- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.3DTT, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
227kW, 700Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series tow test
We hitch up 2.5 tonnes' worth of Jayco caravan to the back, to see how the new LandCruiser 300 – and its 3.3-litre turbo diesel V6 – fares as a tow rig.
- Torquey, effortless powertrain when towing
- Adaptive dampers and driving modes help as a tow vehicle
- Good quality camera system for hitching up
- GR Sport feels quite expensive
- Payload is still limited when towing near the maximum
- Suspension starts to feel soft and wallowy when towing
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport
It's such a popular choice for Australian off-roaders, caravanners and families. And even if you don't have one in your driveway, chances are you've got some kind of aspiration to own one. Of course, I'm talking about the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
Is it a good option as a tow rig? Is there a better choice for you out there? We hitched up a 19ft Jayco All Terrain caravan onto the back and hit the road in search of some answers.
How much does the Toyota LandCruiser cost in Australia?
Priced from $142,101 before on-road costs, the 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 GR Sport is never at risk of being called cheap. Alongside the more urban-focussed Sahara ZX, it's the top-spec offering with plenty of bells and whistles.
Those who are solely interested in the 227kW/700Nm diesel V6 and 3.5-tonne towing capacity will likely zero in on something more like a GX or GXL for value, but this high-spec model does pack a fair amount of additional gear in return for the big asking price.
This includes heating and ventilation for front and rear (outboard) seats, four-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, power adjustment for the steering column, a 360-degree camera, 14-speaker JBL-branded sound system, head-up display and a 12.3-inch infotainment display.
The wheels are a pragmatic 18-inch alloy in size, but GR Sport gets locking front and rear differentials, as well as adaptive damping, E-KDSS controllable swaybars, a leather-accented interior with GR Sport badging, and some black exterior highlights.
Key details | 2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport |
Price | $142,101 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Merlot |
Options | Mica/metallic paint – $675 |
Price as tested | $142,776 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $152,785 (NSW) |
Rivals | Ram 1500 | Land Rover Defender | Nissan Patrol |
How much space does the Toyota LandCruiser have inside?
The interior of the LandCruiser 300 Series is a solid, classic LandCruiser experience. And as you would expect in this kind of price bracket, there are plenty of bells and whistles in this GR Sport specification.
Front driver and passenger get eight-way electric seat adjustment in this specification, plus lumbar support and memory for the driver. There's heating and ventilation for front and rear (outboard) seats, but no third row – the GR Sport is available as a five-seater only.
On one hand, a five-seat format makes sense for a travelling family. No third row – which isn't really needed for a brood of five. It saves weight and increases the amount of storage space on offer. A seven-seat LandCruiser 300 Series has 1004L of space available in five-seat mode, while our tester here has 1131L of space on offer.
Base GX and top-spec Sahara ZX both have this same five-seat configuration, while the options in the middle (GXL, VX and Sahara) all get a third row as standard equipment.
Materials inside include leather-accented seat trimming and some premium finishes to elements like the gearshifter and steering wheel (in comparison to lower-cost LandCruisers). And of course, don't forget the GR Sport treatment of logos on the tiller, headrests and engine start/stop button.
Up front, the amount of comfort and features is good, but it perhaps doesn't feel as spacious or airy as the previous-generation model. I'd put this down to the chunkiness of the dashboard and centre console, with no shortage of heft in the look and feel.
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The second row of the LandCruiser 300 Series isn't as spacious as you might think. It's certainly not tight, but also doesn't feel capacious at any stage. GR Sport doesn't get the rear-seat entertainment that Sahara and Sahara ZX models enjoy, so you might need to pack some kind of tablet for the kids to while away the hours.
At least there are USB and 12-volt power outlets in the back, along with air-conditioning controls, air vents, and the particular luxury of heating and ventilation for the outboard spots.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 1131L seats up 2052L seats folded |
Length | 4995mm |
Width | 1990mm |
Height | 1950mm |
Wheelbase | 2850mm |
Does the Toyota LandCruiser have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Infotainment comes from a 12.3-inch display with an operating system that already feels a little bit old. It's not as engrossing or intuitive as other systems out there, including some newer Toyota vehicles. We'd say the Land Rover Defender's infotainment system is leagues better than what you find in the LandCruiser, while the Nissan Patrol sits at a similar distance in the other direction.
