Rich people had little reason to chase the “entry-level” Land Cruiser 300 VX that Toyota Motor Philippines has decided to discontinue it altogether. Now, if you really, really, really want a large SUV to go with that 8 plate (or vlog) of yours, you need to splurge extra for the now solitary Land Cruiser 300 ZX variant.
Launched in late 2021 here in the Philippines, the Land Cruiser 300 was hampered by supply issues causing massive wait lines and broken friendships among Toyota dealers and its clients. Still, giving credit where it’s due, the Land Cruiser is selling very well, outselling entire luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz thanks to its average 150 to 200 units sold per month (per a Toyota executive). This makes the Philippines the second largest LC market in the entire world.
Being in the luxury space, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that when people have budgets, they have budgets. So, thanks to party lists, unaudited intelligence funds, and a million subscribers on TikTok, everyone doesn’t mind spending the additional P 342,000 for the Land Cruiser ZX.
To recall, both variants of the Land Cruiser 300 are powered by the same thing—a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 diesel with 306 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. Both also use the same 10-speed automatic. So, what are the differences?
Mechanically, the VX doesn’t have the additional “Custom” drive mode and a rear limited slip differential. Visually, it’s more utilitarian spec with the non-aero bumpers, smaller wheels, non-sequential turn signal lights, and simpler side step boards. It also forgoes the ventilated seats, power tailgate, heads-up display, and JBL speakers. And if you’re part of the 99.9 percent of Land Cruiser buyers out there who gravitate towards white, the VX comes in White Pearl Crystal Shine—the colorway for poor people. Other meh colors like black and silver are shared between variants.
Pricing for the 2025 Land Cruiser ZX is holding steady (more or less) at P 5,732,000—a P 108,000 upward increase versus when it first launched. Stocks have normalized a bit, but expect wait times to still reach almost a year still.
Toyota already has the Veloz, Avanza and Innova in PH.
ReplyDeleteAll garbage crap mobiles if you're used to the Cruiser.
DeleteLC not a status symbol anymore for our crooks pols, now helicopters are. Bogus flood controls, unnecessary ASPHALT OVERLAY so substandard that in a week it became a potholes. By the way ph has the highest LC allocation by any countries. Too many crooks, too many poor ph pipol
ReplyDelete50% kickback pay going to Cong Crocs
DeletePhilippines is not a giant Monaco right? Since the latter is home to one of the biggest and famous casinos in the world.
DeleteTMPC barely import that unit
ReplyDeleteThey mostly sell ZX units
LC cars of the crooks!
ReplyDeleteSecond biggest but not given the love by Toyota. For one, other markets have more paint choices, more extensive standard accessories, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe author stereotypes the lc300 buyers mostly in a negative way. Can I also use stereotyping and say that this site is pro China since the Uly is of Chinese descent? Joke or no joke it discredits the buyers who bought the lc300 because some prefer to buy this although expensive and keep it for 20 years like some lc owners.
ReplyDeleteWas the case with the older LCs--up to the LC100s. The 200s and 300s, not so much anymore.
DeletePrecisely. The buy and sell market is flooded by LC200s and even LC300s.
DeleteSorry, I should've just stopped being poor. I'll try being rich next time.
ReplyDeleteBoss work at the government or be a barangay captain, big time ka agad!
DeletePhilippine government is practically like a Yakuza! Except instead of tattoos, they have politician's badges. And instead of katanas, they have... well, let's just say they have their own special brand of 'persuasion'.
DeleteEvery LC300 owner I've spoken to got the ZX, never met a single one who wished he got the cheaper VX instead and saved the 340k. Some were coming from early-model or Dubai sourced LC200s and were disappointed in the "basic" accommodations and lack of gadgetry.
ReplyDeleteFor all the snark in the title this choice is merely following what the market has already decided on.
Common sense.. you'll be spending 5m + on an suv and for a difference of around 300k +. Why will you settle for a less equip model which should not have been launch in the 1st place by toyota ph..
ReplyDeleteThough we are one of the big market of lc300 as reported earlier and yet there is less options/accesories offered by toyota and the 1million plus top up by their crook agents/managers or the forceful inhouse financing loan to secure a unit to their dealers as told by a friend of mine.
True and true crocked agents/managers, meron din karma
DeleteAnd by the way most buyers are also the tsinoys not mentioned in the article.
ReplyDelete"This makes the Philippines the second largest LC market in the entire world."
ReplyDeleteAll the while this country remains so poor while being the 'Sick Man of Asia' these days. :(
Lousy useless article
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
DeleteNevertheless it’s still informative so good job Uly, basta wag fake news!
DeleteOnly Crocodile politician can afford.
ReplyDeleteEuropean cars are still the lingua franca of luxury brands.
DeleteWe have a couple of modern German SUVs and an LC300. While the Toyota's more expensive among them, it attracts less attention which is part of its appeal. Quiet luxury, so to speak.
DeleteJapan,UAE,Saudi Arabia and Australia are the Top 4 markets of Land Cruiser 300 as those markets sold
ReplyDeletePhilippines isn't the 2nd largest anymore as TMPC claimed
That's why Toyota in PH also has the Zenix, which is front-wheel drive, while the Fortuner and LC are rear-wheel drive.
Deleteeither way. you can't buy at it SRP because toyota would rather sell it to scalpers and make more money that way.
ReplyDeleteThat's why the Hilux and Land Cruiser are more likely to be used by outlaws overseas, better buy European cars instead, but sorry...
Delete