Let’s get one thing straight— the Toyota Fortuner is obnoxiously priced for what it offers. And yet, by far it’s the highest-selling SUV in its segment in the country. The reason for that is Toyota’s unmatched reliability and Fortuner’s indomitable road presence. This makes it a top choice among politicians and bureaucrats in India.
It is safe to say that the Fortuner is the perfect representation of power on the roads. Now imagine, everything discussed above is amplified 5-6 times, the result you get is the Land Cruiser. It has been almost three years since the current generation Land Cruiser (LC300) made its debut in India but it was the first time we were able to get our hands onto it, especially since this is a Completely Built Unit imported directly from Japan.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 review: Intimidating Looks
The images won’t do justice to the Land Cruiser’s size which extends almost 5 metres long and almost 2 metre wide, making it highly unsuitable for narrow and congested roads. Hence, when I got to spend a day with the Toyota Land Cruiser, I decided it was best to experience this behemoth on open stretches of the highways and what better road than the newly constructed Delhi-Mumbai Expressway en route to Jaipur.
I drove the top-spec GR (Gazoo Racing) Sport edition which came with an all-black radiator grille with honeycomb mesh internals along with blacked-out air vents on both sides of the front bumper, ORVMs, roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels, and squared wheel arches. This is accompanied by the GR badges on the front bumper, side fenders and tailgate to distinguish it from the standard model.
| Dimension | Value |
| Length | 4,960 mm |
| Width | 1,990 mm |
| Height | 1,990 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 240 mm |
| Turning Radius | 5.9 m (≈ 5,900 mm) |
| Boot space | 1131 litres |
The only other aberration on its exterior from the standard model is the “TOYOTA” branding on the front grille. Besides the proportions, what personally attracted me were the sleek tri-projector LED headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights that add just a hint of elegance and sophistication to the overall design. Trust me when I write this, I received immense respect at high-end places with me driving the LC300, thanks to its vastness.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 review: Practical interiors
Step inside the cabin and you’re greeted with blacked-out interiors and GR edition seats black and red dual-tone theme and red stitching to add the necessary sporty flair. The soft touch panels on the dashboard and door trims does feel very premium but not luxurious enough to justify its ridiculous price tag of Rs 2.41 crore (ex-showroom).
Nevertheless, it’s a Toyota that means it is built to last generations. Everything feels sturdy, solid and well put together. Moreover, the seats are one of the most comfortable I have experienced in my tenure testing vehicles as an automotive journalist. Speaking of seats, the India-spec LC300 is exclusively offered as a five-seater which makes me wonder, why Toyota hasn’t added a third row of seats when it can easily do with so much space on offer.
Storage is abundant, with two large glove boxes, a front armrest compartment, centre console cubbies, and spacious door pockets. The absence of a third row means a humongous boot capacity of 1131 litres.
The cabin is brimming with all the modern conveniences one can imagine: electric sunroof, connected car tech, four-zone climate control, ventilated front and rear seats, automatic headlamps and wipers, a 14-speaker audio system, automatic front seats with memory function, and much more. The best feature I got to experience were the LED headlights which had a very wide and long throw in the high-beam state.
One feature that didn’t particularly impress me was the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which although very slick and intuitive, isn’t driver focussed making it difficult to operate from the driver’s seat while on the move. Furthermore, the in-built navigation functionality isn’t properly tuned for Indian roads and I faced glitches on more than one occasion on my way to Jaipur.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 review: Drives like a tank
The main challenge driving the Toyota Land Cruiser is its enormity which I definitely felt driving on the narrow roads of Jaipur. You sit high up which gives you good visibility of the road ahead and you need every bit of it if you want to drive this SUV through busting traffic. What also helps is a very precise and direct steering wheel which is light and helps you manoeuvre through tight spots with relative ease, although sharp U-turns is still an achilles heel for LC300.
Powering this monstrous vehicle is a very potent 3346cc V6, twin-turbocharged diesel engine that lets out 304 bhp and 700 Nm of torque. For every diesel lover, this is probably one of the best oil burners out there in the market. The wide spread of torque across the rev range ensures the Land Cruiser can move swiftly for long hours without breaking a sweat. I wouldn’t divulge the number of times I broke the speed limit on the expressway but hurling an SUV that weighs over 3 tonnes (kerb) isn’t a small task by any means. Moreover, during my entire trip, this V6 diesel didn’t feel strained at any point of time.
| Specification | Value |
| Engine Type | 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbocharged diesel |
| Maximum Power | 304 bhp @ 4000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 700 Nm @ 1600-2600 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic torque converter, with manual shift mode (via lever), no paddle shifters |
| Drivetrain / Layout | All-Wheel Drive (AWD) / Full-Time 4WD |
Complementing the engine is a super slick 10-speed torque converter automatic that has versatility written all over it. There are no paddle shifters on offer but the gearbox offers a manual override through a trip-tronic function that lets the driver take full control and deliver a more engaging performance. There are six drive modes on offer: Eco, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+, Comfort, and Customise.
We drove mostly in Normal mode which is the best of all worlds. In the Sport S mode, there is more response from the engine, the transmission holds on to a gear while the revs climb and also stiffens the suspension and the steering for a more engaging driving experience. Conversely, in Comfort mode, the suspension softens up a tad bit that helps absorb all kinds of undulations making for a more plush ride quality.
Speaking of which, the adaptive suspension setup has to be one of the best features that the LC300 offers. That said, the LC300 isn’t a sports car even in the wildest of dreams even though it remains planted. While body roll is well contained inside the cabin, there is considerable understeer which will limit your aspirations when you encounter a set of twisties. The braking is prompt and precise which only adds to the confidence of the driver.
What we didn’t get a chance to do was to put the Land Cruiser’s off-roading capabilities to test. We all know that the off-roading prowess of a Land Cruiser is nothing short of legendary but during our entire trip we didn’t come across a single stretch where we felt the need to engage the Multi-terrain system. The gargantuan torque and the all-terrain Yokohama tyres ensured that the LC300 just overhauled everything and anything that came on its way.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 review: Verdict
The Toyota Land Cruiser is again one such vehicle that makes no sense for a market like India. It is bulky, heavy, difficult to manoeuvre and burns fuel at the drop of a hat. But it can offer everything that very few vehicles can offer. No matter where you go, you’ll be treated with respect. On the road, other vehicles will simply move out of the way. When you step out, people will greet you with their heads down.
The LC300, like its predecessors, is aspired only by the wealthy and influential and has no place for common folks like most of us. You only see a handful of Land Cruisers on Indian roads, all them belonging to an affluent background. Therefore, those looking for a vehicle that will last an apocalypse, can go anywhere and everywhere without a hitch, and want to showcase their might, it can’t get better than the Land Cruiser 300. The only thing to keep in mind is its exorbitant price tag.