The system includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and native navigation.
The large multifunction display in front of the driver helps with a good level of accessible information, and the head-up display also rounds out a good offering overall.
The LandCruiser range is also compatible with Toyota Connected services, with complimentary access for the first three years to functions like remote vehicle status check, vehicle location, trip history and more, via a paired smartphone.
Is the Toyota LandCruiser a safe car?
While the rest of the LandCruiser 300 range gets a five-star ANCAP safety rating, this GR Sport model goes without any rating at all. Officially speaking, it's unrated.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport | |
ANCAP rating | Unrated |
What safety technology does the Toyota LandCruiser have?
While the GR Sport LandCruiser 300 doesn't bask in a five-star sun of ANCAP approval, it still has plenty of safety equipment to boast about.
Firstly, autonomous emergency braking (which includes pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection as well as intersection detection) is accounted for, along with lane-departure warning, lane-keep assistance, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.
There is lane-departure warning and lane-keep assistance, which use a braking function instead of steering assistance to work. Dabbing on the brakes can 'turn' the car in the lane, but it can wash off speed and feels quite disconcerting when you're not expecting it. And when lane markings are faint, complicated or non-existent, it can produce some false positives.
Other features include a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive high-beam headlights and automatic wipers.
There are 10 airbags fitted, which includes front passenger and driver's knee airbags, curtain airbag coverage for all three rows plus side chest protecting bags for front and rear seats, and dual front airbags. A front centre airbag to prevent head clash is not included.
How much does the Toyota LandCruiser cost to maintain?
Maintenance costs $400 per visit to the dealership for the first five years, but you'll need to book in twice a year to satisfy the six-month and 10,000km servicing requirements.
This also means it costs $800 per year, which some (who put their vehicle to proper hard work) might not mind so much. For others, it will likely be a financial and time burden.
Our standardised insurance quote comes to a hefty $4355.97 per year for the 300 Series LandCruiser GR Sport, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance | 2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 6 months or 10,000km |
Servicing costs | $2400 (3 years) $4000 (5 years) |
Is the Toyota LandCruiser fuel-efficient when towing?
While we saw numbers of around 10–11 litres per hundred kilometres unladen, and down to 9.5L/100km while cruising along the highway, towing saw that number move upwards.
After towing our 2.5-tonne caravan through the suburbs, along the highway, and then up and down some hills, we saw an average of 18.0L/100km. This seems to check out, really. We've doubled the amount of weight being pushed here, and have almost doubled the fuel consumption compared to an unladen run.
Toyota lists an official fuel consumption figure of 8.9L/100km – but this is an 'ideal condition' outlook, with no figures quoted for towing – given how many variations may apply. With a 110-litre tank, and using the figures we recoded, expect a touring range of just over 600km – which is still a decent cruising range of a single full-up.
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Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.9L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test, towing) | 18.0L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 110L |
What is the Toyota LandCruiser like to tow?
Firstly, let's talk some numbers.
If your vehicle is fully laden, the towing capacity of the 300 Series LandCruiser drops slightly to 3470kg. However, don't forget that the trailer's towball mass needs to be included in the vehicle's payload.
And herein lies a problem for the LandCruiser as a tow rig. While the available payload has been increased (in comparison to the previous-generation 200 Series), one needs to keep a sharp eye on not overloading this vehicle for that big adventure.
Towing a full 3500kg trailer, for example, leaves over a 620kg payload available for passengers, gear, and bolt-on accessories. However, this relatively meagre number also needs to account for the towball mass. Assuming the downforce of the towball is 10 per cent of the trailer weight (350kg), then you're looking at an available payload of 270kg. In other words, bugger all.
