Land Cruiser of plenty

With a revered list of forebears and giant tyre tracks to fill, much is expected from the all-new Land Cruiser 300

- Mark Samuel

Price: R1 811 900 Engine: 3,3-litre V6 turbodiesel Transmission: 10-speed automatic Power: 225 kW@ 4 000 r/min Torque: 700 N.m@ 1 600-2 600 r/min 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: 210 km/h Fuel consumption: 8,90 L/100 km* CO²: 238 g/km Rivals: Land Rover Defender 110; Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Nissan Patrol

Based on reputation alone, there aren't too many fourwheel-drive vehicles I'd entrust with my life. When it comes down to it, is there anything that matters more than a vehicle's track record? What's come before speaks volumes about quality, durability and reliability. It gives us a pretty accurate sense of what to expect from a new model because it tells us if a manufacturer knows what they're doing .

In the world of off-road vehicles, specifically in the Southern Africa context, few contenders withstand reputational scrutiny quite like the Toyota Land Cruiser. It's a name that's revered ... one uttered in glowing terms around campfires, game lodges and farmers' meetings for generations; a reputation that's been hard-earned over millions of kilometres of arduous terrain.

It's been 14 years since the first Land Cruiser 200 series was launched here. That widely loved model followed the highly successful earlier versions: the 60 series of the '80s, the 80 series from '91 to '97, and the 100 series from '98 to 2007. After the launch of the first 200, a few fresh iterations rolled onto dealership floors and then out into the backcountry in the ensuing years but, beneath the tweaks and refinements, the supremely capable and comfortable substructure remained, gaining countless devotees along the way.