THE ELDER STATESMAN

TOYOTA’S AGEING LANDCRUISER 200 IS IN ITS LAST YEARS, SO WE NABBED ONE FOR A FINAL RUN.

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

THE current model LandCruiser 200 has been with us for more than 12 years and is well up for replacement. If you listen to the rumours, that a replacement is not far away and an all-new Cruiser should be with us within the next year. What form the next LandCruiser takes is all speculation at this point, but with newer rivals in the form of the also ageing Nissan Patrol Y62 and the seemingly sprightly latest Land Rover Discovery, and also the new Defender, the old Cruiser surely needs upgrading.

The LC200 is ageing gracefully and, despite its years, or perhaps because of them, it outsells the sportier Patrol more than five to one (VFACTs figures to April 2020) and the Discovery barely rates a mention, while the Defender is yet to show its form. As the sun sets on the 200 we thought it time to sample one again and see just what makes it so popular with Australian buyers.

POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE

THE LC200 only comes with a single powertrain no matter what specification you go for. The twin-turbocharged version of the 1VD-FTE V8 diesel engine makes a lazy 200kW of power and 650Nm of torque. I say lazy as the Cruiser never seems to raise a sweat in delivering its performance, and those power and torque numbers are moderate when compared to what many smaller capacity modern engines put out.

This conservative tune from Toyota means the big Cruiser ambles along at highway pace yet still has the grunt you want when you put your foot down to overtake, tackle a steep climb or for towing.