This malaise is not just centred around the 300 Series LandCruiser. Most utes and wagons have the same problem, and it's something where larger American-style pick-ups can be a better fit for a full-time tow rig. Pricing for something like a Silverado HD or Ram 2500 isn't too far away from this 300 Series LandCruiser GR Sport, but having a 4500kg braked towing capacity and correspondingly generous Gross Combination Mass (as well as a giant diesel donk) makes them more suitable as a serious full-time tow rig.
However, you're still looking at another $30,000 in asking price, a much larger footprint overall, and the complications surrounding having a light truck comparison.
Perhaps closer in consideration is the likes of a Ram 1500 or Chevrolet Silverado 1500, even though they only available with petrol V8 power.
However, such options won't be able to keep up with a LandCruiser (especially GR Sport) off-road. And those considering their choice in this regard should also throw the option of a federally approved GVM upgrade into the mix. This increases the cost and complexity, but can put you in a better position for long-term towing.
In terms of the driving experience, it's hard not to be impressed with the 300 Series LandCruiser. Chief amongst the highlights, (block your ears 1VD lovers) is the 3.3-litre diesel V6.
There's plenty of speculation and discussion to be had about the hot-vee turbocharger set-up of this new V6, with heat management being the biggest area of concern. The truth of how durable and reliable this new engine really is will only come in the fullness of time.
What I can easily talk about now, however, is the driving performance of this new V6. Having turbochargers in a sequential layout – with one being smaller than the other – allows the engine to build torque and boost early and effortlessly, which is exactly what you need when towing.
It's dropped cylinders and capacity, compared to 200 Series, but it feels more muscular and flexible in comparison to the old V8. Still strong in the lower parts of the rev range, but more responsive and willing towards the top end.
It matches well to the 10-speed automatic gearbox as well, which makes good decisions and is mostly very smooth in operation. Multi-ratio gearboxes like this can sometimes feel too busy and indecisive, especially when towing. However, this is a well-behaved gearbox that manages loads well.
Although, the top ratio in the gearbox barely gets a look-in when driving to Australian road limits. Unless you're pumping along certain sections of the Stuart Highway, I guess.
Its suspension isn't too bad, either. However, 2.5 tonnes' worth of caravan and no big loads in the vehicle or van means it wasn't really being put to the test like one would on a big holiday. It's certainly a soft and comfortable suspension feel, which can begin to feel floaty over rough surfaces.
The adaptive suspension – something that is reserved only for the expensive GR Sport and Sahara ZX models – does help here. Going across to the Sport or Sport+ driving modes does firm up the damping noticeably for better control, while also putting it in a more aggressive throttle and gearbox calibration that is beneficial as well. It allows the engine to hold lower gear ratios for longer and also makes the throttle more responsive.
Key details | 2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport |
Engine | 3.3-litre V6 turbo diesel |
Power | 227kW @ 4000rpm |
Torque | 700Nm @ 1600–2600rpm |
Drive type | Full-time four-wheel drive, Locking centre differential |
Transmission | 10-speed torque converter automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 89.2kW/t |
Weight | 2630kg |
Spare tyre type | Full-size |
Tow rating | 3500kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.8m |
Gross Combination Mass (GCM) | 6750kg |
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 3280kg |
Payload | 650kg |
Should I buy a Toyota LandCruiser?
Looking at the numbers, towing three tonnes or more means you'll need to really be cognisant of your overall weight in order to not overload the vehicle's available GVM. Or invest some additional time and money into a GVM upgrade, and ideally get the GCM upgraded at the same time with a quality aftermarket solution.
Otherwise, you could look at something like a Ram 1500 or Chevrolet Silverado with a 4.5-tonne braked towing capacity for some additional head room. Of course, heavy-duty options like the Ram 2500 and commensurate Silverado are in a league of their own, and will require a light truck or medium truck licence to work at their maximum potential.
Towing less – like this 2.5-tonne caravan – is a little more palatable in terms of numbers. And in other areas, the LandCruiser excels. It's comfortable, with good levels of performance on offer from the V6 when hitched up. And when you're not on that big family holiday, you've got a big, practical and decidedly luxurious family wagon for daily driving duties.