2008 Toyota LandCruiser GLX Turbo Diesel review
November 15, 2008 by Paul Maric
2008 Toyota LandCruiser GLX Turbo Diesel Road Test
This hybrid-esque, fuel efficient monster ticks all the boxes.
Model Tested:
- 2008 Toyota LandCruiser GXL Turbo Diesel 6-speed automatic – $81,328
Options:
- None fitted.
Amazing fuel economy; interior room; towing ability; off-road capability
Lack of features; price; interior/exterior design
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Paul Maric
At a time when fossil fuel reserves are dwindling and traffic congestion is increasing, it’s anyone’s guess why four-wheel-drives are still popular amongst the masses.
One of the most popular serious 4WDs is the Toyota LandCruiser. With a steady history in Australia, the LandCruiser is renowned for its durability, versatility and ease of operation.
So I saddled up in the GXL, turbo-diesel variant to see if there was any logic to the purchase of such a massive 4WD.
Throw in a bit of mud-flinging out in the bush, a little bit of city driving and a stint of mountain driving and you have yourself a fully fledged road test.
Toyota has thumbed its nose at the public in something of show of corporate arrogance and prices have increased sizeably from the previous generation LandCruiser, while features have decreased.
It’s Toyota’s belief that people who want to buy the LandCruiser will do so, regardless of its price.
That’s why it astounded me somewhat to see very little in the way of features in the GXL model. Despite the face that it’s a base model, it really did lack common features you would find in other $80,000+ 4WDs.
However, I bit my tongue and went on, in the hope of seeing what the LandCruiser was really about.
Climbing into the ‘Cruiser is a bit of fun, with the big step up from terra firma being eased by grab handles. Once onboard, a rather pretentious starter button is used to fire up the behemoth.
Under the bonnet lies 4.5-litres of twin-turbocharged V8 diesel engine. Producing a staggering 650Nm of torque and 195kW of power, you would expect the LandCruiser to chew through fuel. Not quite.
In fact, I was astounded at how little fuel it actually used. Although there was no trip computer in the base model, I calculated the fuel use to be just under 10.0 litres per 100km – amazing.
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Australia is truly the lucky country. Where else can struggling farmers spend close on 100k for a runabout and still receive Family Tax benefit A & B plus numerous other tax payer funded benefits
Every time someone compares a Toyota with a General Motors Holden vehicle it turns out into a bloodbath (sigh)
Why are we comparing a $100k 4WD with a $150k sedan anyway?
General motors Holden might not even survive another couple of years. Look at the amount of cash their parent company is burning up. Same goes for Ford. If General Motors and Ford pack up local manufacturing then Toyota will follow suit.
Wheelnut Says:
“Whereas I doubt that the Landcruiser could or would ever be considered as a Classic let alone a Collectable Car because the Landcruiser [like most Toyotas] doesn’t arouse the passion and emotion in Car Enthusiasts like the HSVs FPVs Monaros and GTs etc do”
Wheelnut, do you abuse drugs before you start typing up stuff up?
A Landcruiser is a World Class Classic!! Monaro is a local bogan legend….Are you even aware how many different clubs there is around Australia, let lone the world, dedicated purely to HJ 40s?? And let me not even get started on the other models…. you call your self a car enthusiast?? More like a gullible GM Holden fan boy….
Typo HJ40=FJ40…
Lol, no 200 series landcruiser will eve be a classic, there a mass produced 4wd that is brilliant at what it does, but in todays expendable society, you will never see one become a collectors item.
Oh and for those complaining about it not going into 6th gear for the T/D, it wont go in until 120kph. Toyotas reasoning is that the car is marketed in other countrys not just Australia where cruising speeds are aproaching 200kph. Its an overdrive, if it changed at 100kph into 6th Toyota believed it wasnt nescesary as fuel economy is negligable at that speed and it puts un nescesarry wear and tear on torque converters and gear box due to holding the revs too low in the rev range.
On the oil consumption note, Not one of my cusomers has had a motor pulled out as a result, and by 15000 km’s consumption had settled down and wasnt burning any more oil.
I agree the 200 series will never become a classic. Too lardy, too fat, too chromey and too ugly to be compared to a Range Rover in the classic stakes.
It’s highly unlikely that it will ever be exhibited at the Louvre as an example of modern and sculptural art, an honour bestowed upon the Range Rover in 1970. Nothing beats that for kudos.
my 200seies lc has just clicked over 15000 kms
it used 1.5 litres of oil in the first 7000 kms and the it used nearly 2 litres inthe last 7000 kms Toyota are looking into it.
mmmmmm thats the second engine problem with Landcruisers on this site in two days…………
Yesterday one cracking a head now one using oil.
Toyota looking into it Redgum,what are they looking into ?
Tomas said “Wheelnut, do you abuse drugs before you start typing up stuff up?
