First of all, the platform is all-new. It’s the first vehicle to ride on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-F platform. The body-on-frame design may be typical, but it has been optimized for weight reduction (less 200 kilograms), weight distribution, better suspension articulation, and a lower center of gravity.

The all-new platform also means brand-new engines for the Land Cruiser. The LC300 drops its V8 engine line-up in favor of two new twin-turbo V6 engines—a 3.5-liter gasoline and a 3.3-liter diesel. The gasoline engine produces 415 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque, while the diesel does 309 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a new 10-speed automatic.

The 2022 Land Cruiser also adopts a world-first Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System or E-KDSS to help keep tires in contact with the ground on rough terrain, and improve road-holding as well. It’s also the first Toyota to benefit from a Multi-Terrain Monitor and Multi-Terrain Select which automatically judges the road conditions and selects the most appropriate driving mode.

The advances in engineering are matched by a design that’s faithful to the Land Cruiser’s heritage and status. Designed under the concept of “functional beauty” it goes for greater sophistication and maturity. It also happens to preserve the dimensions of the current model including overall length and width as well as wheelbase and departure and approach angles.

Inside, the seven-seater Land Cruiser projects a higher level of sensory appeal where the driver and passengers can feel comfortable and safe, regardless of how tough the driving environment is. The latest Toyota Safety Sense active safety package incorporates a pre-collision system that helps avoid a collision or reduce damage by detecting pedestrians (daytime and night-time) and cyclists (daytime). It can also detect oncoming vehicles at intersections and pedestrians crossing the street when the vehicle is turning in either direction. An emergency steering and crash-avoidance function, which assists with steering and lane-keeping, is triggered when the driver performs a steering maneuver to avoid collision.

With all-new 2022 Land Cruiser 300, Toyota is further reinforcing its credentials for Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) together with improved off-road performance and on-road capability, to ensure drivers are at ease with any route they take, and will bring you back safely.

It will officially start sales for global markets as early as this month. No word yet on when it will arrive in the Philippines, but with the national elections slated next year, it’s a sure bet Toyota Motor Philippines is rushing to bring a couple of these Land Cruiser 300s locally to be used as transports for politicos and their cohorts.