The Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series is now four decades old, harder to find new than a unicorn new, wants for crazy money second hand and the beloved V8 will soon be joined by a four-cylinder version. But is it really any good? And does it deserve the hero worship it enjoys in Australia?
This is our last review of the current series of 70 Series before the 2024 updates arrive.
The 79 Series single-cab chassis tested here is the real workhorse of the hard-working Land Cruiser range. The modern-classic formula of a 151kW and 430Nm 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 with five-speed manual will soon be joined by a four-cylinder, six-speed-automatic plying 150kW and 500Nm.
Is it worth joining the long queue – and the lottery – to hold out for the old V8 favourite? Or pay silly money for a used one? Or is it worth considering jumping the line for the new retro-infused four-pot version?
Time codes:
0:00 – Intro
0:22 – Official pricing
0:34 – Aussies love Land Cruisers
0:49 – Skyrocketing demand
1:09 – Four-year wait times
1:20 – Ageing gracefully
1:40 – Engine changes
1:56 – Is the Land Cruiser any good?
2:08 – 79 Series single-cab chassis
2:26 – Variants
2:35 – Heavy-duty steel tray
2:44 – Signature door ‘clank’
3:01 – ’80s vibe interior
3:18 – Old-school media system
3:41 – Missing features
3:53 – It’s a big rig
3:59 – Visibility
4:06 – Comfort
4:20 – Hardy plastics
4:50 – Cabin practicality
4:55 – Updates
5:08 – Instrumentation
5:18 – Hitting the road
5:40 – 4.5L turbo-diesel V8
6:00 – Short gearing
6:19 – Treat it as a three-speed…
6:39 – Performance
7:00 – Can’t rush the gearbox
7:12 – Stopping power
7:25 – “Tyre-howling panic”
7:42 – Safety
7:54 – Steering
8:07 – Leisurely nature
8:15 – Ride quality
8:28 – Diesel consumption
8:50 – The business end
8:57 – Payload and towing capacities
9:07 – Dimensions and 4×4 underpinnings
9:25 – Proven all-terrain capability
9:42 – Zombie apocalypse
9:49 – Verdict
10:06 – Worth the money?
10:35 – The next 70 Series?
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