The Sahara grade was the top-spec variant in the LandCruiser line-up, but it now sits third in the new 300 Series range, behind the GR Sport and the Sahara ZX.
But it has plenty of potential as a touring vehicle and still offers ample luxury and refinement, as well as real off-road ability and towing capability.
Price and features of the 2023 LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara
The Sahara has a $131,190 price-tag (excluding on-road costs).
The standard features list is substantial and includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen (with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a wireless phone charger, four-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats (with three-position driver’s seat memory), leather-accented trim, head-up display, heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats (outboard), and power-folding third-row seats.
It also has a cooled centre console storage, a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, dual-screen rear entertainment system, and leather-accented seat upholstery.
The Sahara has the 300 Series’ 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel, producing 227kW at 4000rpm and 700Nm from 1600 to 2600rpm.
It has a 10-speed automatic transmission, high- and low-range 4WD as well as a centre diff lock.
The Sahara is 4980mm long (with a 2850mm wheelbase), 1980mm wide, 1950mm high, and has an official kerb weight of 2630kg.
In appearance terms, this is without doubt a Cruiser: chunky, tough-looking and ready to be kitted out with accessories, whether they be Toyota genuine add-ons or aftermarket gear.
At this spec level, it has chrome exterior mirrors and door handles, and dynamic indicators front/rear that add to its understated classy appearance.
The celestite grey premium paint on our test vehicle (pictured) costs $675. Other paint choices include glacier white, ebony, crystal pearl, silver pearl, graphite, merlot red, eclipse black, saturn blue and dusty bronze.
The LandCruiser’s cabin is a very functional and comfortable space, with a real sense of familiarity about it.
All seats are leather-accented, supportive and there are soft-touch surfaces throughout the interior.
The driver gets a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel and ventilated and heated, power-adjustable seat (with three-position seat memory), and the front passenger gets a ventilated and heated, power-adjustable seat.
The Sahara’s 12.3-inch colour touchscreen is a main feature in the cabin and it’s easy to use, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a wireless charging pad near the shifter.
There are USB and USB-C charging points up front.
There’s a cool box/chilly bin in the centre console and its lid can be opened from either side, so driver or passenger can access chilled drinks.
There’s also a powered sunroof/moonroof, whatever you want to call it.
Beyond those features, there are the usual storage spaces, cup holders, receptacles in the doors for bigger bottles, and other spaces for your bits and pieces.
The second row seats are in a 40:20:40 folding configuration, and the third row is a power-folding arrangement that stows away forwards and flat.
The Sahara’s cargo space, when all seven seats are in use, is a listed 175 litres behind the third row. That grows to 1004 litres when the second and third row are stowed away.
The rear cargo area has a 220V/100W inverter and four tie-down points.
What’s the 2023 LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara like to drive?
Steering is light and precise and this 4WD wagon feels highly manoeuvrable.
The turning circle is 11.8m.
The V6 offers plenty of power and torque and it’s all managed very smoothly through the 10-speed auto.
This Cruiser’s on-road ride and handling are composed but it is more soft and comfortable than dynamic. Its suspension – double wishbone, independent at the front and live axle and multi-links at the rear, and coils all-round – soaks up most irregularities in any road surface.
Its ventilated disc brakes all-round brought the big Cruiser to a controlled stop during our emergency-braking scenarios on test.
When it comes to off-roading, the Sahara-spec LandCruiser misses out on some of the handy 4WD gear that the two higher grades (Sahara ZX and GR Sport) get, namely Toyota’s swaybar-disconnect equivalent electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (including onboard the GR Sport), front and rear differential locks (GR Sport), adaptive variable suspension (Sahara ZX and GR Sport) and a rear torque-sensing Limited Slip Differential (ZX).
But, having said that, it managed all obstacles at our testing ground without any trouble.
The 200 Series’ V8 was a great engine, but the V6 in the 300 Series produces more power and more torque – up 27kW and 50Nm – than the bigger engine. And that power and torque is consistently delivered across a broad rev range.
That 10-speed automatic transmission is very clever and is never caught out, hunting through ratios for the sweet spot.
High- and low-range gearing are solid in the 300 Series, and the Cruiser has a 50:50 centre diff lock.
The suite of driver assist tech, aimed at making your driving life off-road easier and safer, is comprehensive: traction control system has been fine-tuned over previous versions, and is now precise in its application.
The 300’s multi-terrain select system gives you the option of cycling through driving modes – for example, Sand, Mud and Rock – to suit the terrain you're driving on. In action. The modes adjust vehicle systems, throttle, engine output etc to give you the best chance possible of getting through every obstacle safely.
Off-road measurements and angles are sound for this part of the market: ground clearance is 235mm, wading depth is 700mm, and approach, ramp-over and departure angles are 32, 21, and 25 degrees respectively.
If you’re planning to use your Cruiser for anything more difficult than dry-track 4WDing in good weather then look for some more aggressive all-terrain tyres to replace the standard Bridgestone Dueler all-terrains (265/65 R18).
The 300 Series can legally tow 750kg unbraked, and 3500kg braked.
Official fuel consumption is 8.9L/100km on a combined cycle.
Our fuel consumption on test, from fill to fill, was 12.8L/100km. The Sahara has an 80-litre main fuel tank and a 30L sub-tank so, going by those fuel figures, you could reasonably expect a driving range of about 860km from a full tank.
All of the 300 Series line-up, except the GR Sport, have the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in January 2022.
Safety gear includes 10 airbags, two Isofix anchor points, as well as AEB with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, Active Cruise Control (all-speed), Lane Departure Alert (with brake to steer), Road Sign Assist (speed signs only), Trailer Sway Control, and more.
Off-road driver-assist tech includes crawl control, downhill assist, hill-start assist, multi-terrain select, multi-terrain monitor with panoramic view, and active traction control.
A five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty applies to the 300 Series LandCruiser Sahara.
Capped-price servicing applies to the first 10 services at a cost of $375 each.
Service intervals are scheduled for every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
Owners may extend the engine and driveline warranty to seven years by adhering to service schedules.
What we think of the 2023 LandCruiser 300 Series Sahara
The LandCruiser 300 Series in Sahara spec strikes a nice balance between prestige and practicality.
It’s a very impressive seven-seater, 4WD wagon – it’s refined, nice to drive and maintains that LandCruiser reputation as an adventure-ready vehicle – but it has a hefty price-tag.
I reckon the lower-spec GXL offers a nice compromise between price and features as long as you don’t mind missing out on leather seats, the cooler box and the 14-speaker JBL sound system.