Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
For over 70 years, Toyota’s juggernaut has stood the test of time and enabled off-roading enthusiasts to have unbounded freedom and capabilities in the wilderness. The 2022 Land Cruiser is the epitome of reliability, durability, and off-roading. Since its launch in 1951, the Land Cruiser has been the top choice of adventurers and Overlanding junkies.
Debuting newer technologies, safety equipment, and advanced features to offer superb on-road and off-road muscle, the 2022 Land Cruiser is undoubtedly one of the best offroading machines available today.
After almost 15 years in service, the mighty machine has got a makeover for the 2022 year, with an all-new Land Cruiser 300 series. Boasting a totally redesigned platform, more refined powertrains, better suspension, and enhanced technology, the 2022 Land Cruiser is better than ever. Especially the LC300 GR trim, the most rugged member of the family.
Unfortunately, the 2022 Land Cruiser would not be offered to customers in the United States. Let’s have a look at the capabilities of this forbidden fruit and what the off-roading enthusiasts in the U.S would miss.
Table of Contents
- Engine and Transmission
- Chassis – More Refined and Composed
- All-New Suspension
- Steering and brakes – The Driver in Control
- Miscellaneous Features
2022 Land Cruiser – Ready for All the Challenges
Toyota has given the all-new 2022 Land Cruiser a major overhaul in every department, just to make it even more rugged, and all-terrain ready.
Engine and Transmission
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
Ditching the old and famous 5.7L V8, Toyota has equipped the 2022 Land Cruiser with the newly developed forced induction engines. Included in the lineup is a 3.5L turbocharged V6 gasoline engine that produces a whopping 409 HP and 650 Nm of torque, a significant increase over the previous one.
The other two are diesel and hybrid powertrains, limited only to the select markets. All of the engines are now lighter, efficient, and more powerful than ever and placed smartly in the newly designed platform for better weight distribution.
Mated to this engine is a 10-speed automatic transmission with controlled gear ratios for better performance at both low and high speeds. Particularly offering high torque at lower gears for tough terrains and Overlanding trails.
Chassis – More Refined and Composed
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota went back to the drawing board with the LC300 and sketched an all-new platform to incorporate maximum performance with outstanding dynamics. The 2022 Land Cruiser is based on Toyota’s all-new TNGA-F platform, which enabled the engineers to keep the frame and chassis separate to offer independence in maneuvering.
Made of aluminum using the latest welding and brazing technologies, this new platform offers 20% increased rigidity while losing 440 lbs in weight. It also allows the engineers to lower the center of gravity and smartly place all the components for ideal weight distribution. This technology makes the LC300 capable of superb off-road performance and driving dynamics in tough terrains.
All-New Suspension
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
The 2022 Land Cruiser comes fitted with a newly designed suspension that boasts a high-mount double-wishbone front and trailing-link rigid-axle rear suspension system. The position of the suspension has been optimized for enhanced steering control and stability. The suspension arm location also enhances the body posture, braking, and wheel articulation, ensuring the best off road performance.
The suspension is also supported by a new Linear Solenoid Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system, which modulates the shock absorbers’ damping force independently for each wheel, offering excellent control on rugged trails and mountainous terrains.
Steering and Brakes – The Driver in Control
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota went old school to allow the driver full control over the LC300, irrespective of the location. The hydraulic power steering gets assisted by the electric steering actuator, which enables the driver to have confidence at both high and low speeds and maneuver comfortably no matter how hard the trail is.
To keep this mighty SUV leashed, Toyota put a hydraulic braking system with an Electronic Control Brake system on each wheel to offer optimal braking power and traction, no matter the conditions. The system adapts to the pedal response and offers only the required braking power, instead of throwing everything on the calipers.
Miscellaneous Features of 2022 Land Cruiser
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
Multi-Terrain Select
To avoid wheel spin and traction loss in tough situations, Toyota has equipped the 2022 Land Cruiser with an advanced Multi-Terrain Select. Using this system, the driver can choose between different terrain types to get out of tough situations and get access to ultimate maneuverability. These modes include – Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow, and Rock, where the car offers outclass off-road performance through the automatic and integrated control of suspension, drive torque, differential locking, and brake hydraulics.
Multi-Terrain Monitor
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser also comes equipped with 4 cameras, fitted on all 4 sides of the car. With the help of these cameras, the driver can get a view of tight spots, blind spots, and undercarriage areas. There is also an option to view the 4 wheels independently, which allows the driver to tackle challenging curves and tough spots while Overlanding. The 12.3” high-definition central screen portrays crisp clear images and a camera feed.
Rear Torsen LSD
To ensure optimal rear-wheel traction, Toyota has fitted the LC300 with Limited Slip Differential. When the driver turns or accelerates, the system optimally distributes the drive torque according to the load endured by the rear wheels, providing excellent control.
Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-DKSS)
Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
The rugged GR version comes with a first-ever E-DKSS (suspension system). It electronically modulates the front and rear stabilizer independently, in response to road conditions and the individual situation of each wheel, to provide enhanced stabilization adjustments.
It also works in coordination with the LSD and enables the disengagement of anti-roll bars to allow maximum independence on off-roading terrains.
Crawl Control
This is a new marvel of engineering, and a sight to behold. This system allows the driver to select the terrain he’s stuck in, and engage the Crawl Control function by the push of a button. The car itself would adjust the torque, steering, differential locks, turning, and gear ratios to get out of the trouble, the driver only has to stay connected to the brakes.
This is the industry’s first and a real game-changer for Overlanding and Off-roading junkies. If you want to see what the 2022 Land Cruiser can do off road, we recommend you to watch the video above from the 4Drive Time Youtube channel.