Toyota Land Cruiser vs Defender, G-Class & Grenadier

[trobex]

How much did Toyota pay to get Topgear giving the LC250 the 'best' off roader!!??

Still the Grenadier had no issues in this. Defender less so...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WDk8ueDqG8

 

[Psignore00]

I was more surprised to see the Defender struggle when its air suspension was at the highest setting. A lot of the comments mentioned it, there’s almost no downtravel.

 

[Top Cat]

Not having a lot of snow driving experience in South Australia puts me at a disadvantage but here goes....
My Trailmaster has been on some rough tracks and then some very difficult rocky tracks a long way from anywhere. Having military experience in the G and driving my mates new Defender, the Grenadier is everything I could want in a 4WD. Yes its quirky but for reliable serious bush work it wins hands down. My mates old 130 Defender kept up most of the time and has the same turning issues so am used to the oil tanker turn scenario. Road driving is very old Defender style and I don't take the Grenadier to the city.
Regarding the Toyo; have not had the opportunity to drive one yet but I spoke to someone who has and he thought it was a good all round vehicle, but nothing outstanding. I will try and give it a drive soon but for my money a serious bush truck needs strength and mobility. The Grenadier built in lockers and its amazing drive train has done that. The issue for me was the limited fuel capacity but that was fixed with a Browne Davis aux tank. Toyo have always considered lotsa fuel capacity as standard.
The new Defender is very good on looks and performance but I have a nagging suspicion its system may be too fragile for extended bush travel. Its also an expensive vehicle before you kit it out.
I am not a cashed up gangsta so would not consider the G!
I agree with the comment about how did the Toyo win, they did everything except wear Toyota merchandise!

 

[Commodore]

This is a more honest review of the LC 250

View: https://youtu.be/Zq_cYi1PpIc?si=chGNQTq6Sqh7j2IX

 

[Steve.B]

Not having a lot of snow driving experience in South Australia puts me at a disadvantage but here goes....
My Trailmaster has been on some rough tracks and then some very difficult rocky tracks a long way from anywhere. Having military experience in the G and driving my mates new Defender, the Grenadier is everything I could want in a 4WD. Yes its quirky but for reliable serious bush work it wins hands down. My mates old 130 Defender kept up most of the time and has the same turning issues so am used to the oil tanker turn scenario. Road driving is very old Defender style and I don't take the Grenadier to the city.
Regarding the Toyo; have not had the opportunity to drive one yet but I spoke to someone who has and he thought it was a good all round vehicle, but nothing outstanding. I will try and give it a drive soon but for my money a serious bush truck needs strength and mobility. The Grenadier built in lockers and its amazing drive train has done that. The issue for me was the limited fuel capacity but that was fixed with a Browne Davis aux tank. Toyo have always considered lotsa fuel capacity as standard.
The new Defender is very good on looks and performance but I have a nagging suspicion its system may be too fragile for extended bush travel. Its also an expensive vehicle before you kit it out.
I am not a cashed up gangsta so would not consider the G!
I agree with the comment about how did the Toyo win, they did everything except wear Toyota merchandise!

Hi Tony,

There is another thread started yesterday on this Top Gear shootout, I will refresh it.
I agree with your comments above.

 

[Samson]

This is some rich British-type of stuff right here... Say one thing, do another, complain about yet a different.

They want to test 4 popular vehicles "Off-Road" ... three SUVs and one that is specifically designed and labeled as an "Off-Road Vehicle" ... (Sir Grenadier has repeatedly described it and insisted on employees referring to the Grenadier as an OFF ROAD Vehicle - SUVs are for Rappers & Athletes & Housewives etc.) - but they put it through Off Roading, it does basically the best, but then they complain that it's not the best on the road...

and how lovely the G-Wagon is on the road and so luxurious ... Uhh, yeah - it's got independent front suspension & lots of luxury stuff, that's why the AMG version has like $25K paint jobs and nearly $300K prices. The Toyota again is the Happy Medium, Jack-of-all-Trades, and the Land Rover is the Land Rover.

The Grenadier was literally & figuratively built to be an Off-Road Tank. Sir Grenadier refused to have too much luxury. Not even the "Vanity Mirrors" on the sunshades.

