2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 review: Full range detailed

Since it arrived in 2021, the LandCruiser 300 has been a highly regarded and sought-after vehicle.

This full-size four-wheel drive delivers exceptional performance in various areas: impressive off-road capabilities, confident towing capacity, ample space for the entire family, and enjoyable on-road handling.

With a wide range of models available, it caters to a diverse group of buyers looking for large family hauling ability, towing capacity and four-wheel drive capability.

Models range from the basic GX with its practical vinyl flooring and cloth seats to the stylish GR Sport, designed for enhanced off-road prowess.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• What body styles are available for the LandCruiser 300?
• What key features do I get if I spend more?
• How safe is the LandCruiser 300?
• How comfortable and practical is the LandCruiser 300?
• How much boot space does the LandCruiser 300 offer?
• I like driving, will I enjoy this car?
• Which LandCruiser 300 engine uses the least fuel?
• What is the LandCruiser 300’s towing capacity?
• How long is the warranty and what are the LandCruiser 300’s servicing costs?
• Which version of the LandCruiser 300 does Wheels recommend?
• What are the LandCruiser 300's key rivals?

Pricing

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What body styles are available for the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series?

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 is available only as a five-door 4WD wagon with one powertrain shared across all models, the 3.3-litre turbo-diesel V6 with 10-speed automatic transmission and dual-range full-time four-wheel-drive system.

Of the six LC300 variants, three are five-seaters and three are seven-seaters.

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What features are standard in every Toyota LandCruiser 300 series?

The features listed below are standard in the entry-level model and will appear in higher-grade models, unless replaced by more premium equivalent features.

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What key features do I get if I spend more?

The LandCruiser GX is the least-expensive model and is the only one to come standard with signature ‘working’ 4WD wagon equipment such as vinyl flooring, cloth seats, steel wheels and a snorkel.

It really lacks the technology and luxury of upper-spec models. The dash layout is similar across the LC300 range, but you do notice more hard plastics and fewer features in the stripped-back GX model.

But due to the GX’s lower kerb weight, payload capacity is the highest in the LC300 range, with 785kg to play with.

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The GX shares its twin-turbo V6 engine, 10-speed auto and full-time 4WD mechanicals with the rest of the LandCruiser 300 range.

More popular with private buyers is the next model grade, the GXL which is nearly $12,000 more expensive.

At least you get carpet (but lose the snorkel) as well as seven seats across three rows (with side curtain airbags that extend to the third row), blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

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The LandCruiser GXL also brings:

Paying more again for a LandCruiser VX gets you those features plus:

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The LandCruiser Sahara is next up on the model walk and brings more equipment including:

The LandCruiser GR Sport is next up in price and is the off-road performance model. Key differences over a Sahara include:

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The luxury-focused LandCruiser Sahara ZX matches the GR Sport on price and adds these features over a Sahara:

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How safe is the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series?

Every LandCruiser 300 offers what Toyota calls Toyota Safety Sense.

This includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control (all speed), speed sign recognition, automatic high beam and lane departure alert with brake-to-steer. It also has a reversing camera and, as part of its stability control suite, trailer sway control.

From GXL and up, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors are also standard.

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The LandCruiser 300 in VX trim and up also includes lane trace assist with steering wheel vibration.

Meanwhile, the LandCruiser GR Sport and Sahara ZX add adaptive high beam to their safety suites.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) rated the Toyota LandCruiser 300 at five stars for safety, its maximum, in January 2022.

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How comfortable and practical is the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series?

Inside the LandCruiser GX you are greeted with vinyl flooring and five cloth seats (no seven-seat option in the GX), both inclusions I’m a fan of in a four-wheel drive.

The dash layout is similar across the LC300 range, but you do notice more hard plastics and fewer features in the stripped-back GX model.

There is a distinct lack of USB points in the GX, which is a minor gripe but an important one, with only one USB-A and one USB-C in the front. There are no USB points in the rear, but there is a 12V plug – I would recommend buying a simple adaptor to convert that to USB.

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There are six cup holders, 10 airbags, dual-zone automatic climate control and an electric park brake.

A basic and small infotainment unit is provided – as you’d expect in a base model – but the GX has a few tricks up its sleeve such as six speakers (which sound pretty good), Bluetooth compatibility, voice recognition, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

However, at the back of the GX you’ll notice a one-piece lift-up rear tailgate, which isn’t a great idea.

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By design, it sits very low when opened.

I complained about this with the new Isuzu MU-X, but the 300 Series is worse – you will hit your head on it if you aren’t careful. I definitely miss the split tailgate found on previous LandCruisers, a practical place to make a sandwich or to sit on and watch the world go by.

The seats are basic but comfortable enough for long stints behind the wheel, and there’s plenty of headroom for taller drivers.

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How much boot space does the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series offer?

The big ‘Cruiser is very good at carrying a mountain of luggage, thanks to 1131 litres of cargo space in the five-seat models, which is 126L more than the seven-seaters offer with their third rows folded.

Although now a one-piece tailgate, it does reveal a large opening, which makes it easy to load bulky items. There are four tie-down points here and a 220V, 100A power outlet, but no 12V socket.

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I like driving – will I enjoy this car?

Not as a sporting proposition, no. But as a long-distance tourer capable of devouring the harsh Aussie environment, this vehicle is one of the best you can buy.

The LC300 rides on Toyota’s new TNGA chassis which it shares with the Tundra pickup truck in the USA that was launched around the same time as this new 'Cruiser. It’s still a body-on-frame design but now employs more high-strength steel in key areas to improve stiffness, while using aluminium in some suspension components to reduce weight.

Suspension is a double wishbone, coil sprung independent setup at the front and live rear axle at the back, located by multi-links and riding on coils.

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The GX’s coil-sprung suspension performs brilliantly, with a firm yet progressive feel. Steering is also nicely weighted and direct for such a large wagon – full points there.

Meanwhile, the GR Sport and Sahara ZX get adaptive dampers that enable you to select Comfort, Sport or Sport+ settings to suit your driving preference and style.

The GR Sport’s E-KDSS system works on the front and rear sway bars to lighten the tension on them when driving at low speeds off road, and tighten them up for firmer body control at higher speeds on road.

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It is a further development of the old KDSS to now automatically disconnect the sway bars when required off-road to give the most axle articulation.

All that kit delivers a ride and handling characteristic that is still instantly recognisable as LandCruiser. It’s soft and supple, soaking up road bumps, and pitches and wallows when pushed hard. Even in Sport and Sport+ mode, the handling is still soft. Then again, the LandCruiser has no sports car pretensions.

It’s a vehicle that’s designed to soak up anything the road can dish up to it while covering hundreds of kilometres per day. And it does that very well.

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Which Toyota LandCruiser 300 series engine uses the least fuel?

The 3.3-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine fitted to all LC300s uses a claimed 8.9 litres/100km on the official test (city and country combined).

Fuel capacity is down compared to the 200 Series LandCruiser, with 110 litres split between 80L main and 30L sub tanks. Toyota says this is due to the more efficient V6 used in the LC300, and it’s also a quick and easy way to shave overall weight off the vehicle.

By our calculations, you’d be getting just shy of 1000km before both tanks are bone dry, which is respectable.

Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive traction, the V6 is a stout performer. It pulls well through the rev range and feels particularly peppy in the mid-range. Low-down torque is tractor-like when crawling off-road, and it even sounds good when being pushed.

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What is the Toyota LandCruiser 300's towing capacity?

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 series has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, with a tow ball download rating of 350kg.

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How long is the warranty and what are the Toyota LandCruiser 300's servicing costs?

The Toyota LandCruiser has a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, but it can be extended by a further two years for the powertrain.

Called the Toyota Warranty Advantage Extended Engine and Driveline coverage, this warranty is for seven years from delivery, provided the vehicle is properly serviced and maintained.

The LandCruiser 300 series requires servicing every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. Toyota’s capped-price servicing offer is $400 per interval, meaning you’ll pay $4000 for scheduled servicing over five years.

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Which version of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series does Wheels recommend?

This is hard to answer as the LandCruiser 300 has become a lot more expensive than its long-time competitor, the (now ageing) Nissan Patrol.

Like the Land Rover Discovery, the LandCruiser has gone upmarket, with no change from $100,000 once on-road costs are added for even the most-affordable GX model.

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While the simplicity of the GX has a certain appeal as a supremely capable work vehicle or off-roader – if the company is paying – it is hard to see where the money has gone if you’re a private buyer.

So if you’re going to dip into the piggy bank for more than six figures, you may as well go for the GXL, at $106,101 (plus on-road costs). For a family wagon that doubles as the holiday outback tourer (and/or heavy-duty tow vehicle), this seven-seat model has real appeal.

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What are the Toyota LandCruiser 300's key rivals?

• Land Rover Defender
• Nissan Patrol

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