Toyota LandCruiser 200 GX review

Toyota’s new Land Cruiser 200 Series variant is badged a GX, but the compliance plate tags it as a ‘Commercial’, the handbook a ‘Station Wagon’.

Whatever the name, this new Cruiser lowers the entry point into the rarefied world of the 200 Series diesel by near-on $10,000, offering a back-to basics vehicle that will appeal to the commercial/rural sector and the recreational 4X4 buyer alike.

For the $79,990 (plus on-roads) asking price you still get the full-strength twin-turbo 4.5-litre V8 diesel complete with its sweet six-speed auto, and the full raft of electronic chassis systems (stability, traction and crawl control) from the GXL. The GX also has front, side and curtain airbags. But gone from the GXL grade are the third-row seats, carpet floors, proximity ignition key, alloy wheels, and horizontally split rear tailgate, to name the key differences.

In their place, the GX has five seats, vinyl floor coverings, a conventional ignition key, steel wheels and rear ‘barn’ doors. It also comes standard with a snorkel. Not surprisingly, it is lighter than the GXL (and higher grades) and therefore has a slightly higher 710kg payload.