The 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has huge shoes to fill as LandCruiser owners are among the most loyal – and fastidious – in the automotive landscape.
Aussies have been enjoying and relying on LandCruisers for six-plus decades. It is, for many, a way of life. Especially for those in rural or central Australia. But customers are still experiencing lengthy delivery delays as demand continues to outweigh supply. It’s a serious commitment, signing up for the new one. It’d want to be good.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Specifications
Engine: 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel
Output: 227kW@4000rpm / 700Nm@1600-2600rpm
Gearbox: 10-speed auto
Drive type: Four-wheel drive with front, centre, rear diff locks
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.5, 265/65
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 2545kg
Power-to-weight: 11.21:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 8.9L/100km
Our consumption: 11.0L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 110L/DieselPower efficiency: 25.50kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.72 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.90 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.70 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.81 seconds at 147.3km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.775g*
100-0km/h braking: 41.60m in 3.28 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.175g*
Decibel at idle: 48*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 82*
Starting price: $142,101
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: How much does it cost?
The GR Sport wears a premium price tag, which is not really common for vehicles carrying the Toyota badge – even in 2023 where vehicle prices have soared due to manufacturing costs and material supply limitations. This variant starts from $142,101 – only $1000 less than the top-line seven-seat Sahara ZX.
When you think that the body-on-frame Nissan Patrol Ti-L is priced from $97,600, it makes you realise just how expensive the GR Sport is. And while the 300 Series is a generational jump over the current Y62 Patrol, we’re talking a price difference of just over $40,000. That’s a lot of money – even if you’re super flush.
Other vehicles in the GR Sport’s price bracket include the Range Rover Sport D300 HSE, Mercedes-Benz GLE400d, Audi Q7 55 TFSI, and the BMW X5 M50i Pure. Pricing for the full 300 Series range is as follows (excluding on road costs):
LandCruiser GX: $94,301
LandCruiser GXL: $106,101
LandCruiser VX: $118,301
LandCruiser Sahara: $135,101
LandCruiser GR Sport: $142,101
LandCruiser Sahara ZX: $143,101
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Interior & packaging
The LandCruiser GR Sport is unique in character in that it looks like no other LandCruiser before it. It comes with dark grey 18-inch alloy wheels, black wheel arches, side steps, door handles, mirrors, and window trim. Yep, it’s got a sporty vibe. And as a collective it all works very well. It gives the GR Sport a fashionable look when parked up among a sea of bleak SUVs.
The five-seat ‘rally inspired’ interior is available in black or a red-and-black combo and features touches of faux carbon fibre. The GR Sport also features a 12.3-inch infotainment touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 7.0-inch trip computer display, and a 14-speaker JBL stereo, head-up display, heated and cooled seats front and rear, and a heated steering wheel.
While the infotainment system is large, it is a bit basic in the way it works and looks. This is typical of many Toyota models. It’s a bit clunky and can be slow to load certain functions. For a $140,000 vehicle, you might expect more. What you will love is the sound quality. If you love hip hop, dance music or even rock, you’ll be in aural heaven. The JBL system pumps.
In terms of safety, the 300 Series has been awarded a five-star ANCAP rating. Safety features on the GR Sport include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, road-sign assist and rear cross-traffic alert. There’s also a full surround-view camera to help you manage its large proportions.
As for exterior colour options, you have the choice of Glacier White, Ebony, Crystal Pearl, Arctic White, Graphite, Merlot Red (as tested), and Eclipse Black.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Powertrain & handling
The 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo engine punches out 227kW and 700Nm. That’s a 32kW and 50Nm gain over the previous generation’s 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine. And on the road you can notice the difference. Namely in low and mid-range punch.
The new engine feels eager to get the GR Sport moving along quite quickly. We recorded 0-100km/h in just 7.90 seconds, which is impressive for a huge block of metal. The previous V8 200 Series managed the 0-100km/h run in a best of 8.92 seconds, according to our performance data table.
