DJ200R-GNMNZ (GX) 5 Speed 1 Reverse M/T 94,493.00
GRJ200R-GNMNK (GX) 5 Speed 1 Reverse M/T 78,730.00
VDJ200R-GNTEZ (VX) (Triptonic Transmission, both A/T or M/T) 110,393.00

Toyota Landcruiser GX Manual, 4.5 litre (4461 CC) twin turbo, diesel powered.

The following items are standard with the model:- Cloth interior, two air bags in front (Passenger and driver), ABS brakes, Air conditioned (With rear remote blower but no temp control), Sound system (with CD, Radio and CASSETTE (can you still buy cassettes?), assist grips, power tilt mirrors and manual retract (they don’t fold away, so get a car guard), roof racks, permanent four wheel drive. Power steering and windows, Foldable rear seats to increase packing space (All seats can be folded flat to create a station wagon loading effect). Anti theft system, vanity mirrors and a couple of other features that I am sure you can get the details of yourself, with the exception of two items. The fuel filter – this has a life expectancy of up to 350,000 Kms if you use the right fuel and keyless entry.

I know nothing about fuel filters, so all I can tell you is that if you buy a Landcruiser and use the right fuel, you will save a fortune in service costs over the life of the vehicle.

On the keyless entry –this I can write about, it’s a pleasure. All you need is the remote in your pocket or on your person, and you can open the door. The vehicle can detect the electronic key within 80 -100 metres away, enabling the door unlocking and locking function. Within less than one meter of the vehicle, with the electronic key in your pocket you can have some one touch the sensor door handles to unlock and lock the vehicle. The passenger and driver door handles plus the rear have sensors in the handles and sense the presence. The fuel tank has a 138 litre capacity (main and sub tank), automatically switching tanks from main to sub tank when the fuel runs low. (For safety driving, if is advisable you always have the sub tank at ample levels.

The test drive was done over a weekend while at Lake Mburo National Park – the idea was to do some off-road driving while there but this is not permitted so I stuck to the dirt roads and tracks in the park.

The landcruiser is a big vehicle and if you have not driven one before, it takes a bit of getting used to before you are comfortable with the size (I am used to a double cabin and this was a step up), it is also has a higher road clearance (this is the perception I got), which accentuates the size element. From the start, I was impressed – from the grunt of the twin turbo 4.5 litre Engine to the smooth drive, the handling and comfort – this car put a smile on my face when I drove. You feel the power of the vehicle in every gear and it’s not peaky like other turbo’s I have driven and it’s more like a low grunt and surge at the same time, followed by that engine bellow. If you are familiar with cars, it reminds me of the old FORD CAPRI’s and Granada’s of the 70’s and 80’s – exciting big engined power houses.

When driving through the streets of Kampala and out onto the freeway, you feel big, strong and safe on the road and you can literally glide over the potholes (within reason of course – some of them are more like craters). The vehicle holds the road well and it accelerates like a dream. While driving along at 120 Kms with a clear road ahead, I floored it for a minute and got up to around 160 Kms and even then it felt solid, still holding the road well – going head to head with the buses who were crabbing their way down the road I still felt safer than I normally do.

Off the road, permanent four wheel drive is operational and the handling is good. The car like suspension is also a pleasure and makes the drive that much better. I have developed a test to try the four wheel capabilities. I drove up to Mutungo and let the vehicle drive itself up one of the many hills. It is not the steepest incline, but it’s bumpy and the torque is required to pull up the hill. The Landcruiser passed with flying colours although it did stall once. I was not sure why but believe it may have been because I may not have been using the idling increase correctly.

There is one thing that troubled me - although it was not a problem when I did the test (as I was not taking the vehicle to its maximum limits) but it could be in certain circumstances, was when you engage low range gearing, the diff automatically locks at the centre locking the front and back wheels together. This makes turning tighter, harder and difficult. Toyota actually recommends that it is only engaged when doing straight-line driving. However, the vehicle performs fine with the standard four wheel drive and the diff lock would only be used in really heavy circumstances.

There was one problem with the right rear door – when we engaged the window opener, it opened until half way and then flicked the door open. Toyota explained that the problem was an electrical problem that was rectified under warranty.

On the whole, there was little I did not like about the vehicle. I especially liked the big engine feel of power and on the whole, the Landcruiser is a great package.

The Warranty on Toyota vehicles is 2 years or 50,000 kms, whichever comes first.

The Vehicle was supplied courtesy of Toyota Uganda – including free fuel and use over a weekend.

TEST Vehicle supplied courtesy of:-
Toyota Uganda, 1st Street, Industrial area, Kampala.
Tel: (041) 4349425 / (031) 2301500.
Email: toyota@toyotaug.co.ug