Toyota defends new LandCruiser towing capacity

Toyota has defended the carryover towing capacity of the new 2022 Toyota LandCruiser amid increasing competition from more capable American pick-ups.

The new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will offer an identical 3.5-tonne towing capacity as its 200 Series predecessor when customers finally take delivery of vehicles in 2022.

While 3.5 tonnes is ample capacity to tow most caravans and boats, the 300 Series is facing increasing competition from the likes of RAM and GMSV Silverado models rated to tow more than twice that weight with requisite towing attachments and air brakes.

It comes as both American utility brands enjoy significant sales under right-hand drive conversion deals between their importers and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group.

In a presentation for the 300 Series this week, Toyota officials said they made a concerted effort to increase the newcomer’s payload (between 40kg and 90kg depending on variant), while also reducing its kerb mass (down by between 130kg and 180kg).

However, there was never any objective to increase the 300 Series’ braked towing capacity.

“There’s a limitation of how much you can tow with the size of the vehicle,” said Toyota Australia product planning general manager, Rod Ferguson.

“This vehicle has a GVM of 3280kg and physically designing it to tow more would be quite a challenge.

“The gross combined mass of the physical vehicle towing and the load is going to apportion a lot of the weight to the rear and limit what you can have in the vehicle.

“I think 3.5 tonnes is about right, it caters for the majority of our customer needs.

“Yes, we understand there is a full-size pick-up segment out there that can tow more, but for this vehicle 3.5 tonnes is right.”

A senior engineer from Toyota’s Japanese head office echoed Ferguson’s sentiments, adding: “In comparison to the pick-ups, they are more focused on towing capacity, we have to keep focus not only on towing capacity but on off-road performance that customers are after.”

Prospective buyers not specifically after the LandCruiser’s increased off-road capability will potentially cross-shop the new model with both the 2021 RAM 1500 Limited and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium.

Both pick-up trucks costs similar money to Toyota’s mid-spec and upper-level LandCruiser range and have a have a huge 4500kg braked towing capacity.

Neither are averse to off-roading, by the way – sitting on a ladder-frame chassis and employing a petrol-fuelled pushrod V8 engine that mates with an automatic transmission and 4x4 two-speed transfer case.