Unique touches for the GR Sport include front, centre and rear differential locks and an Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (e-KDSS). That latter technology is able to disconnect the sway bars for better wheel travel when going off road. All at the flick of a button when stationary.
The new V6 does lose the V8 burble from the previous model, but the V6 makes its own deep noise that certainly doesn’t sound awful. From down low the V6 pulls very strong. Peak torque of 700Nm is available from just 1600rpm, which means you don’t need to thrash it just to get this 2545kg SUV to move.
And thanks to its 10-speed automatic transmission things get moving quite quickly. You’ll always find yourself in the right gear for the given situation. The gearbox and engine are very in sync with one another, resulting in effortless cross country trips.
Around town the GR Sport feels light in terms of steering, masking much of its size and weight. And the comfort level is right up there. But, you always get a sense of its giant size. It can be tough shuffling in tight carparks and spaces, especially underground carparks. On the open road the 300 Series is a proper weapon, eating up bitumen like it’s nobody’s business.
There are five distinct driving modes to choose from; Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport S, Sport S Plus. All of these adjust throttle response, comfort and control. To get the best of what you want there’s also a Custom setting which allows you to have a more plush ride but have engine response at max, for example. We found Normal to be the best-balanced option. Sport S and the Plus mode make the LC feel a touch too responsive. After all, this ain’t no Supra.
Off road, it’s easy to describe it as unstoppable. Because it just keep going and going. Even if you manage to belly-out in thick mud ruts, the relentless powertrain yanks it all through. It is terrific off road.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Key attractions/reasons to buy
Like the many, many generations of LandCruiser before it, these big rigs sell themselves. We could write in here that they’re dog shite and they’d still sell hand over fist – that’s how big the loyalty is to the nameplate, and brand for that matter. The latest model handles on the road like no LandCruiser before it, no doubt thanks to the switch to a TNGA-based platform.
The new engine is fuel efficient (for this class), with an official rating of 8.9L/100km, and the new 10-speed automatic is responsive, intuitive and smooth. Most of all, with all three locking diffs on the GR Sport, it is a seriously capable off road machine straight out of the box. And we imagine it’d be even better with an inch or two of lift and some chunkier rubber.
For those who are worried about the new V6 being lacklustre compared with the old V8 you’ll be delighted to know that after a couple hundred kilometres of driving in various traffic conditions, you won’t miss the old engine. Many might turn their nose up at that statement, but this new engine is very impressive. It’s smoother, quieter, more efficient, yet more powerful and offers more torque.
The GR Sport is the sportiest and most hardcore variant of the 300 Series fleet. It’s got just enough sporty attributes for the exterior, and some rather cool interior enhancements that give the 4×4 an athletic vibe.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Key considerations before you buy
In Australia the GR Sport comes with five seats only, while other variants offer seven. Many go for SUVs of this size because of their ability to carry many people. While the five seats offer plenty of room, having seven (or at least the option) would be better. But the upside is you get a bigger boot (1131L expanding to 2052L) thanks to less hardware in the back.
The price point of the 300 Series is also something to consider. While they’re a hit to the hip pocket, LandCruisers nowadays hold their value like crazy. Many owners find they can on-sell their vehicle after 1-2 years ownership for pretty much what they paid for it, or in some cases even more.
Of course, the other consideration is the Y62 Nissan Patrol. Although it is starting to feel and look a generation behind, the Patrol is considerably less expensive and offers very similar capability and breadth. And it comes with a beautiful-sounding 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine, which will be favourable to some buyers.
2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
The 300 Series is a clear continuation and evolution of what has worked so well since (in this writer’s opinion) the 60 Series which was on sale from 1980-1992. It munches tarmac and off road tracks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And it looks slick parked on the driveway. Going for the GR Sport means you’re getting the full off-road preparation. Just be prepared to wait some time for delivery as Toyota clears its backlog.
