Toyota hits a high with LandCruiser Altitude

TOYOTA has re-introduced the value-boosting LandCruiser Altitude special edition, which bumps-up the big SUV's equipment with $5000 worth of extra features for $91,220, plus on-road costs.

Based on the mid-range diesel-powered GXL that retails for $89,635, the Altitude adds black leather-accented interior, a premium wrapped steering wheel and gear-shift knob, power front seats, fog-lights, a cool box and larger 18-inch alloy wheels with lower profile tyres.

Just 600 Altitudes will be offered to Australian buyers available in five body colours, including Silver Pearl, Graphite and Shimmer, as well as two colours previously reserved for the higher-spec VX and Sahara variants – Crystal Pearl and Eclipse Black.

Gear already found in the GXL that is carried through to the Altitude includes a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen, reversing camera, sat-nav, as well as safety features including eight airbags, trailer sway control, stability and active traction control and a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating.

It also carries a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.

The Altitude is not available with a petrol engine and is powered by Toyota's 195kW/650Nm twin-turbo common-rail turbo-diesel V8, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and consumes 10.3 litres per 100km of fuel on the combined cycle.

The Japanese car-maker's off-road cruise control system, dubbed CRAWL, prevents wheel lock up or spin when traversing difficult terrain by controlling engine output and brake pressure at speeds of up to 25km/h to.

A number of vehicles in Toyota's extensive SUV range have carried the Altitude special edition moniker over the years, including the Prado off-roader, the family-friendly Kluger and the compact RAV4.

The company previously offered the LandCruiser Altitude back in August 2012, which added $4000 worth of extras and was priced from $90,490, plus on-roads.

Toyota Australia said it recently sold its 300,000th LandCruiser, which is the longest running nameplate in the company's history.

Year-to-date sales for the LandCruiser range are down by 12 per cent to 4558 units, compared with 5180 for the same period last year The rugged Japanese-built AWD still dominates its tiny 'upper large SUV under $100,000' segment, with its only competition from the Nissan Patrol, which occupies an 18.4 per cent share with 1026 sales to the end of June this year.