Top 5: Best-selling Bush Wagons - 2.Toyota LandCruiser 200
Toyota LandCruiser 200 – 11,562 sales Year To Date, October 2018
The LandCrusier was once the undisputed King of 4x4s in Australia, and while that title may no longer be reflected in top-dog sales status, it’s still one of the most capable and trusted 4x4 wagons on the market.
The LandCrusier 200 is available with either a 4.6-litre petrol V8 engine or a 4.5-litre twin-turbo-diesel V8 engine, and prices range from $78,190 to $120,330 depending on model grade.
There’s no doubt that TDV8 is the pick of the powertrains for those who want to travel long distances in the bush, and it’s certainly a pearler of an engine, producing a claimed 200kW of power at 3600rpm and 650Nm of torque from 1600-2600rpm. The LC200 comes with a six-speed automatic transmission and all variants have a full-time 4x4 system with a Torsen limited-slip-centre differential.
The LandCruiser has separate body-on-chassis construction with an IFS with double wishbones and coil struts and a four-link live-axle rear with coil springs. The Cruiser is a big wagon, measuring five-metres in length, and with the TDV8 engine its kerb weight ranges from 2640-2740kg depending on grade. The base-spec GX TDV8 is a five-seater, the GXL TDV8 is an eight-seater and the VX and Sahara TDV8 models are seven-seaters. All models have a 3500kg maximum braked towing capacity and handy 138L fuel capacity.
The $78,190 LandCruiser GX is a basic bit of kit with 17-inch steel wheels, barn-door rear-end, vinyl floor covering, cloth-covered seats, raised air intake with pre-cleaner, air conditioning, power windows, 12V plug up front, cruise control, satnav, four-speaker sound system with Bluetooth connectivity, Crawl control (Incorporating Off-road Turn Assist), Multi-Terrain ABS, VSC, Active Traction Control (A-TRC), HAC, a full suite of SRS air bags and an engine immobiliser.
The $89,580 LandCruiser GXL TDV8 adds 17-inch alloys, a horizontally-split tailgate, privacy glass, side steps, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, reversing camera, 6.1-inch touchscreen display, satnav, six-speaker sound system, LED headlamps with auto levelling and LED clearance lamps.
There’s a significant price jump to the $99,990 LandCruiser VX, but on top of GXL features it comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system, rain-sensing wipers, four-zone climate control air conditioning, a 9-inch Electro Multi Vision touchscreen, bi-LED headlamps with dynamic auto levelling, daytime running lamps, moon roof, leather accented interior and faux woodgrain trim, power adjustable front seats and front and rear parking sensors.
The top-spec $120,330 LandCruiser Sahara TDV8 adds luxury and convenience features such as automatic high beam, front- and second-row seat heaters, rear-seat entertainment system, cool box, driver’s seat memory function, power tailgate, four-camera multi-terrain monitor, and active cruise control.
There’s no doubt that the LandCruiser 200 is one of the most comfortable and capable long-distance bush tourers on the market, and this is reflected in its still-impressive sales tally, despite its premium price tag. Like Prado, you can get just about any aftermarket accessory you can think of to improve the LC200’s bush suitability, from protection equipment to upgraded suspension systems and even GVM upgrades.
