It’s an undeniably unusual feeling to clamber into the cabin of a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series and see two pedals and an computerized gear shifter.
To not point out what’s beneath that big bonnet; a four-cylinder diesel lifted from the HiLux and Prado as a substitute of the acquainted V8 – courageous new world certainly, or as Toyota calls it, ‘the following chapter’.
This second drivetrain is vital to opening up an entire new viewers for the legendary off-roader, with fleets particularly eager on a self-shifting workhorse that may be pushed by anybody and makes use of much less diesel whereas at it.
In addition to the brand new engine, the mighty Cruiser 70 household picks up a redesigned entrance finish, new inside shows and some driver-assist aids.
Concern not traditionalists, for you may nonetheless get the V8 – should you’re ready to attend and wait and wait. And certainly, about two-thirds of backorders are on this mannequin.
Toyota Australia has confirmed its order books are nonetheless shut for the LC70, as it really works to clear a large backlog.
In a bid to chop wait instances, sellers are reaching out to anybody with their identify down for a V8 and providing them the extra available four-cylinder – possibly that’s one cause to take a more in-depth look.
Right here we’re driving the big-selling LC79 Single Cab cab-chassis, however you may as well purchase the LandCruiser as a LC79 Double Cab, LC78 Troop Service, and LC76 Wagon.
Thanks to Werribee Toyota for our mortgage of the LandCruiser 70 Sequence for the video above!
How does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 towards equally sized autos.
Toyota
LandCruiser 70
How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 value?
Toyota’s reward for persisting with a 40-year previous design when others don’t, is its potential to cost just about what it likes – the LC70 should be one worthwhile machine.
The costs fluctuate between $75,600 and $87,600 earlier than on-road prices, however a fast take a look at any classifieds reveals you that markups are removed from unusual.
To offer this some context, our GX take a look at car with choices value about $81,000 earlier than on-road prices. A HiLux SR 4×4 single cab with the identical drivetrain, however decrease weight limits, is $53,000 drive-away.
2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence pricing:
- 79 Sequence Single Cab WorkMate 4-cyl: $76,800
- 79 Sequence Single Cab WorkMate V8: $80,900
- 79 Sequence Single Cab GX 4-cyl: $78,800
- 79 Sequence Single Cab GX V8: $82,900
- 79 Sequence Single Cab GXL 4-cyl: $80,900
- 79 Sequence Single Cab GXL V8: $85,000
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
Choices:
- Entrance, rear differential locks: $1500 (GX)
- Premium Paint: $675
What’s the Toyota LandCruiser 70 like on the within?
The vinyl seats and door playing cards, washable flooring, and rock laborious plastics aren’t remotely luxurious after all, however the back-to-basics inside is constructed to deal with abuse for many years, so it’s finest to have a look at it in these phrases.
The steering wheel pilfered from a HiLux adjusts for rake and attain, and behind it sits a brand new cluster, with what I feel is a somewhat cool speedometer design with a modern-ish journey pc off to the facet.
The dashtop may be very shallow and extra truck than SUV in its format and trims, which really feel rock stable. The fascia additionally retains it easy with a primary display screen, old-school handbook AC controls, and rock stable plastics.
It appears like a throwback in so some ways, which is charming for a week-long mortgage however can also be by design. Guide quarter home windows, facet home windows and mirrors are unlikely to interrupt and are in all probability simpler to repair in a paddock in the event that they do.
Whereas Toyota has made a concession within the type of a small touchscreen show with Bluetooth, it seems to be decidedly aftermarket and for the lifetime of me I couldn’t get Android Auto to work.
The automated shifter is located subsequent to a separate shifter to have interaction low- and high-range 4WD, with buttons and dials to have interaction Energy and Haul throttle settings, downhill help and trailer brake modulation.
Storage is proscribed to a small centre console between the 2 seats, a little bit of area behind every seat, a phone-size part alongside the centre tunnel, two cupholders and a glovebox.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Toyota hasn’t simply transplanted the 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine as-is; as a substitute it has made a couple of tweaks for its use within the LC70.
These embody the fitment of a metal oil pan as a substitute of forged aluminium, a brand new oil filter configuration, and a much bigger cooling fan.
It’s no secret Toyota has had severe points with this engine’s diesel particulate filter (DPF) in different functions, however they need to be resolved after some earlier operating modifications.
Its outputs are the identical as within the HiLux and Prado: 150kW at 3400rpm and 500Nm at 1600 to 2800rpm. It’s mated to a six-speed computerized transmission with part-time 4×4, together with low-range.
Examine this to the bigger-displacement 4.5-litre V8 and it stacks up effectively. The larger donk makes 151kW at 3400rpm and a relatively modest 430Nm of torque, albeit from as little as 1200rpm out to 3200rpm. Protected to say the V8 diesel is as under-stressed as a Rastafarian on valium.
Claimed combined-cycle gasoline consumption is 9.6L/100km for the four-cylinder and 10.7L/100km for the V8, each coming with 130L gasoline tanks – nonetheless, we discovered these figures have been bold. Each provide 3.5-tonne towing capacities with a braked trailer.
In addition to providing 70Nm extra torque when inventory and a further tall gear ratio for freeway cruising, the two.8-litre weighs 60kg much less, makes use of 11.5 per cent much less diesel, and is $4100 cheaper than the V8.
