Wondering then the new Landcruiser will arrive? What specs will it have? How much it will cost. Get the latest truths and rumors as we hear about them.
Let’s look at some dates…
- 40 seres – > 1960 to 1984 – > 14 years
- 60 series -> 1980 to 1989 – > 9 years
- 80 series – 1990 to 1997 – > 7 years
- 100 series -> 1998 to 2007 – > 9 years
- 200 series ->2007 to 201? – > 10 years and counting
- 300 series -> ?
The 40 series being the odd one out, Toyota has given each model of the big bad flagship Landcruiser about a decade run.
If you’re a little Landcruiser crazy like me, you’ve probably been starting to think — the new one is about due!
Just to tease us all the 200 series recently had a facelift and a few little tweaks here and there. Maybe it’s the last update we’ll see to this model that raised many eyebrows for good reasons and bad.
If the new model arrives in the next year or two, what it certain is they’ll always come out with something no-one will expect. The thumping twin turbo v8 diesel, KDSS and a bunch of electronics standard, were some of the most memorable features of the 200 series. No poverty pack option and small fuel tanks in the Sahara and VX (both have been corrected) and the first 6 figure price tag might be the things Toyota don’t want you to remember.
But what about the 300 series?
About 1 in 5 (maybe a little less) of Toyotas sold in Australia are a Landcruiser. When you consider how many different Toyotas there are it’s not a bad result given the price tag. Hopefully that and global sales still means it’s a model our Totoya overlords still see a value and invest in.
To keep us all amused as this new model looms, let’s look at some of the rabbits they might pull out.
The engine
This could go two ways. Give fuel consumption the good old two finger salute (which they did with the 200 series) and come out with and even more insanely powerful engine, or they could find a way to make a hybrid setup work and still be able to tow anything. It would love to see them get a hybrid done, but given a lot of these beasts head to the middle east, where fuel isn’t such a thing, they might go with the two fingers. Regardless, the engine is always a talking point and a big part of the Landcruiser legend.
- 60 series: 12-ht turbo that loves to do a million km
- 80 series:1hz unbreakable non-turbo
- 100 series: 1HD-FTE – oh yeah
- 200 series: 1VD-FTV – V8 twin turbo – OMG
Off-road
The KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) came out on the 200 series. There seems to be a bit of a love hate with this as it’s a pain in to modify (comparably) but it does give you an extra off-road capability from the standard. It also was a concerted effort to maintain the 200 series off-road potential and reputation – that wasn’t some electronic gadget. And even better it was invented by us Aussies!!!!
While the KDSS is mechanical, I expect bigger advancements in offroad capability will come either with added smarts (electronically) – or by better design (clearance / entry and exit angles). It’s hard to image Toyota being able to go much further unless they go 4-wheel steering or some tank like traction system. Maybe a hovercraft model?
Interioir
What Totoya do well be screw together a pretty good car. They think about driver experience both functionally and aesthetically, and I’m sure this new model will raise the bar. Sit in a 40, then a 60, then an 80, then a 100, then a 200 and you’ll get a real sense for how much they step it up each time. Look to the new Hilux for some inspiration but I’m sure they’ll go up again.
Towing
For Toyota, you have to say the 79 series these days own offroad, but the 200 owns the second great pursuit of Aussies, towing the caravan around this vast island. On a trip to Fraser Island, the number of white 200 series towing caravans down the highway was pretty insane. But they’re not wrong.
I don’t care what the tow capacity of all these utes are, including the Hilux, there’s no match for the 200 series Landcruiser for towing. There are import pickups that can tow more, but there are nowhere near as comfortable or refined. Towing is exactly why we own one.
I’m hoping that they find a way to go up again to separate themselves from the Utes who might have the same tow rating but not the same real overall capabilities.
Gizmos
This tends to go like this…
- The new Sahara will get a bunch of new gizmos
- The VX will have what the Sahara had the model before
- The GLX and GX will get the most of the functional and safety gizmos but not the luxurious ones (i.e., leather)
I expect nothing different. KDSS might become all range thing, so might be all the driving mode selectors you see on the Sahara. You’ll see more personalisation in the top models and a stack of nice to haves so you can make your martinis 24/7. Of course, the Sahara won’t have everything as they’ll need to leave some room for the even more luxurious (and expensive) Lexus to deliver on.
