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.