Top 10 Good & Bad: 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (GR Sport)

2023 Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport (300 Series)
227kW (309PS) / 700Nm, 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel
10-speed auto transmission with four-wheel drive
Official average fuel consumption: 8.9L/100km
Boot space: 1131L/2052L
Price: AU$142,101 (not including on-road costs, at time of upload)

The LandCruiser is designed for exploring the land. So if you only drive it in town or in the city, you’re kind of missing the point and potentially wasting your money. It is a bit cumbersome and it is going to feel out of place.

However, if you are planning to do a lot of travelling around the country, exploring areas you haven't been before, including in remote locations, then the 300 Series Toyota LandCruiser GR Sport is absolutely the ideal vehicle for it.

It is very unlikely to get stuck off road or break down thanks to its differential locks and clever drive modes, and it can accommodate all the family and tow a big trailer or caravan with plenty of allowable weight leftover...
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[drivingenthusiastaustralia]

0-100 comparison between 300 Series V6 and 200 Series V8 at 6:34

[davidlewington]

Owned the GRS for a few months and a few thousand kilometres including towing, highway, light offroad as yet, country and urban driving

BEST THINGS
1) Agree with Reputation and potential resale value if reliability proves to be as good as forebears
2) Agree with off road spec with eKDMSS, cross axle and center lockers, drive modes, phenomenal traction control, and live rear axle
3) Agree the boot is huge and the car to match with a commanding driving position
4) Agree with *comparatively* good GCM (more in another post)
5) Agree with the manual buttons and switches rather than tons of menu driven screen options
6) Agree with excellent surround view cameras including offroading and reversing. One niggle is no reverse view override in Drive.
7) Agree with great visibility and aforementioned commanding driving position
8) Looks are subjective . I preferred the Defender initially but the LC300 really grows on you. Kinda fit for purpose non pretentious simplicity.
9) Agree with V6 engine . It is awesome. Mine is not using extra oil thus far even though it is designed that it may do so (another topic). Similarly, Hot V6 not an issue as yet but I believe Toyota would have done their homework, only time will tell
10) Agree with decent feature lists including HUD (which I think is extra even on top model Defenders?), heated and cooled seats, AC power outlet, icebox etc and 4 way air con including in boot for the dogs.
This can be controlled from rear or from drivers position.(again, not standard on top Defender models, 2.5 k extra for 3 zone air with rear assist)

I WOULD ADD TO BEST THINGS
11) The GPS Navigation is great and integrates with the center digital display as well as HUD
12) Love the HUD. All cars at this price should have it included
13) sound system and JBL speakers are great
14) It is seriously fun and easy to drive on road.Yes it is a ladder frame, not monocoque and a big beast.The adaptive dampers and extra drive modes on this GRS model IMO are indispensable.It really does help tighten it up for tighter turns and especially undulating roads where it can feel otherwise like a boat.Should be standard on lesser models.No, it doesn't drive like a Porsche, it is a different fun, and you can take it off road and tow (yes, you can tow with a Cayenne but I would not around Australia).
15) Subjectively, I prefer the interior and controls over the "utilitarian" open shelf style Defender. I agree some of the trimmings are cheap looking for the price. I agree it should have a rotary Volume control and mute button (if you hold MODE button on steering wheelit does mute volume)
16)Overall the driver assistance and safety features and radar cruise control are excellent. The things that are annoying you can turn off
17) lots of little niceties like automatically turning on/off park brake in Park or Drive, heated steering wheel, nice big clear entertainment and info panel, lots of customisations, button to turn off rear collision alert when towing (although it should happen automatically when connect hitch plug socket)

WORST THINGS (you mentioned)
Some niggles already discussed above
1) On Road stability. Discussed above (14)
2) Rear door configuration - pros and cons
3) No 7 seat option. My preference is 5 but don't know why 7 seat is not an option
4) High floor. Has not been an issue
5) Button placement. generally great. Yes they should have grouped lockers together
6) 10 speed transmission IME is awesome. Def not a negative. I think just maybe it might have hunted once.
7) Beeps. Yes but you can turn them down and various things off. No problem for us
8) easy scratch paint, . Dunno, maybe but not so far
8b) Tow bar appearance. Yes the raw exposed appearance when tow ball is fitted is just weird, like a major oversight.
9 AND 10) Waiting Times and Price