Safety
You can only hope that there is a heap of new advancements with this through all the models, not just the expensive ones. Brake assist, alerts of driver drowsiness, and blind spot detection along with airbags and stability and traction control. We hope it gets the lot, but likely to come down to how affordable were all these when the model was being developed.
Size and space
You have wonder if the cruiser can afford to go and bigger. I don’t think it can and will likely do more with less space over expand. But I could be wrong. Toyota sells a heap of their bigger tundras in the US. So they still may think bigger is always better. Probably because none of them have tried to navigate the tight tracks of the snowy mountain ranges
Whatever happens, it will be an event!
Just like Mac v’s PC, and cannon v’s Nikon, there will be a heap of praise and criticisms pointed in the direction of the 300 series when it lands.
Time will be the ultimate storyteller of the 300 series Landcruiser. Just as it was the first time something with a Landcruiser badge rolled off the Toyota factory floor.
… and we’ll look forward to following it 🙂
A kind of update but not …
Asked Toyota’s PR department again, this is the response.
Rumors (from comments)
- Release date: October 2017
- No Diesel option
Don’t hold me to account on any of them 🙂
I’ve emailed the wonderful team at toyota to see if that want to let anything out. I’ll report back.
Hi Shayne seeing this will be my last landcruiser in my lifetime ,times running out need t know something by early 2017 or I’ll just have to buy the 200 series.My concern is the rumours that 300 series won’t be able to tow 3.5 tonnes if this so I’ll bite bullit and buy now. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated .
Hey Pat
I would expect them to go up not down!
I’ll keep on them for you and share anything I find. I’m not one of the big guys so the media departments don’t give me much love 🙁
We would know if it was coming early 2017 thought, so I’d say it would be either end of the year or 2018.
Cheers
Shayne
My advice is to buy a Jeep. Better towing, unreal fuel economy and a heap more comforts. Plus, it drives like a car, not a truck. The Grand Cherokee has stolen the march on Toyota and has had a serious impact on Land Cruiser sales, particularly among caravan owners
I’ve driven both and I’m not sure I agree. I am in all honesty biased towards cruisers but I have owned a Cherokee and spent some good time in Wranglers.
It is also worth reminding everyone that Jeeps are actually the reason Landcruisers exist 🙂
But will it tow 3.5 tonnes,very important .
True: However don’t forget to do the full math https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/why-a-3500kg-tow-rating-may-not-really-be-a-3500kg-tow-rating/
Terrible advice Mark, and you obviously don’t know the market too well. Landcruiser sales haven’t been impacted at all. Jeep resale is horrible, and so is their reputation and reliability. I know one thing, in 10 years my 200 series would have retained $10,000’s more in resale, simply because they last and don’t fall apart. Similar to Shayne, all my jeep experiences have been negative, every outback trip I have done a jeep was in our group and caused nothing but grief.
Hahaha. This is funny. Yes some people can’t afford the best so go with a compromise. Jeeps use far more fuel, don’t tow as well, terrible dealer support and worse reliability. Nice seats though. Toyota sales have increased not decreased. There is a waiting list to get one. Go visit any van park. I was in cairns a few weeks ago. 18 200 series, a few older patrols. 1 jeep and they were selling it to go back to a cruiser after endless troubles.
I tend to agree with you but would still like to know how long before they release the bloody 300 cruiser.
I haven’t seen any Jeeps towing any Van over 18′! ; Few small trailers only
Love my LR D4 – like RRS and LC100/200 = only the few tow vehicles I would consider for anything over 2000kg upwards
Hi. Try selling a jeep after three years and see what you lose not so landcruisers I know by experience. Bob
The other point of note is the change in the dimensions in the Landcruiser over the year. They appear to have become increasingly wider and shorter with each new release. I have 5 kids and i noted the boot space behind the fold down rear seat is progressively smaller and smaller in terms of depth. 200 series boot space behind 3rd row seats is useless!
I would love for Toyota to make their 300 series a bit longer, and bring back the boot! Either that or give me 3 seats in the front and 4 seats in the back with the wider profile.
Maybe we might see some gull winged doors too? What do you reckon?
Really good point. I struggle to fit anything in the back of the 200 series with those permanent seats.
