When you think of Toyota, what do you think of? Do you think of the mind-numbing drudgery of an ancient creaking Corolla, whose rust is held together with lashings of lovingly applied house paint? Or, do you think of being in a far-off land, cradled gently in the ample bosom of a LandCruiser Sahara?
I certainly think of the latter.
Outisde:
Landcruiser is all business.
She is a hefty lassie ay 2740kg. 18” wheels are plenty for off-roading fun, and as comfortable around town. The top section of the tailgate is power operated, as is the large sunroof.
Bi-LED headlights are dusk-sensing, and have automatic high beam.
All doors have smart entry allowing you to lock and unlock while leaving the key in your pocket.
Landcruiser will be replaced within 12 months, but the mucho exterior has aged well.
Inside:
The cabin is a cool, calm oasis. Just the ticket for crossing continents.
Woodgrain and leather cover surfaces not cloaked in soft plastic. Windows have an automatic function which includes anti-pinch to avoid catching fingers. Rear windows have tinting to a touch of mystery for those in the poor pews.
The sound system has deep rich tones, and a screen that includes a 360° view camera with switchable modes. It is good for parking, and brilliant at avoiding stumps and rocks off-road. Sadly, Landcruiser is sans CarPlay.
Front seats have heating and cooling, with powered adjustment. The driver has memory which includes auto-dipping for reverse.
The useless 3rd row can be removed, but takes a bit of doing. There are a feast of videos on Youtube, so get on it.
Gadgets:
You can wade through creeks, and tow up to 3,500kg to a total vehicle mass of 6850kg.
Toyota’s “Crawl” and “Steering Assist” are among the most useful tools when touring off the beaten track. Added to the High/low gear ranges, and no mountain is safe. See our video for details.
The cameras can be left in automatic, giving the driver handy views while parking, and when entering intersections.
Kinetic Suspension uses hydraulic accumulators to iron out the worst tracks, and is effective at keeping the big SUV comfortable at highway speeds. This is also explained in our video.
On the Road:
Sahara is a comfortable tourer. The 4.5L V8 turbo diesel has a power mode which works with the 6-speed automatic to keep performance at an acceptable level, without sacrificing fuel economy. We achieved around 10L/100k on out 250km trip.
Landcruiser is a big beast, but the cameras make parking as easy as it possibly can be. With practice, anyone can do it.
There is lane departure, but no steering assistance. The same goes for the blind spot monitoring.
On the highway, you waft along in near silence. Off-road, the bumps are cushioned against the worst of Australian bush.
Conclusion:
Landcruiser has aged well, but the new model will plug the technology gaps left by the march of time on the current car, which is over 12 years old.
At $132,310 (includes on-road fees in NSW), you might think this is a lot of money, and it is. But I defy you to find a more capable, more comfortable 4WD SUV.
FULL SPECIFICATIONS HERE at Toyota Australia
2020 Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series Sahara
- Price: $123,590 MLP* ($132,310 on road NSW)
- Engine: 4.5L turbo Diesel
- Power: 200kw/650Nm
- Economy: 9.5L/100k
- CO2: 250g/k, Euro 5
- Tank: 138L (93L + 45L)
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Weight: 2740kg
*MLP – Manufacturers List Price includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of any options.