stops the smartphone mirroring from taking on the entire display.

There are extra bodily controls for local weather settings, and so they’re extraordinarily straightforward to achieve. All these huge buttons won’t essentially be stylish in 2024, however usability within the Sahara is superb.

Whereas among the Sahara’s inside particulars are nearly retro, the general atmosphere is completely nice.

Nearly each floor is roofed in soft-touch trim with stitching particulars. You’ll have to search around for the laborious stuff, which you’ll discover in small sections of the sprint and on the decrease reaches of the doorways.

Leatherette trim may be discovered on the edges of the centre console and the centre stack, so your knee has one thing comfy to relaxation towards, whereas the sprint prime has the looks of being leather-wrapped.

The wooden trim has an attention-grabbing texture to it, and it’s not essentially the most realistic-looking pretend tree on the market. Toyota has accomplished a lot tackier woodgrain trim earlier than, although.

Gloss-black trim is stored to a minimal within the cabin, with way more in the way in which of metallic trim used on the centre stack and the darkish, smudge-prone stuff restricted to some small components of the inside like across the window switches.

Forward of the driving force is an instrument cluster that mixes a pair of straightforward, elegant analogue gauges and a 7.0-inch digital display. The general impact prioritises perform over kind, and it’s not as trendy as the complete digital instrument clusters in some equally priced SUVs.

We have now no such gripe concerning the head-up show, which is neat and well-detailed.

The steering wheel has Toyota’s reasonably plasticky leather-based wrapping, however we respect that the wooden inlays are on the within of the rim as an alternative of on the skin, the place such trim typically makes a wheel tougher to grip.

The centre console includes a cool field, excellent for holding drinks chilled. The lid opens from both aspect of the cabin.

The entrance seats are comfy, and have each heating and air flow.

The outboard second-row seats additionally function heating and air flow, whereas on the rear of the centre console you’ll discover air vents (to enhance the floor-level ones), local weather controls, a pair of USB-C retailers, headphone jacks for every of the leisure screens, and an HDMI enter.

There’s fairly a large driveline hump forward of those, limiting legroom for the centre-seat occupant. In any other case, the second-row lodging are comfy.

The second-row seats tumble ahead as an alternative of sliding, although it’s nonetheless a bit awkward clambering into the third row. You can even remotely launch the second-row seats from the rear of the cabin.

The third row is power-folding, and again right here you’ll discover air vents plus a USB-C outlet on both aspect.

I’m 180cm tall, and I discovered I had sufficient legroom again right here although the second row doesn’t slide to unlock extra space. My head, nevertheless, was simply touching the roof.

With all three rows up, there’s solely 175L of boot area, so that you’ll battle to suit greater than, say, a number of mild duffle baggage. Nonetheless, the third row folds flat into the ground, and you can even drop the second row from again right here.

To see how the LandCruiser compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s below the bonnet?

The one powertrain accessible regionally is a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel.

To see how the LandCruiser compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the Toyota LandCruiser drive?

Hearth up the LandCruiser and also you’ll discover the turbo-diesel V6 has a purposeful, beefy engine word. No, it’s not as beautiful to take heed to because the previous turbo-diesel V8, but it surely sounds a hell of rather a lot higher than a four-cylinder Prado.

Engine noise is well-suppressed total. At freeway speeds the engine simply fades away into the background, sitting at 1500rpm, and all you’ll be able to hear the faint whistle of the wind. It’s very straightforward to carry a dialog on this automotive at excessive speeds.

You peer down a protracted, upright bonnet with what seems to be the Panama Canal operating down the center of it.

Whereas it is a huge SUV, it doesn’t really feel too cumbersome to drive. The facility steering is properly weighted, making it straightforward to manoueuvre round carparks, however with out feeling as feather-light and unfastened because the Patrol’s system. It has a pleasant, linear really feel to it.

Don’t go pondering that is some German luxurious crossover. Push it right into a nook and also you’ll hear the tyres howl and really feel the physique lean, however I’d wish to see a BMW X7 go as far off the overwhelmed observe as this.

There’s often a shunt felt when creeping by way of visitors at low speeds or whereas slowing down. Nonetheless, the 10-speed automated in any other case shifts easily and imperceptibly; you by no means appear to note it searching round for gears, regardless of having so many to select from.

There’s easy thrust from the LandCruiser, with peak torque accessible accessible from as little as 1600rpm.

It’s known as a LandCruiser, and by gosh it cruises. That is about as comfy as a body-on-frame car can get.

Its building is betrayed by the slight actions you’ll be able to really feel within the chassis when, for instance, you go over successive bumps, or whenever you’re on a highway that isn’t completely clean; a unibody car will sometimes really feel tighter.

However, this boasts a particularly comfy trip, and it by no means crashes over bumps. It additionally manages to iron out garbage roads with out bobbing incessantly, with a commendable stage of physique management.

Nation roads and highways are lapped up by the LandCruiser, however there are a few issues stopping this from being the perfect highway journey car.

The brake-based lane help system nudges you again in your lane, however on winding nation roads it’s too assertive and may startle you.

Toyota’s lane centring system, known as Lane Hint Help, can be too twitchy and jerky. It’s a disgrace because the adaptive cruise management works nicely with the visitors signal recognition, making freeway driving even simpler, however then the lane ‘smarts’ show flawed.

That mentioned, the cruise management could also be straightforward to set, but it surely did battle to maintain the automotive to its set pace.

The Sahara is a cushty cruiser on bitumen, and it additionally proves sure-footed when tackling mild off-road trails.

