Booked the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300: Test drive experience

Yes, there is a 4-year waiting period. I've been given a delivery date for March 2026.

BHPian mohitchalla recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background

Like many on this platform, the Land Cruiser has been a childhood automotive crush of mine. Ever since the 300 series Land Cruiser was announced, I have been wanting to drive it. After contacting numerous Toyota dealerships in and around Tokyo for several weeks, I was finally able to get hold of the car. Although I was interested in the GR Sport diesel variant, only the ZX petrol was available for a test drive. I booked a test drive and arrived at the dealership a little earlier than my scheduled appointment. And there she was, parked right by the entrance in all her beauty. After a short discussion and confirming that I have a driver’s license, the salesman led me to the vehicle and we went for a test drive.

The following is not a detailed review. There are several videos available on the internet for that. I am just briefly sharing my personal experience with the car.

Test drive

The cabin felt comfortable and luxurious, as it should for the price. The dashboard with its comprehensive layout, massive screen and lots of switches was overwhelming at first. It is hard to believe how much space there is between the driver and the front passenger. There is a lot of feel-good factor in the cabin both in terms of the layout as well as the feel of the material.

After adjusting my seat position and the mirrors, I started the car and the twin-turbo, petrol V6 roared to life. It was barely audible inside the heavily insulated cabin. While the huge size of the vehicle and the commanding driving position was expected, I was pleasantly surprised with the turning radius and the light steering. The exit from the dealership required a u-turn in a tight space for the size of the car. I was able to drive it out without ever engaging the reverse gear. For those who are wondering, I did not engage the turn assist function, which would further reduce the turning radius. The electric-assist hydraulic steering is a breeze to use. The steering feels light but engaging.

Once I started driving on the street, I was able to truly appreciate how wide the car is. It barely leaves any space on Japan’s narrow lanes. The twin-turbo V6 always has plenty of power to offer. Just press the pedal and the car leaps ahead. The 10-speed automatic is extremely smooth and I never felt the shifts. The ride is extremely smooth on the well-paved streets of Tokyo. However, when entering and exiting a parking lot, there was a bouncy feel when the car moved from one surface to the other which was not expected. Although I believe that the 20” rims on the ZX were to be blamed. The 18” rims on the GR Sport are expected to provide a smoother experience.

The drive consisted of urban streets and some highways as well. I wanted to take it off-road but there really is nothing available in the greater Tokyo area. While it was a pleasant experience, I wish I could go for a longer test drive. The salesman has assured me that when the diesel GR Sport variant becomes available, he will schedule a longer test drive for me, including some off-roading.

Booking experience

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, there is a 4-year waiting period. The approximate delivery is promised in March 2026. I don’t mind this as it will give me enough time to plan my finances and prepare the budget for the Land Cruiser.

• Variant booked: GR Sport Diesel 5-Seater. I do not need a 3-row car.
• Base price: JPY 8 Million.
• Options added: Fridge in the centre arm-rest, sun-roof, Toyota Connect 12.3” JBL infotainment system, floor mats.
• Price with the options: JPY 9 Million (Insurance and other miscellaneous costs not included).

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Takes 9 months for a human being, the most majestic creation of God. Yet, an XUV700 can take 2 years and a Land Cruiser 4 years.

Great report man! For those who can wait, awesome. But once I decide on a car, I usually find it in the pre-owned market in <3 months. 4 years is not my cup of tea.

Here's what you can do though = get a pre-owned Landcruiser 200 series (or the iconic 80 series), while you wait for your 300.

Here's what BHPian @og_adi had to say on the matter:

Congratulations on booking the LC300. You might be the first BHPian to get this car, so it is pretty obvious an ownership review is a must (Looks like TBHP should wait for 4 years for that to happen, but I hope the car meets you sooner). Rs 58 lakhs for a Land Cruiser is an incredible value proposition considering the fact that the Fortuner Legender 4×4 costs about Rs 54 lakhs OTR in Bengaluru. Congrats once again on living the dream!

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