Your questions answered: Should I buy a Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series or 300 Series?

This week, we kick off with someone looking at stepping into the adventurous world of a Toyota LandCruiser. But they’re wondering whether to go for a well-looked-after V8-powered 200 Series or the newer V6-powered 300 Series.

Back in the land of fuel saving, there’s one reader wondering why a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is so much more expensive than the lesser-known Haval H6 Hybrid.

We also have readers looking at the new breed of upcoming Volkswagen EVs, as well as the MG4 and BYD Atto 3.

Oh, and our Tesla question for the week is a bit different and has something to do with boating…

Question: I am looking to purchase a 2021 Toyota LandCruiser GXL 200 Series that’s covered only 30,000km. Do you know of any issues/faults with this model … being the last of the V8s, also your thoughts on the 300 Series in comparison to the 2021 200 Series? – Matt T

Answer: The 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser is known for its reliability and durability. So while that V8 had some excessive oil use issues early on, it was well and truly sorted towards the end of its life in 2021. They can easily cover well north of half a million kilometres, so if it’s looked after you should have plenty of adventuring ahead.

As for 200 versus 300… The V6 in the 300 Series is a better engine. It’s got more power and torque and is lugging around less weight because the 300 Series uses more aluminium in its body. The V6 also spins its turbos faster so is quicker to respond when you press the throttle.

As for choosing between the two, for us it would come down to the price of the 200. Prices of 300 Series are obviously a lot higher and Toyota is set to introduce yet another price increase on January 1, 2024.

The one positive is that the crazy wait lists have mostly subsided. We’ve heard of some people cancelling orders, which means others can collect their cars sooner. We’ve also heard of other people collecting a car within days of ordering it, again suggesting the supply-demand mismatch that has existed for LandCruisers for the past few years has finally been addressed.

That also means used car values have been easing and should continue to do so. So that 200 Series you’re looking at could even start to get more appealing.

Question: Wondering if you had time to offer an opinion on whether the Haval H6 Hybrid is a good all-round option to buy new? Currently driving a RAV4 2WD hybrid but have to change soon. $62K vs $42K. Big difference hey. – Greg H

Answer: It’s a bit of a case of you get what you pay for. The Haval H6 Hybrid does a decent job of reducing fuel use courtesy of its compact four-cylinder turbo engine mated to an electric motor.

However, in our testing we’ve found the RAV4 Hybrid to be more fuel efficient. Plus you can get the RAV4 as an all-wheel drive whereas the H6 is front-drive only. Throw in some average driving dynamics and the Haval can sometimes be challenged getting the power to the ground. Plus the driver assist systems in the H6 need some tuning to stop them beeping and kicking in when you don’t need them.

If you’re looking for alternatives, check out the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER, which is a better all-rounder than the RAV4. The Honda CR-V e:HEV hybrid is also worth a look.

While we’re not sure of your exact scenario, don’t rule out an EV either. Depending on where you live there could be some decent rebates available to you. Or if you can take out a novated lease you could take advantage of the federal government’s generous FBT exemption that can save many thousands each year.

Question: Any idea when the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 BEVs may land in Australia? Also any guesstimate of cost? High $60s to low $80s?? – Marty S

Answer: Both the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 are due in July 2024 and each will have the sportier GTX models join them in dealerships at the same time.

The Skoda Enyaq – which utilises the same electrical architecture – is also due in the second half of next year.

It’s all part of a busy year for Volkswagen locally, especially on the EV front. The ID.3 hatchback is also due around the same time as the ID.4 and ID.5, while the ID. Buzz and ID. Cargo (effectively modern electric Kombis) could possibly sneak in but are more likely to turn up early next year.

Question: Which is more relevant, the age of a hybrid or the number of kilometres it has done when buying a used hybrid? – Margaret O

Answer: Both are relevant, unfortunately. Engines wear out the more you drive them and battery packs lose their ability to hold a charge the more times they are cycled (charged and discharged). Batteries can also degrade over time even if they’re not being used, while an unused engine can also have rubbers and seals start to degrade.

So the short story is both elements are relevant. But we’d be slightly more wary over a very-high-mileage car that is, say, only five years old versus a 10-year-old car with very low mileage. But in either situation you need to do your research and ensure you know what you’re looking at – and get a third-party inspection, such as with RedBook Inspect, if you want peace of mind.

