Toyota strips LandCruiser

TOYOTA Australia has released an entry-level variant of its 200 Series LandCruiser in response to fleet customer demand for a cheaper, more utilitarian version of its full-size 4WD wagon.

On sale now from $77,990 plus on-road costs with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, the new LandCruiser GX comes with the same twin-turbo 4.5-litre V8 that powers the existing 200 Series diesel range, which previously opened almost $10,000 higher at $87,664.

While the GX diesel is still more expensive than the most affordable petrol 200 Series, the 4.7-litre V8-powered LandCruiser GXL auto ($77,414), it should go some way to satisfying full-size LandCruiser wagon buyers who bemoaned the $14,000 price increase when the standard-grade 100 Series was discontinued in November 2007, when the 200 Series was introduced with a $69,990 base price for the GXL petrol.

At the time, Toyota said the base 100 Series diesel, which last sold for $53,990, accounted for about 200 sales per month – mainly to government, rental and (mostly mining) business buyers.



Toyota now also caters to those customers with an entry-level GX diesel version of its mid-size Prado (from $55,990), as well as the 70 Series LandCruiser wagon, which starts from $59,140 in base WorkMate V8 diesel manual guise.

The new LandCruiser fleet special will not be officially announced until November 7, but GoAuto understands it will come with just five seats instead of eight and a hose-out vinyl interior trim.

As such, it eschews the full-length side curtain airbags fitted in other 200 Series models for curtains that protect only the front and middle rows, but retains all other 200 Series safety equipment, including VSC electronic stability control, all-terrain ABS brakes and hill-descent control, plus the big ’Cruiser’s unique Crawl Control.

Unlike other models, however, the LC GX will feature barn-style rear doors instead of a horizontally split tailgate, 17-inch steel wheels, manual air-conditioning, an air snorkel, under-body protection, a 60/40-split folding rear seat and, as on previous LandCruiser Standards, twin rear wipers.

LandCruiser SUV sales are up three per cent so far this year with 6708 sold to September – accounting for almost three-quarters of the large SUV segment, in which Nissan’s aged Patrol is the only other alternative.