How does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 drive?
Twist the important thing and the very first thing you discover in regards to the 2.8-litre is how comparatively quiet it sounds at idle, and the way far more enjoyable it’s to drive with a six-speed computerized, significantly at 110km/h the place that additional tall gear actually helps maintain revs down.
In each metric the four-cylinder outperforms the V8: in our testing which you’ll be able to see within the embedded video, it was two seconds sooner from 0-100km/h (12.7s), one second sooner 80-120km/h (11.2s) and over a quarter-mile (18.3s), and carried out higher when accelerating with a trailer dyne.
On paper it’s a no brainer, however after all the V8 has its upsides. There’s one thing about altering gears, the guttural rumble, the tune-ability, the popularity, and the possible resale worth over time. There’ll by no means be one other car prefer it, keep in mind…
By way of gasoline consumption, Toyota’s declare of 9.6L/100km in contrast unfavourably to my actual world determine of 12L/100km on principally freeway driving. The engine wasn’t absolutely run in but, however the LandCruiser’s mass and boxy form imply it merely can’t be a gasoline environment friendly car, even with the 4.
The LC70’s mechanicals are easy and hard, prioritising off-road driving, carrying masses and towing over on-road consolation.
It has inflexible axles, leaf springs on the again, and hydraulic energy steering with a large 14.4m turning circle, though, curiously it does have rear disc brakes whereas some utes nonetheless use drums.
Inventory, it has a heavy responsibility 3510kg gross car mass alongside a 2130kg kerb weight, leaving the perfect a part of 1400kg for payload together with tray. In the meantime, its 7010kg gross mixed mass means it may possibly tow at 3.5t capability and be at most payload on the similar time.
To offer this context the LC70 has a 460kg larger GVM and 1160kg larger GCM than a HiLux SR cab chassis.
The slim cab means taller people will hit their knees towards the window winder, however you get a terrific view of the highway by way of the slim pillars, even throughout the huge expanse of bonnet forward. But it surely’s not the best rig to drive, on account of its measurement, the dearth of a reversing digicam, and the heavy hydraulic steering.
With a slim rear observe (95mm narrower than the entrance), heavy responsibility rear leaf springs and beam axles, it’s vulnerable to bounce and jiggle over unhealthy roads when unladen, however then it’s not designed to be pushed round in showroom situation…
The old-fashioned options carry over to off-roading, with the LC70 the one car left with manually locking hubs, which you’ll be able to shift from Auto, which lock when the switch case engages 4H or 4Lo, to Lock utilizing a lug wrench.
You interact 4WD by way of the second shifter, and with clearance of 316mm, low vary, entrance and rear diff lockers fitted, and all-terrain Dunlop Grandtreks, not a lot will cease you. However neither will you be snug, with a number of head toss and heavy steering giving a way of unwieldiness.
In the case of aftermarket modifications, the sky actually is the restrict. A complete business exists to help this factor…
Whereas Toyota has saved driver assists to a minimal there’s cruise management and a lane-keeping alert, each of which could be useful on lengthy drives.
What do you get?
To name the LandCruiser 70 sparsely outfitted is a kindness.
WorkMate highlights:
- 16-inch metal wheels
- Full spare tyre
- LED headlights, DRLs
- Computerized excessive beam
- Metal facet steps
- Snorkel
- Guide antenna
- Vinyl seats and flooring
- Winding home windows
- Guide air-conditioning
- 6.7-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- USB, 12V and Bluetooth
- 2- speaker audio system
GX provides:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Over fender flares
- LED fog lights
- Chrome bumper, drip rails
- Aluminium steps
- Cloth seats, carpet floors
The LC70’s colour palette includes French Vanilla, Silver Pearl, Graphite, Merlot Red, Sandy Taupe and Midnight Blue.
Is the Toyota LandCruiser 70 secure?
The LandCruiser 70 now not carries an ANCAP ranking on account of the variety of years because it was examined, although, the two-door cab chassis was a five-star car.
Customary security gear consists of twin entrance, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, lane departure alert, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 value to run?
The upgraded LandCruiser 70 Sequence is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee prolonged to seven years on engine and driveline.
There’s capped-price servicing for the primary 5 years or 100,000km, whichever comes first, with every six-month or 10,000km service costing $525. These are brief intervals.
On the plus facet, mechanics everywhere in the Aussie bush know methods to repair LandCruisers and retailer their components – the Outback is dominated by them in any case.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota LandCruiser 70
If having old skool allure was key to scoring extremely, the LandCruiser 70 would get an ideal 10.
A 70 Sequence Cruiser is both a heavy responsibility work car or a way of life selection, opening up a world of aftermarket add-ons and modifications, and a sprawling group.
Whereas easy tech doesn’t mechanically equal longevity, Toyota has runs on the board. For tens of hundreds of Australians the place the filth is crimson and the flies thick, this car actually appears like the one viable selection.
In most features the LandCruiser 70 has all of the drawbacks of its decades-old design, when it comes to the way it drives and the way it feels inside, however that’s hardly a revelation.
What’s additionally clear is that the four-cylinder performs higher than the V8 in all metrics bar one, particularly the larger donk makes peak torque over a wider rev band and will thereby show extra tractable.
That doesn’t imply Aussies will probably be handing of their beloved handbook V8 fashions hand over fist, after all.
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