The new generation models are available in ten colors, four of which are brand new
Starting with "Comfort +", an air ionizer Nanoe X was installed, which seemed to kill even coronaviruses
Simulation is still a fundamental decision of the Japanese
The potential of the off-road system is truly enormous
The sofa backrest folds in a 40:20:40 ratio, allowing you to change the volume of an already almost bottomless suitcase
The legendary frame SUV, which has become a symbol of overcoming any obstacle, suddenly decided to make it even more charming, urban. Luckily, it's only partial
The Sredney Peninsula, washed by the Barents Sea, is not Sochi, and test drives have become fashionable in the era of pandemics. Less than 30 kilometers from the nearest bitumen to it – that seems nonsense. But it takes almost three hours to get through them (especially if it rains a lot in these places). Also, as long as you don't hit the wheels on sharp rocks, don't sit on big rocks, don't slip into ditches or get stuck in deep puddles. Roads that are considered navigators are smashed to smithereens by tanks and armored personnel carriers – the army has its favorite training ground here. Climbing here, even in an all-wheel-drive SUV, is almost suicidal. But on average, jeeps - just a stimulus. I can feel it in its entirety.
The last generation of Land Cruisers — with an index of "200" — has lived a lot by automotive standards, up to 14 years. Several redesigns (2012 and 2015) gave the car a new look, but after the second one, it was clear that it was time for the Japanese to create something completely new. So the "300th" fans of "Kruzak" waited with bated breath. And this car was right in front of me.
In principle, the model is recognizable, thanks, among other things, to the dimensions - the distance from the center to the center and the width of the body with "200", and the length has hardly changed. And the fact that they increased ground clearance by half a centimeter is not immediately apparent, especially since the body height has been reduced by 45 millimeters. But at the same time, the look changed — it became more flashy, or whatever. It's as if the rough older ones were groomed, shaved, and dressed in trendy jackets and pants (just the squint of the narrow LED headlights is worth a try). Yes, the "guys" are still energetic and solid, but...
The novelty of the show starts with everything in place. It turns out that Toyota is positioning the model in a new way. The car, which until now was considered an off-road vehicle, is now offered as an off-road vehicle (only the second letter in the word has changed, but more thoroughly – the whole ideology). Even the slogan of taking to the Arctic for test drives was formulated as "conqueror of all roads." Not off-road, everyone is used to, that is, road. While why conquer them, if insignificant mini-cars drive well on asphalt?
It's just that the brand decided to attract customers who focus on the high-end segment. For these, the 70th Anniversary Special Edition is dedicated to the anniversary sale of the model. Equipped with large 20-inch wheels, skylights, adaptive lighting and... A more urban format. Compared to the "Comfort +" of the Off-Road configuration, the "Jubilee" has a smaller approach angle, the bumper is completely painted, and there is no full set of features and systems that facilitate off-road driving.
The trend inside is the same. The salon of the "Seventy", as the reporter said, is covered with natural leather (not the artificial leather in "Comfort +"), the front panel crowns a 12.3-inch monitor (instead of a 9-inch monitor), with heated ventilated sofas, projection monitors, 360° cameras, JBL premium sound system, electric tailgate sensors... In short, everything you need to enjoy a comfortable life in the city. Well, or go on a country trip and a picnic. Those who need a car that can maintain an all-terrain vehicle should look at the "Comfort +", the interior is less contrived, but has a powerful library of assistants and auxiliary systems, the ability to lock three differentials, and a smaller body vulnerable to various injuries.
The 300-piece suitcase retains its volume – an equally impressive 909 litres, and the sofa's backrest recline is adjustable. The fifth door, which previously could be partially opened (up and then folded sideways), has now become one. Some people may regret it.
