Today we take review Toyota's Land Cruiser GR Variant of 2022.

As far as the Land Cruiser’s history is concerned, there has been an overlap between the model’s off-road oriented and comfort-oriented models, the latter beginning in 1966 and the former ending in 1984. The 2022 Land Cruiser GR Sport aims to combine these two interpretations, with the GR standing for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s new motorsports and performance arm. This makes the full-size SUV the fourth recipient of motorsports-derived upgrades straight from the factory.

The GR Sport variant is based on the Land Cruiser J300 which made its global debut in June 2021, commemorating 70 years from when the first Land Cruiser rolled off the assembly line. Both the standard Land Cruiser and the GR Sport ride on the Toyota New Global Architecture or TNGA dash F platform, which is also intended for use on future pickup trucks and midsized SUVs. The new platform makes the current Land Cruiser lighter by 200 kilograms over the outgoing J200 Series.

According to Toyota, the Land Cruiser GR Sport was based on a product brief that demanded security and ease of use while demonstrating capability even on the most challenging drives. It was developed with input from professional race drivers who participated in the famed Dakar Rally as far back as 1995, using Land Cruisers while competing in the production car category.

Externally, the Land Cruiser GR Sport features a bold and aggressive exterior design that highlights the vehicle’s width. A revised fascia replaces the chrome-slatted grille on the standard Land Cruiser with a black honeycomb mesh version. The Toyota text takes the place of the corporate logo, along with the GR badge. Meanwhile, the chrome bar has been retained as a common design element, flanked by LED headlamps.

A revised front bumper incorporates a bigger bash plate. This is complemented by fender claddings, stepboards, side mirrors, door handles, and window trims, all rendered in black to emphasize the vehicle’s ruggedness. The large greenhouse all around contributes to improved visibility by reducing blind spots. Design elements for the rear echo those on the front, with a tailgate redesigned to look boxier than ever.

The previous chrome bar connecting the taillights has been replaced by chrome trim on the lower rear bumper. Meanwhile, the elegant alloys on the standard Land Cruiser have been traded in for black 18-inch Mud Gray wheels.
Heading over to the interior, the Land Cruiser GR Sport uses the same cabin layout which should be familiar to Land Cruiser J300 owners. The major difference is the use of a darker two-tone color palette. Black and red leather upholstery are standard on the seats, with the front headrests displaying the GR badge. Soft-touch surfaces also made of red leather also abound on the center console, glovebox, and door panels.

Accommodations are luxurious and generous for up to seven occupants on three seating rows. Folding down the second and third row seats frees up considerable room for cargo. Front occupants benefit from ergonomic seats that feature a wide range of adjustment as well as wireless charging, while those at the rear get four-zone climate control, seat ventilation, as well as two USB ports to charge their mobile devices on the go.

Up front, drivers of the Land Cruiser GR Sport take hold of a leather-wrapped steering wheel packed with audio and communications controls. Just below the windshield lies an upgraded instrument panel, combining large, easy-to-read Optitron analog gauges with a 10-inch TFT high-definition multi-information screen. A heads-up display also projects vehicle data on the windshield, within the driver’s line of sight.

Onboard communications and infotainment are handled by the 12.3-inch floating-type touchscreen display, which features support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The automatic climate control also features an air ionizer feature to purify the air for everyone on board.

Let’s head on to the Land Cruiser GR Sport’s powertrain. As Toyota’s flagship off-road vehicle, the Land Cruiser was offered with a V8 engine option starting with the J100 Series in 1998. However, the current GR Sport, and the rest of the J300 Series, are going a different route. The available engines for the current Land Cruiser are a 3.5-liter gasoline and a 3.3-liter diesel, both in the V6 configuration with twin turbochargers.
These newly developed engines might be smaller than their outgoing counterparts, but they also pack more power along with improved fuel efficiency, so Land Cruiser fans don’t have any reason to be disappointed just yet. For the V6 gasoline engine, output is rated at 409 horsepower and 650 Newton-meters of torque. Meanwhile, the diesel V6 boasts 302 horsepower and 700 Newton-meters of torque. Power is transferred to all four wheels through a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox.