For well over 4 decades, Toyota’s Landcruiser has ruled the roads, tracks, rocks, and sand. The 200 series, and her frumpy 70 series sister, consistently outstripped the rivals and many were sad to see it’s V8 engine go. Fear not, read on.

The 300 series was launched into a brave new world, one in which Covid and the semiconductor shortage has seen wait times as grow big as the great outdoors that Landcruiser crosses so effortlessly. Sales of the Landcruiser are half last year at this time, so rocky was the road.

Toyota is not alone, with the problem being industry-wide.

We recently reviewed the base model GX and loved it. It had the same pluck as the old model with a new look and new technology. GXL adds a few tasty extras, most notably MTS and a 3rd row of seats.

MTS (Multi Terrain System) adds extra programmes to the drive mode selections, and although Landcruiser is perfectly capable without them, adding Deep Snow brings a certain verisimilitude. The programmes off-road are helped along by the permanent AWD system with high/ow ranges, a 10-speed automatic, and a locking diff.

The looks are familiar, with 2 big boxes, clad in some fairly plain metalwork, strewn with some pretty LED lights. In fact, a casual observer may even find it hard to tell the difference between the 200 and 300s series. The same goes for the interior, and in many ways, that is what Landcruiser is, tough, functional, capable, long-lived, in an old-fashioned kind of way.

It is reassuring and feels like home. Sure, I’d have liked something ultra-modern, but then it wouldn’t be a Landcruiser would it?

GXL is a step up from the bottom rung, so gets a couple of aluminium side-steps tough enough to slide over unfriendly rocks. It’s not without consequence, but cheaper to replace your side steps than a body sill, right?

Tyres are on 18” rims, and although lighting is LED, you have to go another model up to get fancier LED headlights.

The engine and transmission combination is common throughout the range, with a 3.3L V6 twin turbo diesel, and 10-speed automatic.

This Week Review: 2022 Toyota Landcruiser 300 GXL – Full Gaycarboys REVIEW

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ABOVE: 2022 Toyota Landcruiser 300 GXL and Landcruiser Range

The Cabin

Floors are carpeted, but best keep those rubber mats down, for obvious reasons. At a pinch, city slickers can leave them at home until the annual road trip comes round.

The 3rd row of seats folds cleverly into the floor rather than to the side like the 200 series. Top models get powered operation thankfully. Frankly, the seat sitch means fiddling with levers and handles is a pain in the ar$e. While we are in the 3rd row, keep them for kids, and we’ll say no more.

The second row has a couple of USB-C and a 12V outlet, and a rear cooler. OK, it isn’t quite a 3rd zone of climate control, but better than a smack on the gob. We’ve talked about the 3rd row being for kids, but they have cup holders just in case. Legroom back there is limited to say the least.

“5 adults” is a perfect mix between luggage and people, keeping in mind you have about 700kg of carrying ability, including the driver.

For just over a hundred grand, the cabin feels capacious but certainly not luxurious. Instead, there is a sturdiness about it that feels like the interior will outlast time itself. There is an air of retro about the chunky design that signals a willingness to be out bush without complaint.

The Drive:

Drive modes make the experience surprisingly perky. That’s probably more about the 700Nm than anything else, but the silky 10 speed automatic has a high top-gear for long legs on the open road, and low gears for a snappy getaway at lights.

GXL gets MTS, adding off-road modes like deep snow, and sand among others.

As for on-road manners, 2580kg is a chunk of metal to haul about the place. Body roll in corners can feel uncomfortable, so despite the claims, best you treat tight bends with respect.

You can tow 3500kg with sway control to keep things tidy, so the open road engenders a certain feeling of freedom. The only down side of the 2 lower Landcruiser models is that the Lane Departure is by braking, one of my pet hates. You ping-pong down the road like a demented fruit fly. It brakes the inner wheel to drag you back into your lane. The next model up also has hydraulic steering, but adds an electric actuator (motor to you and I) to receive input from the sensors and operate the steering independent of the driver. There must be a good reason Toyota didn’t opt for electric steering proper, but I can’t think of one.

You get regular parking assistance via the camera and sensors, and they help to get into tight spots with surprising alacrity.

The fuel tank situation falls a little short of the old model though. The 110 litre total uses an 80L and 30L tank in a combination that is a whole 28L less than the 200 Series. Toyota claims 8.9L/100k but our test car was thirstier than that by a long shot. Despite highway stints, we hovered around the 13L/100k mark.

