Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara 2023 review (w/ off-road test): the best 300 Series model?

Tom reviews the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series Sahara including on-road AND off-road driving at our test track.

The Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara is a luxurious full-sized 4WD sold for about $140K in Australia. It uses a 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 engine that makes 227kW of power (304 hp). That engine replaced the old V8 in the 200 Series.

But is the Sahara the best model of Land Cruiser to buy, or should you consider the VX, GR Sport or some other 300 Series?

Time codes:
0:00 - Hype Reel
0:10 - Intro
0:45 - Price
1:22 - V6 Engine
2:04 - Off-Road Driving
4:45 - On-Road Driving
7:26 - Interior
9:54 - Second Row
10:57 - Third Row
12:29 - Boot & Cargo Space
13:57 - Running Costs
15:11 - Final Verdict

The LC300 is a rival to the Nissan Patrol, Volkswagen Touareg and also some ute-based wagons like the Prado and Ford Everest.

As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct - so this is an independent, honest review of the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Chasing Cars is Australia's most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!

[terrificspokesman]

The reason the servicing is at 6 months is to keep the vehicles reliable. Other companies put ridiculous service intervals which causes engine issues in the long run. I mean Toyota cars are reliable even if maintained poorly but it's better to service the car at Toyota intervals.

[sugarmokke]

I’m very glad that the land cruiser Sahara is very off-road capable, I’m going to buy a land cruiser 300 series zx in philippines

[herizorakotomavo]

Just discovered your channel. Very good videos. I am about to buy my LC300 VX-R. Watching you from Madagascar 🇲🇬

[peterj]

The V8 is missed by many but the old 6 speed auto isn’t. The biggest loss for those of us who use these things for touring and camping is the loss of the split tailgate.

[prosperpersonelle]

Plz make a comparison against the G wagon 63 .bronco raptor. And Rubicon 392.non bias

[isy]

You said you can only get beige interior on the Sahara and not the VX? The VX is available with beige interior.

[markward]

I test drove one the other day it was great vehicle to drive. I have intentions of buying a VX to tow my caravan $125k, but was seriously disappointed with some of its lack of features that have become standard in other vehicles. No heated steering wheel, No auto rear door, no head up display My wife’s run a round Hyundai has that for half the price. 😮

[jerryfrench]

I bought one today. If money was no option I would have gone for a Range Rover sport but I didn't have an extra 80K. I also looked at the defender but for a similar spec it was 180K.

[lukemcfarland]

As a TD 200 Sarah owner. I can tell you this new 300 is built of the softer generation Quite frankly

[Rick-kjdd]

Tom you came across a little cynical in this review but I don't blame you. $143, 000 for the vehicle but as you said it has loose steering, average sound system, some safety aids don't work. You said when things don't work just turn them off. Big time delays with the electric seats. I know there are positives but a lot of negatives when you spending this amount of coin!!

[aslnzzzrt]

Just love the view over the front hood.

[mazdar]

They’re supposed to make newer models better. They haven’t. Less space in the front row. Less in the middle. Suspension that absorbs big bumps but amplifies the tiny ones. I’m glad Toyota did what they did, because it rules them out completely and narrows the selection of my next purchase.

[JustinLO-yi]

After Market Split tail gate can be inserted.
Its done in South Africa ❤

[croydonq]

Wow really surprised by the top 3. Great comparison.

[billybob]

Is it genuinely quiet at motorway speeds on coarse chip? One independent Aussie 4x4 youtuber says his biggest issue with his 300 Sahara ZX (on factory wheels and tyres) is the road noise. He says its got more road noise than his 200 series.
I just sold a next Gen V6 Everest cause the road noise was terrible. All the reviewers says its a quiet car but I found the opposite.
Tom, do you think the 300 series is a lot better than next Gen Everest for highway noise?

[richieduck]

A lot of people are putting aftermarket power tailgates on the VX

[electrikoptik]

I find it interesting that the luxury top-spec 300-series in NZ (VX-limited which is the same as OZ's ZX) gets the same body style as the Sahara albeit with 20 inch wheels.

[alvinburr]

Will you guys be reviewing the new Range Rover Sport? I'm trying to decide if stepping up to the RR is worth the extra money.

[toejoe]

If you work out the GVM and GCM figures on this vehicle with 3500 kg caravan hooked up, it’s almost impossible to travel legally.
Not worth the money for touring.
If consumers started to work this out prices would drop because most vehicles are not fit for purpose.

[chrisperera]

Hi Team

Under the fuel type required you stated the fuel economy and not the fuel needed.