New Toyota LandCruiser queue starts here

The all-new 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series is now open for registrations of interest via Toyota’s Australian public website, where more details have also been announced.

No, Toyota Australia hasn’t opened the order book or announced pricing for the new 300 Series, which is expected to command a price premium of around 10 per cent, or between $6000 and $8000, over the outgoing 200 Series.

But registering your interest will put you in the queue when the order book officially opens ahead of first local deliveries late this year – or early next year if the pandemic delays shipping.

“Register your interest below, and you’ll be one of the first to know more about this highly-anticipated vehicle, including its release date,” says Toyota Australia.

Toyota's local arm has also confirmed much of what we already knew about the new 300 Series via its new LandCruiser micro-site, where first images of a (pre-production) right-hand drive version also appear.

This includes the fact it will only be available in Australia with Toyota’s first V6 diesel engine – an all-new 3.3-litre twin-turbo unit that delivers a healthy 227kW of power and 700Nm of torque, eclipsing the 200 Series’ 200kW/650Nm 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V8.

A new 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD system (presumably again with low-range and diff locks at both ends) will also be standard across the range, which will be at least 100kg lighter on average and will maintain its predecessor’s 3500kg towing capacity.

“Sporting a brand new 3.3-litre diesel twin-turbo engine and 10-speed transmission across all grades, the LandCruiser 300 is engineered to be lighter, more responsive and stronger,” says Toyota Australia.

“With 227kW of power and 700Nm of torque it has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. All that strength, coupled with exceptional off-road stability and 4WD technology, means it will perform where others won’t go."

There’s no mention of the 305kW/650Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 – nor the petrol-electric hybrid powertrain it’s expected to form the basis of – that will power the new LandCruiser in other markets such as the Middle East, where the 300 Series is already on the road following its global reveal in Dubai almost three weeks ago.

But Toyota Australia has confirmed that its top-shelf version will again be called Sahara, that a range of “intelligent safety features” will be standard across the range, and that new off-road tech like Multi-Terrain Select with Automatic Mode will be offered on some variants (mostly VX and Sahara, which already offer Multi-Terrain Select and Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System).

No other specs for Australia’s 300 Series have so far been revealed, but it appears eight seats will no longer be available (as they are in the volume-selling GXL version of the outgoing 200 Series) and it’s not yet clear whether a 45-litre sub fuel tank will continue either.

For reference, the superseded 200 Series was offered in five-seat GX, eight-seat GXL and seven-seat VX and Sahara guises, all fitted as standard with fuel capacity of up to 138 litres.

“The LandCruiser 300 is the new generation in a long line of legends. Like those before it, it is up to the challenge in the bush, the outback, the mountain pass and yet it’s built to take on the city,” says the Toyota Australia micro-site.

“With up to seven seats in Sahara and full time 4WD across all models this is the strongest, safest, smartest and most luxurious LandCruiser yet.

“The newest LandCruiser variants build on the comfort and luxury you’ve come to expect from the legendary Sahara. But don’t worry, all variants are packed with sophisticated technology designed to help assist you in whatever journey you’re planning.”

So far there’s no confirmation of a local release for the new LandCruiser GR Sport variant, which was shown in Dubai wearing a shorter front bumper with blacked-out, GR-badged grille and all-terrain tyres.

The new off-road focused GR Sport, which could bring a unique look inside and out, a more generous approach angle and ground clearance, and perhaps a bespoke mode for the LC300’s new eKDSS suspension, could be positioned between the VX and Sahara at around $115,000.

We expect Toyota Australia to announce full specs and pricing for the new 300 Series in August, when the official order book will also open.