The Landcruiser has been Australia’s favourite large 4WD for decades. It comes with all the hallmark Toyota traits – reliability, decent kit, safety, and value for money while proving its off-roading credentials in deserts worldwide. If it’s one car that can get you across the Red Centre in one piece, then this is it. Now dressed in 300-series attire, the car has seen multiple iterations through the years, and some like the 70 series are still going strong. Owners are reluctant to give up on their big 4WDs and instead have invested in aftermarket kit to get the most out of an already near-perfect package.

So, what’s missing in any Landcruiser? Despite the new car now well over 100K, there are still some corners cut. Mind, the previous 200 series wasn’t cheap either, but it too has one thing missing – a decently appointed exhaust system. The big diesels in these two cars put out enormous amounts of torque for unrivalled pulling power, but the exhaust is the part that’s holding it back. It’s too narrow, winds through too many bends and ultimately affects performance. The materials aren’t anything to write home about either.

Why Upgrade Your Landcruiser Exhaust?

The twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6 in the new 300 Series puts out a few ponies over 300 horses, and 700Nm of torque. This is enough to rival warm hatches to 100km/h, despite weighing 2.5 tons. Still, the exhaust kills much of what the powerplant has to give. With a high-performance aftermarket Landcruiser exhaust in wider and straighter layouts, upgraded stainless steel, and advanced production processes, buyers get a long list of benefits over the factory system:

• Increased power – the 3″ tubing throughout offers over 20 per cent more space for spent gases to exit the car faster. This improves combustion efficiency, allowing the engine to breathe. The result is roughly 10 per cent more horsepower and bucket loads of additional torque. For the 300 Series, this translates to 30hp across all four wheels, and just shy of 25hp in the previous model.
• Improved power band – power and torque are also spread across a wider power band, resulting in better throttle response from a standstill, and extended redlines, before the auto transmission changes gears.
• Lower maintenance needs – with strengthened materials and more space to work with, there’s limited risk of heat and pressure on exhaust walls and engine internals, meaning fewer issues. And when installing an EGT gauge, you’ll know how hot the exhaust gases are and how hard the engine is working.
• Better fuel economy – Toyota ditched its petrol engines in bigger 4WDs, but even the diesels are known to get thirsty. With improvements in combustion efficiency, buyers get to save a few dollars at the bowser.
• More style – aftermarket systems are not only better built and meant to last, they can add a bit more visual flair, especially with eye-catching tip designs, offered in a range of finishes and configurations.
• The sound – lastly, consider a Landcruiser exhaust upgrade when tending to the sound. This can be louder and deeper, with parts like straight-tube mufflers and resonators, or ‘quiet’ exhausts (often in older cars) to reduce irritating exhaust drone seeping into the cabin. Buyers have several options here and parts are of the bolt-on type, so easy to install too.

What to Look for

There’s a huge selection of parts and Landcruiser exhaust setups to choose from. Decide what you want from your purchase and choose accordingly. Things to look for are materials and build, pipe sizes, compatibility with the engine, and extras like tip size.

Most aftermarket systems use mandrel-bent stainless steel tubing. This is stronger, more heat and corrosion-resistant, and less prone to punctures or deformation in harder off-roading uses. It also looks better, with a lower risk of staining. Buyers also have the option of spending more on lighter and even stronger materials, including titanium, Inconel and carbon fibre for lower weight and increased longevity.

Standard stock piping is limited to 2.5 or 2.75 (depending on the model and series), so going wider provides improved exhaust velocity (the speed of gases leaving the car) and better scavenging – the vacuum effect in the piping pushing exhaust gas out. Aftermarket systems average 3″ in the tubing, while some systems go even wider, at 3.5″ Still, too wide may improve the sound, but you risk losing back pressure to turn the turbos.

Also, consider the engine and mating the right exhaust. Older 3, 4.2 and 4.5-litre diesels will be considerably different to the new 3.3-litre engine. Additionally, exhausts differ between aspirated and turbocharged engines. To cut out any risk, take note of the engine in your Landcruiser and pair it with a matching exhaust system. Also, keep in mind that there are different configurations, with cat-back and DPF-back exhausts using new piping from the catalytic converter and diesel filters to the tips. Bigger header and turbo-back variants may be overkill, but get the most performance. They’ll also cost a bit more.

Lastly, consider the minor details. Look for setups that include mounting hardware in the same durable steel for easier DIY installation, and more variety in parts, such as mufflers to tune sound, or the tips for more visual appeal.