Updated Land Cruiser 200 Series launched

THE behemoth Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series now features updated engines, new safety technology and revised styling, with the Sahara receiving the most attention.

Prices have also gone up: start at $76,500 for the entry-level GX and go right up to $118,500 for the top-of-the-range diesel Sahara.

Performance

New injectors and revised mapping of the 4.5-litre turbodiesel V8 have marginally improved power to 200kW, up 5kW, while torque remains at a modest 650Nm.

Combined-cycle fuel consumption drops to 9.5L/100km, an improvement of 7.7 per cent, and CO2 emissions have improved to 250g/km with the addition of a particulate filter.

Economy and emissions for the 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine, which still produces 227kW and 439Nm, have improved to 13.4L/100km and 309g/km, thanks to a secondary air induction through the exhaust ports for faster catalyst warm-up from a cold start.

Both engines continue to drive through six-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive with low range.

Safety

The top-of-the-line Sahara gets improved safety features, including a new four-camera system that grants drivers vision around the vehicle – front, rear and side.

The front camera rotates so the horizon is always displayed level on the enlarged in-car display. An under-floor view displays images taken about three metres ahead of the vehicle to show where the front wheels are placed.

The Sahara has also adopted a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, lane-departure alert and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Styling

All models now feature more aggressive styling, with a new grille, headlamps, bumper, bonnet and fenders at the front, and a restyled rear that includes LED tail lamps.

Upgraded interiors for grades above GX include soft padding around the centre console in areas that come in direct contact with legs.

Extra features

The entry model to the range, the GX, remains bare bones, but gets a 12-volt accessory socket in addition to its 17.0-inch steel wheels and snorkel. It also includes a vertically hinged rear door and vinyl floor covering.

The GXL features include roof rails, LED low-beam headlamps with auto-levelling (static), LED clearance lamps, leather-accented steering wheel and gear-shift knob, a revised analogue instrument cluster and variable intermittent wipers, for the front and rear.

The VX’s new features include dusk-sensing bi-LED headlamps that incorporate dynamic auto-levelling. It also gains side airbags for the outboard second-row seats, as well as LED front fog lamps and daytime running lamps, newly designed Optitron instruments with a 4.2-inch colour multi-information display, and a nine-inch touchscreen display.

The Sahara gains a wireless smartphone charger and revised rear-seat entertainment with screens mounted on the back of the two front seats.

Line-up

The Land Cruiser 200 Series line-up remains as follows: the GX is diesel-only, while the GXL, the VX and the Sahara are available with petrol or diesel engines.

The GX is a five-seater, the diesel VX and Sahara have seven seats and all other grades offer eight seats.

Prices

The upgraded Land Cruiser 200 Series is priced from $76,500 for the GX turbodiesel. Price increases are less than 2.6 per cent for petrol models and between 3.9 and 4.3 per cent for diesel models.

Grade Petrol Diesel

GX - $76,500

GXL $82,000 $87,000

VX $92,500 $97,500

Sahara $113,500 $118,500

Specs

2015 Land Cruiser 200 series

Engine 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 diesel or 4.6-litre V8 petrol

Power 200kW (diesel) or 227kW (petrol)

Torque 650Nm (diesel) or 439Nm (petrol)

Transmission Six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive

Fuel consumption 9.5L/100km (diesel), 13.4L/100km (petrol)

On sale now

Click here to read the full range review of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series.