Five 4x4s to buy instead of a Toyota LandCruiser

With V8 power out of the equation for the upcoming 2021 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, all but GXL versions of the outgoing 200 Series still available and good used examples hard to find (and often criminally overpriced), you might be wondering if it’s time to look elsewhere.

And we’re here to tell you yes, the answer is it is.

Sure, the Toyota LandCruiser is a go-almost-anywhere, tow-almost-anything heavy-duty 4x4 icon – heck, maybe even a rite of passage – for fair-dinkum Aussie off-roaders, load-luggers and remote residents.

But it’s not the be-all, end-all SUV for rock-hopping adventure-seekers or people who just need to tow a big caravan, boat or horse float.

And, with 200 Series owners asking as much as $200,000 in some cases, there are a number of alternatives offering just as much capability for much more palatable prices.

Almost as long-running as the Toyota LandCruiser and arguably just as iconic, the Nissan Patrol has been around since the dawn of time… well, at least since the mid-1950s when the 4W60 was first introduced, before it was renamed the Patrol in 1960 when the 60-series first arrived Down Under.

If you’re still not convinced you can live without a huge V8-powered off-road SUV, the Patrol might be for you. In 2021, there are only two grades to choose from – Ti (from $79K) and the flagship Ti-L (from $93K) – and both are powered by a lusty 298kW/560Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8.

With a healthy off-road legacy, all the creature-comfort features you’d expect at this price and an even more extreme Warrior version in the pipeline, this is a lot of metal for your money.

Nissan Patrol towing capacity: 3500kg

Another iconic nameplate, the British (and brutish) Land Rover Defender was completely reborn in 2020, bringing loads more technology, safety and refinement.

So much so in fact, the new Defender made it right to the pointy end of the 2020 carsales Car of the Year award, in which it claimed Highly Commended honours alongside the Porsche Taycan and the winning Kia Sorento.

Prices range from just over $70,000 and top out a bit over $140K, depending on which body type, trim grade and powertrain you choose.

And, for those bitter at Toyota for axing its big V8-powered SUV, the Defender can be had with a chunky supercharged 5.0-litre V8 slamming down 386kW, even if it’ll cost you $200K.

Land Rover Defender towing capacity: 3500kg

Built on the same platform as the Ford Ranger, carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute, the Ford Everest is a seven-seat off-road SUV with just as much off-road capability as its dual-cab sibling.

Pricing starts from $50,000 and tops out at around 73K, and there’s the choice of 157kW 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder and 132kW 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel powerplants (sorry, no V8).

Available in both rear-drive and four-wheel drive configurations, the Everest is Ford’s best-selling SUV and can be had in more than 10 combinations of trims and drivetrains.

Ford Everest towing capacity: 3100kg

Even though it’s only a little smaller and less powerful, many seem to sell short the Toyota Prado as just another family hauler, forgetting just how capable it is off-road.

The ‘son-of-LandCruiser’ arrived in the mid-1990s and today’s Prado line-up range is powered exclusively by a 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel.

But it’s still as capable off-road as it is on the soccer run, with proper low-range ratios, plenty of ground clearance, seven seats and plenty of room on board for kids, camping gear and anything in between.

If you’re looking for a little more adventure for a little less cash, the four-pot Prado might be the one for you.  

Toyota Prado towing capacity: 3000kg

With sharp drive-away pricing across it range, Chinese car-maker LDV is swiftly making a name for itself with Aussie buyers and its first SUV, the LDV D90, is gaining the momentum it deserves.

Looking pretty smart and priced from just $35,990, The LDV D90 is available in both rear-drive and four-wheel drive forms, and with the choice of bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel (160kW/480Nm) and 2.0-litre four-pot petrol (165kW/350Nm) engines.

Based on the same rugged ladder frame as the LDV T60 ute, the seven-seat D90 SUV comes with all the latest safety and driver assistance gear, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and more.

It’s certainly not a proper LandCruiser competitor, but with off-road hardware such as a Borg Warner two-speed transfer case, 210mm of ground clearance, a 550mm wading depth and various 4WD settings, the flagship D90 Executive has a lot to offer for $47,990 – including a five-year/130,000km warranty.

LDV D90 towing capacity: 3100kg

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