A Landcruiser is a World Class Classic!! Monaro is a local bogan legend….Are you even aware how many different clubs there is around Australia, let lone the world, dedicated purely to HJ 40s?? And let me not even get started on the other models…. you call your self a car enthusiast?? More like a gullible GM Holden fan boy….
Some one pass the mute button for this clown! He speaks out his cracked Prado head!
Quote [Tomas79]: Wheelnut, do you abuse drugs before you start typing up stuff up?
A Landcruiser is a World Class Classic!! Monaro is a local bogan legend….
I think you’d be lucky to find anyone that would pay between $300,000-$1m for a 30 year old Landcruiser that is of course if you can find a 30 year old Landcruiser.
And yes I realise that GT-HOs and Monaros are Oz only car however the Auctions at which they are sold at are open to intenrational buyers just like Art Auctions etc so its a valid arguement.
Speaking of dust entry on the Lexus tested by ‘Top Gear”My 80 series lives on dirt roads and other than dust entry through an open window or the fresh air vent when not on recirculate I do not have any door sealing front/rear or tailgate on a vehicle with 300k and 11 years of use, engine still uses no oil to speak of between changes and the auto is functioning well, maybe not the smoothest changing box but reliable. (gas no fuel dilution)
I agree with Richo, the quality of design and build when the 80 series was released takes some beating, (Turbo diesel bearings aside!)The 200 series is looking and acting like a “soft-roader” more electronics, no fuel range for serious distance. Appearance is akin to a fat overfed, overindulged child with an identity crisis is seriously overpriced. Like the diesel engine though! I’ll be looking at a 70 series in future.
I just drove a 200 series V8 and I was very dissapointed. Sure it has tons of grunt but the suspension was so soft, obviously designed for the US market. The 6 spped gearbox refused to shift into 6th gear under 106 ks despite the fact that the engine has gobs of torque and would eaisily pull top gear at a lower speed. The owner says that its handling off road leaves a lot to be desired and his wife refuses to drive it off road. For now I will be keeping my beautiful Kakadu TD until Toyota sort out these issues.
NEW CRUISER IS USING LOTS OF OIL. That’s what i hear from users of the diesel variety. No response known to me from Toyota re. fixing this alleged problem.
still trying to be convinced Cruiser is still an outstanding off roader deserving of the price with not much more ground clearance over Prado and even new Prado fails in soft sand. only real benefit of cruiser over prado is towing superiority. Hope Patrol comes soon to put some competition and sensibility back into the mix.
Dont buy a Landcruiser. The Land ROver discovery is a better car.
WELL IVE HAD MY SAHARA twin turbo die for 12 MONTHS NOW AND I,M NOT REALLY THAT HAPPY . $115,000
I WAS EXPECTING 25 TO 30 MPG .AS I WAS TOLD I SHOULD GET . AS THE ABOVE STATS SAYS AND MENTIONED. WELL THE BEST IVE EVER GOT WAS 14L/100KM. 20MPG. WHICH I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY PETROL 100 SERIES. GOOD FOR TOWING 2.5 TONNE THOUGH. If i had my time again i wouldnt have bought it. i would have kept my old one .
My parents got a VX cruiser when they first came out and all we have had is problems with it, these include things like smart keys having to be replaced and the new keys still not working proply, the radio has been replaced and now works alot better with the bluetooth, there is ratels in the roof liner already, the third row seat got big rub marks on them and part of the was replaced but by far the biggest problem has been the big V8 twin turbo diesel motor that was raved about so much at the start but all it has been is problems for example we have had the injectors replace once and they are looking like been replaced again and the econemy is shocking 10.3 ltrs/100kms is bull and i dont no how u got 10 ltrs/100km because that is impossible because the best we have ever got is 12.3 and that was all freeway driving and we also do camping trips and we have a camper trailer and when we we towing that up to coffs harbour we did at best 18 ltrs/100km and we did at one stage 23 ltrs/100km which is worse than the petrol would do im guessing and even our old cruiser did better than that and it 8 yrs old so 10 ltrs/100 was to good to be true
Well I am glad I didn’t trade up my 06 Sahara TD 80k on the clock and runs like a beauty with the electro/ hydraulic suspension system ride height and all the other great features ( many not available in the 200 Sahara ). I though the Sahara 200 series represented poor value for money compared to my 100 series, the fuel consumption issue has been commented on by many I know who own a 200 and they are very dissapointed in this respect.
Think I will just wait another couple of years and see what happens or seriously look at a BMW X5 TD as an alternative simular money and they run anything from 6-8 Lt per 100kms and go like a cut cat. Service intervals are beyond belief and very resonable cost a real surprise.
Time will tell if this engine issue is a limited problem or a time bomb, had the same problems with both my 80 series TD cruisers both times. Toyota didn’t really want to know its a pity but an attitude not limited to Toyota as a company.