Toyota has given its flagship SUV, the Land Cruiser, the electric treatment, as the brand has announced the addition of a new hybridized 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol engine. The introduction of the hybrid models expands the South African Land Cruiser 300 range, joining the proven 3.3-litre diesel derivatives and giving customers greater choice.
“The Land Cruiser has always represented the pinnacle of Toyota’s engineering capability, trusted by families, explorers, conservationists and businesses alike,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at TSAM.
“The introduction of the new HEV demonstrates that customers no longer have to choose between legendary capability and modern electrified performance. It is another important step in Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy, offering customers the right technology for their individual needs.”
At the heart of the new models is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired with Toyota’s compact HEV system. Producing 341 kW and 790 Nm (total output) through a 10-speed automatic transmission this new setup is said to significantly improve the fuel consumption to 10 l/100 km compared with equivalent ICE models.
Changes extend to the exterior, where the hybrid trims will gain a set of unique design cues to set them apart from the rest of the range. Toyota lovers will benefit from a refreshed exterior color palette, including the introduction of Magnetite Black and Classic White, together with revised availability of several existing colors across the GX-R, ZX, and GR-S derivatives.
The interior has also experienced some enhancements and upgrades in line with the adoption of the HEV system, according to the press release however, Toyota did not delve into the specifics of what these are or will be. But seeing how this new model will be the top of the range, one can expect things like a luxurious cabin equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, premium leather seats with heating and ventilation, a 4-zone automatic climate control system, and 11.6-inch high-definition rear-seat entertainment screens.
In addition to the gains in the interior, all new Toyota vehicles are equipped with connectivity hardware, enabling in-car Wi-Fi with a complimentary 25GB data allocation and access to Toyota Connect services. The Toyota Connect services can be accessed via a MyToyota profile, which owners can use to view things like vehicle information and services, etc.
| LAND CRUISER 300 Model lineup | Price |
| 3.3 DIESEL GX-R | R1 596 800 |
| 3.3 DIESEL ZX | R2 150 400 |
| 3.5T PETROL ZX | R2 191 300 |
| 3.3 DIESEL GR-S | R2 210 100 |
| 3.5T PETROL GR-S | R2 247 500 |
| 3.5T PETROL ZX HEV | R2 287 700 |
| 3.5T PETROL GR-S HEV | R2 343 800 |
OWNERSHIP PEACE OF MIND
The Land Cruiser 300 is backed by a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-services/90 000 km service plan, with service intervals of 10 000 km. The HEV battery is covered by an 8-year/160 000 km battery warranty.