Top 10 good/bad things about the 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

Let’s answer a question that literally everybody is asking; what are the top 10 good/bad things about the 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series? Specifically, the GR Sport version.

The 300 Series LandCruiser has been a huge sales success for Toyota Australia, with the order books filled up and deliveries delayed for around 12 months or more. Last year, 13,152 new LandCruiser wagons were registered, according to VFACTS figures, easily ahead of its main rival, the Nissan Patrol, by 7428 units.

Let’s hone in on some of the key aspects to find out what’s good, and what’s not good about the latest model.

Good things about the 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (GR Sport):

1. Toyota badge – It doesn’t matter if you aren’t interested in cars at all, or even if you know someone that has had a Toyota that broke down, most people will still agree Toyota holds the strongest reputation for reliability and trust among the auto industry.Toyota has been making vehicles now since 1936. So it has extensive experience in manufacturing, as well as decades of knowledge in stuff that works and stuff that doesn’t. Toyota also has one of the best resale value ratings in Australia, perhaps due to the above. With a Toyota badge on the front, consumers and fans instantly know what they are getting.
2. Relentless off-road capability – The new new model offers 245mm of ground clearance – that’s up 15mm over the 200 Series –  and the GR Sport variant is the first to feature an electronic disconnecting sway bar system, as well as front, centre, and rear differential locks.Basically, if you get stuck in this, you’ve gone too far into the bush, near the weird, murdery, buried-bodies part of the bush, and you should probably turn around anyway. The GR Sport comes standard with all-terrain tyres and plastic lower body sections as well.
3. Live axle rear suspension – It doesn’t quite match the 70 Series for sheer ruggedness, with its front and rear live axles, but fans will definitely appreciate the live axle rear carrying over from the 200 Series. This setup is known for heavy-duty ruggedness, towing and load-hauling, as well as enhancing off-road performance (in some scenarios) due to wheel articulation.The 300 Series is underpinned by the TNGA-F, so it accommodates the company’s latest safety technologies and the platform itself is made to assist with efficiency and strength.
4. It’s massive – If you’re from America, you probably class this as a compact city run-about. But here in Australia, if you need a large family SUV, with a humongous boot and five big seats, the LandCruiser is one of two vehicles registered in the upper large SUV category (although the Land Rover Discovery was moved into this class from 2023).It’s 4995mm metres long and 1990mm wide, and pretty much two metres tall. The tall and upright cabin orientation also means this interior is one of the largest of any SUV on the market. Going for the GR Sport also means you get the five-seat configuration with a 1131L boot.
5. Towing capacity – Yes, it is at the maximum allowed weight for a passenger vehicle in Australia, at 3500kg. But, that figure is a bit deceptive. What you really should be concentrating on is the gross combination mass. The 300 Series is rated to 6750kg.Minus its 2.5-2.6-tonne kerb weight, and minus a 3.5-tonne trailer, and you’re still left with around 600-700kg for passengers and cargo, depending on the variant. That’s a lot more leftover weight than most utes and other SUVs.
6. User friendly – Toyota vehicles are known for being very easy to use and drive. And the 300 Series is no different. Most buttons and controls are clearly marked out and in logical positions, and the driving character is simple and not at all intimidating. 
7. Visibility – Being so high up and with nice big windows and low window sills, visibility is excellent. Including for shorter people like yours truly. It’s easy to peer over the side mirror from the driver’s seats, and with thin-ish pillars to optimise your view. The GR Sport also comes with a comprehensive surround-view camera system.
8. GR Sport design – Featuring a range of black and dark grey exterior highlights, the GR Sport is definitely on trend. Everyone loves a black pack it seems, so it’s good of Toyota to merge with current fashions.
9. The 3.3 V6 engine – Yes, fans of the V8 will whinge until the cows come home. But at the end of the day, this new V6 offers a lot more power (up 27kW), and significantly more torque (up 50Nm). And it uses less fuel, rated at 8.9L/100km, down from 9.5L/100km.The engine is also more refined and quieter than the V8, and quicker. We’ve tested both the 200 Series V8 and this new V6, and this V6 can dash from 0-100km/h in 7.90 seconds while the 200 Series achieved a time of 9.08.
10. Features – The GR Sport is near the very top of the range, so it should come as no surprise it does come packed with features and luxuries. Four-zone climate control with seat heating/cooling for the four main seats. It also comes with a ‘cool box’ fridge in the centre console.

Now for the bad things about the 2023 Toyota LandCruiser, in my opinion:

1. On-road stability – With live axle rear suspension the handling is never going to be as compliant or as dynamic as an independent setup. The GR Sport, with disconnecting sways, has been set up for serious off-roading and it does feel slightly unsettled compared the other variants.
2. No split tailgate – The GR Sport features a single up-swinging door. This means you have to raise the whole tailgate to place things inside. With the 200 Series, you could open the top section as a little hatch lid and drop things in. Having the bottom section fold down and out, it was a useful working table or seat if you’re camping.
3. No 7 seat option – The GR Sport comes in five-seat form only. While it does maximum boot space doing without the third row, it would be nice to at least have the option for seven seats, particularly as the package has already been set up as a seven-seater.
4. High floor – Despite this being an upper-large SUV, the ladder-frame platform means the body literally has to sit on top of the chassis rails. This does push the cabin floor upward, and it means your legs won’t drop down off the seat as much as you might expect. Especially in the back seat. In the 200 Series, the floor did seem a bit higher though, so Toyota may have tried to minimise this effect.
5. Button placement – Many of the driving mode buttons are collected in a small corner of the centre console. However, the diff lock buttons are spread apart on the dash and console. I think Toyota could have done a bit better with some of the controls and layout for the 300 Series.
6. 10-speed auto hunts around – The new gearbox makes use of the V6’s smaller capacity but it does change gears a lot. To the point where it almost feels like a CVT. It would be nice if the gears had a more engaging and decisive feel to them.
7. Beeps – Open the door, open or close the boot, switch the engine off; each action is accompanied by a beep sound of some kind. Enough with them.
8. Tow bar cut-out – With the tow bar on, you’re left with a chunk out of the rear bumper bar. It looks quite ugly. And let’s face it, a lot of LandCruiser buyers are likely to tow and perhaps leave the tow bar on.
9. Cheap looking/feeling bits inside – For a $150,000 vehicle (once you add on-road costs), the interior is quite bland. It could feel special in here just with some extra attention to detail. There’s also no panoramic glass roof option.
10. Long waiting list – If you want one, be prepared to wait. Especially if you want a particular colour or trim level. It used to be around two years, the waiting list, but I think it’s improved a bit since. My advice is to look around and join as many Toyota forums ad social media groups as you can.

The LandCruiser is designed for exploring the land. So if you only wish to drive it in town or in the city, you’re kind of missing the point, and potentially wasting your money. It is a bit cumbersome at times and it is going to feel out of place in some circles.

If you are planning to do a lot of travelling around the country, exploring areas you haven’t been before, including in remote locations, then the 300 Series LandCruiser GR Sport is absolutely the ideal vehicle for it. It is very unlikely to get stuck off road or break down, and it can accommodate all the family and tow a big trailer or caravan with plenty of allowable weight leftover.

Stay tuned for our full review and 0-100 video, coming soon.