… and gull wing. That would be epic!
Any News, my 200 is due for replacement and I either buy another 200 or wait?
Hey John. The rumor mill is starting to light up and I’m hearing a different story from everyone I talk to. I can only site the message from toyota in that they know when it’s due, but are not telling us. In terms of should, you buy a 200 or not, it’s a question I’m getting asked on a weekly basis. My advice is if you’re ready by one. Landcruisers run on long cycles so by the time you are ready to updade again, the 300 will be 2nd or 3rd gen and a well-proven machine..
I was speaking to fellow at the caravan show who was looking seriously at the Nissan Titan, but as it turned out he is a Toyota “tragic” and is probably going to wait for the 300 series Landcruiser. He was disappointed that this model will discontinue the diesel engine and only be available with a petrol engine.
What do you mean, the 300 series won’t have a diesel? That’s the first I’ve heard that. The Nissan not having one was a big change that I think ultimately doomed that model. I’m a self-confessed Toyota tragic, but I value competition.
Just passing on what I heard about the demise of the diesel motor in the 300 series. I also read that next Lexus LX470 will be petrol only. Maybe Toyota has not a diesel engine for these vehicles that will pass the emissions target. Only time will tell if it is rumor or fact.
I think you got it wrong saying the Nissan V8. is doomed. Yes they would have sold well if they had fitted the 5 litre Cummins like they did in the Titan in the US, but sadly Australia is not the country Nissan are targeting. The Middle East are the countries that both Nissan and Toyota target to sell the Patrol and Landcruiser and the petrol engine is the big, big seller.
One thing the Patrol does have is a 3500kg GVM (794kg load capacity compared to 630kg for the Landcruisers).
Hey Wazza, cool on the diesel. Would blow my mind if they do stop it, but not doing it on the retro cruiser says they could! And your spot on with the Nissan points. Demise in AU is not a demise full stop, but it’s a real shame for us Aussies they couldn’t put that Cummings in.
I am waiting for the 300. My brother ended up with a new Patrol months ago, It averages 14.5l/100 for the 5.7L Petrol V8 with a tad under 300KW. Goes like a rocket and the model he bought compared with the Toyota LC VX trim if not better and all for $64 000. Thats around 40K in your pocket for a boat and a bit of ARB gear. I love Toyotas but I hate paying the Toyota tax, year they are good but not 40k better then a Nissan. Ten you have all this BS with the 300 series, just stop playing games Toyota and F-ing tell us so we can plan our lives. All hype and crap to extort the maximum amount of dollars they can out of people. I dont like being treated like that.
Mate couldn’t have said it any better.
I have heard from the rumour mill that October 2017 is when the new LC300 is planned for. Whether it’s just model announcement or release date I don’t know. TMCA won’t say anything about the new model and any info sent to dealers is confidential and usually only a few months out from when it is officially announced anyway, as it will hurt sales on the LC200.
Man, that would be crazy if it was that soon. I get that it will hurt short term sales, but surely a new model will bring in a flurry of additional sales.
If is that soon and we’re not being told, I’d be pretty pissed.
I think it is going to be the 3rd facelift of the Land Cruiser Prado (150). The Land Cruiser 200 successor will take a while. I hope Toyota will have a new V6 Diesel, and the Land Cruiser will remain capable and reliable. Unfortunately there is no Land Cruiser alternative.
October 2017 has been, and gone.
Indeed it has Tony. We did hear from one of the product owners of the 200 series who said ‘I’m not done yet’. But I’m still hearing a lot of theories on they are waiting for the market to be less diesel focused more hybrid, can’t get the EPA regulations to work, have no real motive/competition to release the new one yet.
Until then… we wait.
I was listening to Toby Hagon on ABC overnights a few weeks ago where he thought the 300 is still about 3.5 years away! He based his thoughts on the time between the mid series update and the new series.
I have a new vx arriving in mid Oct, so 3.5 years will suit me fine!
VX nice choice Paul!
Any news yet ? were holding out on a new LC, we have a 100s she’s done over four hundred thousand Ks and still going strong but she needs a well earned rest. We were told by dealer early 2018 but who really knows
Hi Shane, any new developments on the 300 front?
I hope so as I get my Sahara next month. I will be pissed off if they announce a new one in a month