Well, it seems the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 has decided to grace Indian roads once again, much to the delight of people who enjoy their motoring with a healthy dose of indestructibility. Toyota has brought in not just one, but two variants – the ZX and the GR-S – and you can now place an order for one, provided you have between Rs 2.31 crore and Rs 2.41 crore lying around, which, let's be honest, most of us don't.
As before, this hulking brute will come to India via the Completely Built-Up (CBU) route because assembling it locally would be far too simple. And true to its lineage, the new Land Cruiser is still an uncompromising, go-anywhere, survive-anything SUV with all the bells and whistles to keep you comfortable while you pretend you're starring in an episode of Planet Earth.
Toyota insists that the LC300 is more aerodynamic than before, but let's not kid ourselves – it's still a giant, imposing box on wheels. The front gets a chunky chrome grille with horizontal slats, which Toyota claims makes it look even more 'commanding.' The LED headlights feature integrated washers, which is a great feature if you frequently find yourself ploughing through muddy riverbeds.
The GR-S variant is where things get a bit more aggressive. Instead of the usual Toyota badge, it gets 'TOYOTA' spelt out in large, shouty letters across the grille. It also sports blacked-out alloy wheels, GR-S badging, and red accents that say, 'Yes, I do in fact take my off-roading very seriously.' Meanwhile, the ZX variant sticks to a more traditional look, probably because its buyers don't feel the need to prove anything.
Buyers get precisely two colour options – Precious White and Attitude Black – because any other shade would just be too exciting for Toyota's liking.
Step inside, and things get considerably more upmarket. There's premium leather upholstery, soft-touch materials, and enough technology to make you feel like you've just climbed into a spaceship. The ZX trim offers Neutral Beige and Black interiors, while the GR-S comes with Black and Dark Red – or if you prefer, GR-S Black, which presumably makes you a more serious off-roader.
The tech list is long enough to rival a Mercedes-Benz S-Class: a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 14-speaker JBL sound system, four-zone climate control, a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment, a head-up display, and memory functions for both the steering and the front seats. If you get lost in all the features, there's probably a setting to remind you where you parked your own car.
Being a Land Cruiser, it also comes loaded with proper off-road kit, including Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), Multi-Terrain Monitor, adaptive variable suspension, crawl control, downhill assist control, and differential locks (front and rear for the GR-S). In other words, if you somehow manage to get this thing stuck, you're either very, very ambitious or catastrophically unlucky.
Under the bonnet, Toyota has stuck with a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel, producing 309 bhp and a rather significant 700 Nm of torque. It's mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, which means you'll be shifting gears about as frequently as the moon changes phases. Power goes to all four wheels because of that, obviously, and with that much torque on tap, it'll probably tow your house if needed.
The price? Well, at Rs 2.31 crore for the ZX and Rs 2.41 crore for the GR-S (ex-showroom), it's not what you'd call affordable. That puts it right up against the Mercedes-Benz GLS, the BMW X7, and, of course, the Range Rover. But unlike those, the Land Cruiser is less about being seen outside posh hotels and more about conquering the Amazon rainforest without breaking a sweat.
Interestingly, it's also the chosen ride for India's Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite force responsible for ferrying around the country's most important political figures. So, if it's good enough for the Prime Minister, it's probably good enough for the rest of us—if we can afford it.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is still the Land Cruiser we know and love—rugged, reliable, and capable of surviving an apocalypse. Sure, it's more expensive than ever, but with all the luxury, tech, and off-road prowess packed in, it remains one of the most formidable SUVs money can buy. And let's be honest, there's a certain charm in knowing your vehicle will outlive both you and the planet itself.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to pretending I can afford one.