I WOULD ADD TO WORST BITS
11) They are being supplied with only one FOB Key. Lose it and your car is a paperweight.(a whole new topic)
12) No lumbar support for front passenger. Nuts in this price range
13) No tire pressure monitoring in a $150k off road vehicle.It is included on the drivers display on some models in some markets, Why NOT Australia
14) Overall the driver assistance features are excellent including the one that semi auto pilots the steering in cruise control but the exception is the lane keeping thing by braking. It is potentially dangerous esp if towing. I am getting used to it. Good news is can turn down the sensitivity and I think permanently turn off. There is also a steering wheel button that toggles it off .
15) The boot area should be all tough rubberized material (like Defender) not plastic, and should have no carpet on rear of back seats. Plastic scuffs easily and carpet, no way esp if you have dogs.Also, the rubber trim on bottom ledge of boot comes off far too easily.

[mohalim]

Great car as always. BUT pls bring back the horizontally-split rear tail-gate: so practical, so sensible.

[mauzouq]

In Middle East we have the 7 seats and both gasoline and diesel

[valley]

I still prefer the 2023 Land Cruiser GR Sport than the new 2024. Wanted it in North America.

[gjeess]

With regards to Gross Vehicle Mass (GCM) and Gross Combined Mass (GCM) weight limits, a very high proportion of people towing caravans do so illegally, no matter which tow vehicle (LC 300 or other), this is all okay until something goes wrong! Although the LC300 is a big unit its carrying capacity is limited, and can easily be exceeded. For example, the GVM weight of the LC300 GR is 3, 280kg less the tare weight of 2, 630kg giving you a carrying capacity of 650kg. If the car is carrying a full tank of fuel, two adults, and a reasonable amount of luggage in the boot and you could add in excess of 400+kg to the vehicle weight. Then the ball weight of the caravan is added to the tow car, and if you're towing a 3500kg caravan the ball weight could reach 350kg, thus making your car exceed its weight limit by around 100kg. This amount doesn't sound much in the big scheme of things, however, should the driver be involved in an accident they may be found at fault, and insurance may not cover their vehicle - for an LC300 GR, that's a loss of around $160k. Before setting off on any journey drivers should seek professional advice from weigh stations and suspension specialists. Pending a person's situation it may be advisable to upgrade the GVM/GCM either before (preferably) or after registration from a suspension or off-road specialist.

[unna]

People who complain prbs never own any. Every car will have lil things People wont be happy about 1st world problem. I owed Mitsubishi triton, hilux 2016, fortuner and drive other car like mux, ford and 79 series thru my career in perth and mining . Lc300 vx is one of the best car i own . Comfort, nice infotainment, safety and tow good .

[benvisagie]

Good review, however I’ve got the petrol 3.5 t and the gearbox and engine is in my mind a very good combination, on the open road it changes unnoticed to a lower gear uphill. If you prod it a bit it makes for very quick overtaking. No cmoarison to the old six speed. Of course no comparison in perforamce tobthe V8, and fuel consumption very much the same as the V8 D. An amazing car. In my mind the biggest negative of the car is the poor oversensitive lane change system braking the car, and the variable speed control braking through sweeping bends unnecessarily. Cant they consult with Volvo to get the safety systems sorted out?

[regmatt]

Damn you guys are lucky to get this beast, we in usa just got LC recently with puny engine total bogus with the exact shape to replica the gx 550 which has better v6 ...

[luism.bogaert]

I have a black one and must agree with you of the quality of the paint. For such an expensive car they should have done better, cheers.

[Rbthm]

Great new segment Brett, keep up the awesome work !

[robertlewis]

VERY TRUE
THANK YOU
YES ARE HIGH COST TO BUY WHEN WAIT LONG LONG TIME JUST BUY ONE

[noahrodriguez]

Wish we got this in the US instead of the newest rendition of the LC

[catchawakeup]

You forgot too mention the diesel engine high oil consumption

[MidnightPursuit]

The only thing I dislike is that last generation infotainment system….bit of a let down in my view considering it is a all new vehicle

[bencilpa]

#3 9:24 Diesel ones does not have the 3rd seat row but gasoline one does have. I got myself a 7seat gr.

[ellerslieonwillcyrus]

Great review, I have a GR and I 100% agree

[jamesrebbechi]

At those dollars its looking a lot like the base new prado for this punter.

[neliusbasson]

Nice car park review, seriously - this monster was parked and sometimes idling in … a car park.. assume you don’t have a driving license or permission to drive and record the actual beast? Paper with notes on in hand helped, made it look like reviewing a Yaris

[s_t]

In my country we have a GR Sport 7 Seater option, diesel and petrol