Question:

I have solar, off-peak and plan on charging set up with smart energy contacts I have. However, the shortage of V2G vehicles is the problem. Need to complete the circle and get the best out of the EV.

If the MG wasn’t so plastic, stupid nav that burps as ‘enter’ another suburb, and that really wide sill, I would buy one as the interim EV, until a desirable V2G arrives. Any clues on what we might see soon?

Do have any intel on these two? Will BYD systematically upgrade the operating system for better regen braking et al? The BYD interior is really out there but is well built and if it’s progressively upgraded, would be a good interim EV. I could maybe even wear the wide sill and plastic of the funky MG if all the weird software apps were sorted out.

Your thoughts on these two and any other mid SUVs? – Trevan J

Answer: Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is causing huge headaches for the industry and Australian regulators. Many had expected it to be up and running by now, but various electricity grids and governments around the country are still trying to work out how to deal with feeding electricity back into the grid.

Another issue with V2G has been the plugs. The CHAdeMO plug that is favoured in Japan and some other countries has had V2G capability for years, one reason the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV had an early start with the tech.

The CCS combo plug used by almost every other EV only received the standards approval for V2G in 2022 and manufacturers are yet to implement it in their production vehicles. Word on the street is that we could see something in 2024.

But don’t get too excited because there’s also some hesitation with some manufacturers, Tesla being the most prominent. That could be because the brand also sells home batteries and doesn’t want to tread on its own toes.

As for what updates we may see on various models – especially software updates – it’s too early to say. Software updates in particular tend to be the sorts of things that just arrive rather than things that are announced ahead of time.

But, yes, we agree the MG in particular could do with some software updates to improve the functionality of its touch-screen.

As for choosing between the two… the MG4 has just been named carsales Car of the Year for 2023, and with good reason. It’s a terrific little hatchback, albeit one that’s sparsely equipped in its base guise.

The Atto 3 is a larger vehicle and comes with more tech – including a much clearer camera display – so if you need the space, that would be my pick. Also check out the BYD Dolphin hatchback, which isn’t as slick to drive as the MG4 but still represents terrific value for money in a compact and comfortable electric hatchback.

Question: Hi there. What are your thoughts on the Tesla Y Model RWD ability to put a boat out of the water at a boat ramp? Will the car lose traction easily? If one of the rear wheels loses traction, will it spin, or will power go to the other wheel? – Greg M

Answer: We’ve never tested a Tesla Model Y in that specific scenario. But from other testing we’ve done with Teslas we’ve learnt they have very well calibrated traction control systems. That’s common in the EV world, because it’s easier to regulate electricity flow than it is to stop sending fuel to an engine as a means of cutting power.

All traction control systems also have the ability to brake wheels independently, which has the effect of sending the power to the opposite wheel on that axle. That’s also the case with a Tesla.

So theoretically you’d have to have both wheels losing traction before it stopped ascending the boat ramp. Obviously, that depends on the grip between the tyres and surface of the boat ramp.

Remember also that the Model Y has a braked towing capacity of 1600kg, using the factory-fit tow bar.

Question: We purchased a Toyota Corolla new three years ago and have no complaints. But I’m curious… the dealer thinks I’m dreaming. It has CVT but on a quiet morning at low speed and in no hurry I’m sure I can hear a transmission shift at low speed, it sounds just like a good auto trans. It’s not a problem but I’m curious. What’s going on here. No hurry, but would appreciate your thoughts, am I dreaming? – Nils P

Answer: What you may be experiencing is the shift between a regular first gear and the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The current Corolla has something Toyota calls a “direct shift continuously variable transmission”, which pairs a standard torque converter first gear with a CVT auto.

The idea is to get the better off-the-line response of a standard auto but with the performance benefits of a CVT once up to speed.

Toyota also says having that separate first gear allows it to put in a smaller CVT and ultimately save a tiny bit of weight.

Exactly when the handover from first gear to CVT takes place depends on how and where you’re driving the car. Floor it from a standstill and it’ll hold first gear for longer, but drive more gently and it’ll enlist the CVT sooner.

So our guess would be you’re maybe feeling that handover. It’s extremely mild and subtle and isn’t easy to spot, but we’ve felt it in the past.

That said, it could be something else altogether! But the dealer should be in a better place to figure that out, so if you’ve already logged it with them we wouldn’t be too concerned.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

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