Toyota’s longest-running nameplate enters the 2022 model year with a redesign from the ladder-frame chassis up. The 300 series doesn’t feature a V8 engine, but on the upside, customers will be happy to hear that a twin-turbo V6 mill replaces it with more horsepower and torque.
From 3.4 liters of displacement, the Japanese automaker quotes 415 PS and 650 Nm (409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet). A brand-new V6 twin-turbo diesel is also offered, and it’s even torquier at 700 Nm (516 pound-feet).
Both six-cylinder options are joined by a 10-speed automatic transmission, complemented by three differential locks and four-wheel drive. The Land Cruiser offers an approach angle of 32 degrees, a departure angle of up to 26.5 degrees, and 230 millimeters (9.0 inches) of ground clearance.
Toyota says the LC300 can shoot to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in 6.7 seconds for the gasoline-fueled engine, which is very good if you remember how large and heavy this fellow is. The Lexus LS 500 hits that speed in less than five seconds, but we shouldn’t forget that the full-size luxobarge is a slightly lighter vehicle with a unibody construction to boot.
Based on the TNGA-F platform that will be also utilized in the Tundra pickup truck, the all-new Land Cruiser features an evolution of the E-KDSS electronically controlled kinetic dynamic suspension stabilization system we know and love from the LC200. The adaptive variable suspension, Multi-Terrain Select with Deep Snow mode, Multi-Terrain Monitor, and Crawl Control are highlights in their own right. The model also gets the latest suite of Safety Sense technologies that include adaptive high beams, auto braking, and lane keep assist.
Offered with three-row seating for seven adults, the 300 series is 200 kilograms (441 pounds) lighter and 10-percent friendlier to the environment in terms of CO2 emissions. Far sharper on the outside and more luxurious inside, the Land Cruiser comes with 9.0- or 12.3-inch touchscreens for the infotainment system as well as a head-up display, a fingerprint authentication system, air ionizer, power tailgate, and a 360-degree array of cameras.
According to Toyota, the LC300 will go on sale this summer, and some markets will benefit from a third engine-transmission combo in the guise of a free-breathing V6 and a six-speed unit. As for the United States, word has it that only the Lexus LX will soldier on because the outgoing Land Cruiser and LX are too close to each other in terms of MSRP ($85,565 vs. $86,830).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News