I'd be happy with any of the four, but if I was in a "off-road-competition" , I'd want the Grenadier.

 

[Zimm]

I was more surprised to see the Defender struggle when its air suspension was at the highest setting. A lot of the comments mentioned it, there’s almost no downtravel.

to be fair, that was the driver letting off the gas as he got uncomfortable with the wheel lifted pointing at the sky... an issue with no articulation, sure, but its an experience thing.

 

[Zimm]

It's funny watching people get bent. According to their criteria and testing, it DID come in third.

heres MY criteria.

1) it has to have a rear door.
2) it has to have a front locker.
3) it doesnt look like the truck housefrau's at the club are clogging the lot with on tuesdays before they take 8 hours to complete a round.

Well, TopZimm has a winner! the grenadier is first!

 

[HereinDaRockies]

The LC250 is a terribly uninspiring vehicle in person. The doors do not close with any sense of refinement or solidity. Sitting inside, it has the feel of a nondescript vehicle (Durango, pathfinder, traverse). Exteriors front end styling is also awkward af

 

[owl (Owl Outdoor)]

Another not super positive review of the Landcruiser, this time from Doug

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DGe9qBi1r94

 

[Samson]

It's funny watching people get bent. According to their criteria and testing, it DID come in third.

heres MY criteria.

1) it has to have a rear door.
2) it has to have a front locker.
3) it doesnt look like the truck housefrau's at the club are clogging the lot with on tuesdays before they take 8 hours to complete a round.

Well, TopZimm has a winner! the grenadier is first!

I know that this is not what you meant , but you inadvertently hit the nail on the head of one of my points - if it's the best for you , then it's the best for YOU ... Simple as that.

I have had more than one person on here tell me how much better the Grenadier is than the Bronco, because "I feel it's better ..." Fair enough, but you never drove one right? Having owned them both, I'd say they're different. I happen to very much love them both - and that's OK - you don't have to Zero-Sum-Game it ... "For every point I award the TLC, I shall be required to deduct a point from the LRD / G-Wag/Grenade /etc. It doesn't have to work like that, you can like the way they all drive or like different aspects of different stuff.

I think that it's pretty clear that TopGear has an Agenda, to say the least, and that's one of the reasons I never really messed with them , I feel like they sort of come up with their conclusions beforehand and then fit the show aka "test" to conform with what they want ... ie, if they like a certain Sports Car, they're going to find a reason for it to win their little Sports Car Competition etc. But again - there's nothing wrong with liking certain things or different vehicles or whatever else. I'm sure all those trucks are awesome.

 

[trobex]

I have driven G, Gren and ND, but not the new Prado and lets be honest it is basically the old Prado in all respects bar the chassis update... the new Prado is also slower than previous generation by some margin... go figure Toyo recycling old gear in a to a new shape... best they could do.

 

[Zimm]

I have driven G, Gren and ND, but not the new Prado and lets be honest it is basically the old Prado in all respects bar the chassis update... the new Prado is also slower than previous generation by some margin... go figure Toyo recycling old gear in a to a new shape... best they could do.

Isn't the chassis generally what dictates if a design is different?

 

[mcdoogs]

I was more surprised to see the Defender struggle when its air suspension was at the highest setting. A lot of the comments mentioned it, there’s almost no downtravel.

That looked like complete operator error to me.

LR chose objectively bad (at least for offroading) AT tires as oem so thats on them and we cant expect reviewers to do tire swaps or anything.

But that reviewer had no business being behind the wheel, he gave off big ‘this is my first time offroad’ energy in the most complicated (at least to drive offroad) vehicle in the comparison

 

[trobex]

Isn't the chassis generally what dictates if a design is different?

Not if everything wise is pretty much identical... I would presume. It is also slower the new Prado than last gen... go figure.

 

[DaveB]

Kaon is an Australian 4WD accessory manufacturer and this is a video of them stripping down a new Prado/Landcruiser 250.
Skip ahead to 12 minutes in for the start of the rear takeout.
It's a 7 seat but so little room inside.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXWqoILB5E4