Along with a full-time four-wheel drive system with selectable low-range gearing, there are selectable terrain modes, a locking centre differential, crawl management and hill descent management.

If you would like locking entrance and rear differentials, you’ll must step as much as the GR Sport, which additionally brings Toyota’s Digital-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. Alternatively, you’ll be able to go to the Sahara ZX, which as an alternative provides over the Sahara a rear torque-sensing limited-slip differential.

Whereas I didn’t press the Sahara into any harder off-road duties than easy trails, or use it to tow, we examined one in our Finest 4WD SUV competitors in 2023.

On our off-road course, we discovered the LandCruiser to have spectacular wheel articulation and an clever four-wheel drive system, whereas it towed confidently thanks partially to its well-calibrated automated transmission.

You may learn extra about the way it carried out right here.

Most of my driving was round city, and it felt like I had a shed stuffed with instruments however no DIY to do. That mentioned, the LandCruiser is completely livable within the city grind, so the aptitude it boasts off highway doesn’t make it any much less nice on highway.

What do you get?

There are six members of the LandCruiser 300 Collection lineup. The GX, Sahara ZX and GR Sport have a five-seat format, whereas the GXL, VX and Sahara have a seven-seat format.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection GX highlights:

• Snorkel
• 17-inch metal wheels
• LED headlights with guide levelling
• Computerized high-beam
• Crawl management
• Hill descent management
• Proximity entry with push-button begin
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
• 6-speaker sound system
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Material upholstery
• 60:40 cut up/fold second-row seats
• Vinyl flooring
• Rubber flooring mats
• One-touch energy home windows (all doorways)

GXL provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Projector bi-LED headlights with auto-levelling and washers
• LED entrance fog lights
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Rear privateness glass
• Aspect steps
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• LED entrance inside mild
• Carpeted flooring

VX provides:

• LED rear indicators
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Puddle lights
• Car Dynamics Built-in Administration
• Sunroof
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 7.0-inch instrument cluster display
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 10-speaker sound system
• 4-zone local weather management
• Leather-based-accented shifter
• Woodgrain and leatherette inlays
• Leatherette upholstery
• Energy-adjustable steering wheel
• ‘Premium centre cluster, inside door handles and door change trim’
• 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
• Energy driver’s seat lumbar adjustment
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• Second-row centre armrest
• 40:20:40 cut up/fold second-row seats
• Rear LED inside lights
• LED door courtesy lights
• Carpeted flooring mats
• Distant energy home windows

Sahara provides:

• Sequential flip alerts, entrance and rear
• Energy tailgate
• Head-up show
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather-based upholstery
• Heated and ventilated outboard second-row seats
• Driver’s seat reminiscence
• Energy-folding third row
• Cool field
• 14-speaker JBL sound system

All new LC300 autos include three years’ complimentary entry to Toyota Linked Providers, which incorporates stolen car monitoring, an SOS emergency name perform, and automated collision notification.

You can even entry info and management options remotely by way of the myToyota Join app.

Is the Toyota LandCruiser protected?

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection has a five-star score from unbiased security authority ANCAP, primarily based on testing performed in 2022. This doesn’t apply to the GR Sport.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Daytime bike owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keep help (brake-based)
• Velocity signal recognition
• Blind-spot monitoring (GXL and up)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (GXL and up)
• Lane Hint Help (lane centring; VX and up)
• Reversing digicam
• Multi-Terrain Monitor with surround-view digicam (VX and up)
• Entrance and rear parking sensors (GXL and up)
• Rear parking help brake (VX and up)
• Trailer sway management
• 10 airbags

How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser value to run?

Whereas Toyota has among the most cost-effective service pricing within the business, the LandCruiser 300 Collection – like a lot of Toyota’s four-wheel drive merchandise – has brief six-month, 10,000km servicing intervals.

To see how the LandCruiser compares with its rivals, use our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota LandCruiser

The Sahara mightn’t be the fanciest LandCruiser anymore, but it surely’s nonetheless essentially the most luxurious seven-seat LandCruiser and among the many most succesful seven-seat SUVs available on the market.

In the event you prioritise luxurious above all else, a equally priced Audi Q7 might be a extra fascinating possibility, and it may tow as a lot too. But it surely doesn’t strategy the LandCruiser’s stage of off-road functionality, nor can any of the German luxurious manufacturers match Toyota’s in depth seller community or its entrenched repute for dependability.

The LandCruiser Sahara nonetheless has a protracted listing of kit to maintain it in rivalry with luxury-brand rivals. And, the truth is, even should you had been to step as much as its posher, pricier Lexus LX cousin, you’d truly be lacking out on varied luxurious options like ventilated entrance seats as these are restricted to five-seat members of that lineup.

The 300 Collection inside may look a bit retro in components, however materials high quality is sort of good, and the third row is sort of hospitable.

Nonetheless, for $18,000 much less, the VX seems like stronger worth. Certain, you swap leather-based upholstery for leatherette and miss out on a head-up show and energy tailgate – admittedly options that needs to be customary in a $121k LandCruiser – however you continue to get loads of customary package and the identical terrific powertrain and four-wheel drive system.

Then there’s the Nissan Patrol. It’s older than the hills and gulps down extra gas, however even in its most luxurious Ti-L trim it’s round $37,000 cheaper. That saving can pay for loads of refuelling…

The LandCruiser Sahara is a terrific little bit of package, there’s little doubt about that. It’s comfy and simple to drive, succesful off-road, and has loads of grunt, whereas its inside is surprisingly luxurious. It’s not low-cost, although.

Thinking about shopping for a Toyota LandCruiser? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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