If you ask people, even those not very much interested in cars ‘What is a real 4x4?’, they will most probably come up with: Mercedes G wagon, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and yes, the Toyota Land Cruiser. Latter has a heritage of 70 years, being the master of Africa and uncrowned king of off roaders. And it is the number one Toyota SUV. In fact with 300 000 Land Cruisers sold worldwide each year, the most successful real 4x4 on earth.

But is the first new Land Cruiser model in 14 years still the master of Africa. Well, there are two different models available in South Africa: the fancy and flashy ZX with a huge grille and 20inch wheels, which is clearly designed for its main markets: the US of A and the Emirates. It is the Land Cruiser light and can do the odd dirt road, but is definitely more at home in Sandton or on Camps Bay Boulevard.

The higher specced GR-S version of the LC300, with leather and GR-S stickers everywhere, plus 18inch wheels, is more capable off road, but still restricted by its large running boards below the doors. They reduce the ground clearance significantly and make rock crawling difficult.