Steering is on the heavy side, and the handling is a little rolly-polly, but LC300 is wafty and luxurious ride-wise. The limoesque experience is enhanced by superb sound deadening.

Our car was fitted with a towing pack, and some serious roof-rack accessories in the form of a platform to which things can be attached. It was responsible for some hefty wind noise and was no doubt at fault for the fuel figures.

Here’s what GXL adds to the GX specifications:

GX
Mechanical
• 227kW/700Nm 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel
• 10-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode
• Low-range transfer case
• Lockable centre differential
• Three-mode drive mode select
• 110-litre fuel tank (80L main, 30L sub-tank)
• Front double-wishbone independent and rear four-link rigid axle suspension with coil springs
• Ventilated front and rear disc brakes
• Hydraulic variable power steering
• 200Amp alternator

Exterior
• LED headlights with auto high-beam and auto-levelling, LED taillights, daytime running lights and front turn signals
• Power exterior mirrors with indicators
• 17-inch steel wheels, 245/75R17 Dunlop tyres
• Full-size steel spare wheel
• Rear spoiler
• One-piece rear hatch
• Front & rear mudguards
• Snorkel
• Eight colours with solid, metallic and mica metallic paint finishes1

Interior
• Fabric seats
• Halogen interior lights
• Vinyl floor
• All-weather rubber foor mats front & rear
• Manual tilt and telescopic steering adjustment
• 5-person seating capacity
• 60/40 split-fold second-row seats

Safety
• Toyota Safety Sense2:
o Pre-collision safety system with pedestrian (day & night) and cyclist (day) detection
o All-speed active cruise control
o Auto high beam
o Lane departure alert with brake to steer
o Road sign assist (certain speed signs only)
• ABS with brake assist, active traction control and trailer sway control
• Trailer wiring harness
• 10 airbags
• Reversing camera
• 2 x ISOFIX child restraint anchorage points
• SOS emergency call3
• Automatic collision notification4
• Stolen Vehicle Tracking5
• Front and second-row occupant detection
• Crawl control
• Downhill assist control (DAC) and hill start assist control (HAC)
• Alarm system

Comfort and convenience
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear ducts
• Smart entry & start
• Electric park brake
• Six cupholders
• One-touch power windows
• Overhead sunglasses storage

Infotainment / Multimedia
• 9.0-inch display audio infotainment system
• 6-speaker audio system
• AM/FM/DAB+6 radio
• Bluetooth7 compatibility
• 4.2-inch TFT colour display
• Apple CarPlay®8 / Android Auto™9 compatibility
• Voice recognition
• Steering wheel controls for audio, MID, phone, voice, ACC and LDA
• Front & rear 12V and rear 220V sockets
• 1 Front USB-A port (for USB audio connection) & 1 Front USB-C port

GXL – additional features over GX
Mechanical
• Multi-terrain select (MTS)

Exterior
• 18-inch alloy wheels with 265/65R18 Dunlop tyres
• Aluminium side steps
• Roof rails
• Painted rocker/lower door mouldings
• LED front foglights
• Rear privacy glass
• No snorkel

Interior
• 3rd row seating (+2 seats)
• LED interior lights
• Carpeted floor

Safety
• Blind spot monitor2
• Rear cross-traffic alert2
• 3rd row curtain airbags
• 3rd row occupant detection
• Front & rear parking sensors
• Back guide monitor

Comfort and convenience
• 1 Front USB-A port (for USB audio connection) & 5 USB-C ports (1x front row, 2 x 2nd row, 2 x 3rd row)
• Qi wireless phone charger10
• Automatic rear cooler with controls
• Auto-dimming/tilting, heated power exterior mirrors
• Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Halogen door courtesy lamps

Conclusion:

Landcruiser feels bullet-proof. There is a range of warranty and service options with Toyota Warranty Advantage giving at least 5 years.

The drive is comfortable, and despite the strikingly familiar looks, GXL is handsome, roomy, and can go anywhere the urge takes you.

Price and Specs:

  • GX: $89,990
    GXL: $101,790
    VX: $113,990
    Sahara: $131,190
    GR Sport: $137,790
    Sahara ZX: $138,790
  • Engine: 3.3L twin turbo diesel
  • Power: 227kw/700Nm
  • Trans: 10-speed automatic (torque converter-type) with drive modes
  • Drivetrain: Permanent AWD with Low Range
  • Econ: 8.9L/100k
  • Tank: 80L + 30L
  • CO2: 296g/km
  • Weight: (100kg lighters than old models) 2495kg to 2630kg

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