The first impression of entering the cabin was that the Land Cruiser 300 was tighter than the "200". The second row of knees has less space in front of it, and the sides of the front are narrow—you seem to be pressed in the middle by a giant console, with a deep box on the central aisle and key card. However, later you realize that the range of seat adjustment is only enlarged compared to its predecessor - they can be lowered almost like a passenger car, and the stroke of the steering column has also become larger.
In principle, everything is ergonomically organized: the button joystick is located in a convenient position, the "climate" can be adjusted by the keys - no need to enter the settings jungle through the display. Although the image quality of the rearview camera is average, the large mirror provides excellent visibility. However, this compensates for its gasket to some extent, but the fact that there is no front camera in the "off-road" version of "Comfort+" seems strange - one wonders, how to overcome the most difficult section of the road?
And the usual USB connectors are also in short supply – only one, closer to the driver. Or - a pair of "cigarette lighters" (one per row), and a 220 V socket in the trunk. During the test, we connect a normal extension cable with a T-connector to it and charge the phone.
Curiously, the new 3.3-liter twin-turbo diesel V6 299 horsepower will show itself. and 700 Nm of torque (ordering begins after the test drive). Compared to the previous 4.5-liter V8 engine, the engine performance is improved by 50 "horses" and the same Newton meters.
Waiting for "Snow"
There are many more innovations in the design of the Toyota flagship. Whatever you remember, the words "new" and "improved" will appear: a new frame and body weight reduction of 200 kg, the first platform of a frame vehicle with TNGA's proprietary architecture, new power steering, a reduced center of gravity and optimized axle weight distribution, an updated suspension and braking system, a brand new engine, a gearbox, some electronic assistants, enhanced noise isolation...
Thanks to the impact work of Japanese engineers, Kruzak's braking and control on asphalt roads is definitely better, and on harsh surfaces (potholes and stones), vibrations on the steering wheel are hardly likely to occur. As for the suspension, a lot depends on which version you're riding. The "Jubilee" (with adaptive shock absorbers) is more comfortable for passengers, especially in the second row, and is ideal for asphalt. That can't be said for dirt roads, and even more so for off-roaders, where the Land Cruiser behaves like a pitching boat.
But on the "Comfort+" equipped with an E-KDSS system and adaptive anti-roll bars, it is a pleasure to play outside the asphalt pavement. In the gully, the E-KDSS relaxes grip and increases suspension travel, minimizing the risk of diagonal suspension. In addition to this, there is a powerful arsenal of various assistants - an off-road "cruise" crawl control and multi-terrain selection (now available for up and down gear, and even new modes "Auto" and "Deep Snow" - you will understand that such a car can sometimes even argue with tanks. This shows that throughout the Arctic testing period (sometimes very tough), I never used "lowering" and the SUV effortlessly overcame all obstacles.
However, as far as the Land Cruiser is concerned, this is to be expected. But the performance of this "Japanese" on the highway is surprising. This is not only a good treatment of such a behemoth – the dynamics have turned out to be surprisingly "pleasant". The protagonist here is the new 3.5-litre petrol V6 with two turbines, which produces 415 horsepower. and 650 Nm of torque. Not only did it replace the old naturally aspirated V8 under the hood, it also gave the SUV agility – the car began to accelerate from zero to one hundred percent (6.8 seconds) while increasing its top speed to 210 km/h. The 10-band automatic transmission also promotes this – the most modern of Toyota cars (replacing the 6-band). I confirm that the box runs very smoothly, quickly and quietly. It already has a "seventh" gear – direct, which saves fuel, and thanks to the correct selection of gear ratios, the car can even confidently rise 45 degrees in the "first" gear.
The first on the Russian market is the three configurations of the petrol twin-turbo V6 - the recommended price of "Elegance", "Comfort+" (from 6,914,000 rubles) and the 70th anniversary (at least 7,718,000 rubles) at a recommended price of 5,666,000 rubles. Admittedly, dealers don't care about the numbers, and they can easily make another two or three million thanks to window tinting, corrosion protection, theft protection, and some sort of protective net in the bumper.