LandCruiser 200 Series steps up a level on pricing

TOYOTA has launched its bullocking LandCruiser 200 Series in Australia, taking it more upmarket than ever before with a vast amount of equipment, high levels of sophistication and more powerful and economical petrol and diesel engines – including a mighty 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 diesel.

Full details and comprehensive drive impressions will appear on GoAuto.com.au from Thursday, November 8, but pricing and equipment details of the range – which comprises two V8 auto options across three specification grades – show that the entry price has increased by $14,000 following the discontinuation of the standard-grade 100 Series, which last sold for $53,990.

It is a substantial price rise for the 200, but there is much more standard equipment on offer to sooth prospective buyers.

Opening the 200 Series batting is the GXL petrol auto, priced at $69,990. It features switchable VSC stability and ATC traction control, multi-terrain ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, plus Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) to eliminate vehicle roll-back during start-off on steep surfaces.

Turbo-diesel examples come standard with Downhill Assist Control (DAC), which controls speed on steep descents.

All models also feature an automatic transmission, full-time 4WD system, 17-inch alloy wheels (including a full-size spare), dual-zone front climate-control air-conditioning with pollen filter, twin front airbags, twin front side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags for all three rows, second-row outboard seatbelt pretensioners, keyless Smart Entry and Smart Start, adjustable first and second-row seatbelt anchors, auto-locking third-row seatbelt retractors, key reminder warning, in-glass radio antenna, power windows, a six-speaker sound system and a rear spoiler.

Priced at $79,990 ($4550 more than the 100 Series GXL), the GXL turbo-diesel is expected to be the biggest-selling 200 Series variant and is claimed to gain $6390 in extra equipment, including a new V8 diesel, Torsen centre diff, HAC, DAC and Smart Entry/Start.

Stability control, multi-terrain ABS and side and curtain airbags are all new to LandCruiser.

Also new is the Australian-invented Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which comes standard on all but the volume-selling GXL turbo-diesel, buyers of which pay an extra $2500.

The mid-range VX gains twin front knee airbags, twin second-row side airbags, leather seats, leather steering wheel, leather gearshifter, powered front seats, privacy glass, front foglights, matt side steps, power windows, sunroof, door courtesy lights, overhead console, trip computer, Optitron instruments, a 40:20:40 split-folding second-row seat (in lieu of 60:40 split) with twin cupholders in the centre armrest, front seat-back pockets, rear map lights, an alarm system and woodgrain interior dash trim.

The VX costs $10,000 more than the GXL, priced at $79,990 for the petrol (the same as the diesel GXL) and $89,990 for the diesel. While the petrol VX gains a sub fuel tank, both VX versions come with KDSS as standard.

Finally, the range-topping Sahara adds a reversing camera, satellite DVD navigation with touch-screen and Bluetooth connectivity, a nine-speaker sound system with six-CD/DVD/MP3 changer, four-zone climate-control, steering wheel controls, a power-adjustable steering wheel, power-folding wing mirrors, headlight washers, anti-glare rear-view mirror, a wood/leather gearshifter, a cool box and remote audio controls on the steering wheel.

The Sahara costs a big $15,000 more than the VX, at $94,990 (petrol) and $104,990 (diesel). Both petrol and diesel versions come with KDSS as standard.

Instead of the DAC system offered with diesel versions, all petrol models have Crawl Control, which works in conjunction with the new multi-terrain ABS to automatically control the engine and brakes to maintain speeds of less than 10km/h in both (low-range) forward and reverse.

Toyota Australia will offer a fixed-price service plan, which covers up to six standard scheduled services during the three-year/60,000km warranty period, each costing $180 for a total cost of $1080.

Nine exterior paint colours are available: Glacier White, Crystal Pearl, Silver Pearl, Graphite, Ebony, Merlot Red, Gold Metallic, Goldrush and Blue Storm.

Genuine 200 Series Toyota accessories will include an alloy bumper-replacing bullbar, a heavy-duty steel bullbar, winch, alloy roof rack, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, 150kg three-bar roof rack set, 170kg alloy luggage tray and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Toyota expects to match or better the 100 Series' selling rate of 800 per month by selling around 10,000 examples in the first year of sales, two-thirds of which are expected to go to current LandCruiser owners and two-thurds of which will be diesel.

“Everything Toyota has learnt in half a century of building four-wheel drives has gone into the design, development and manufacturing of the new LandCruiser 200,” said Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.

“It has retained the capability of the original LandCruiser, and added the comfort and convenience of a luxury sedan. New LandCruiser is more than a step forward it's a giant leap ahead in technology, performance, specification and value.”

Full details and comprehensive drive impressions will appear on GoAuto.com.au from Thursday, November 8.