2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence V8 overview

The outdated king is useless, lengthy reside the king…

Toyota has introduced the discontinuation of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence V8, and has stopped taking orders for its iconic off-roader.

If you have already got one on order, Toyota is working to safe as many as it may well for native prospects between now and the tip of 2025 – manufacturing of V8-powered 70 Sequence fashions will finish in September 2024, aside from 79 Sequence GXL single- and double-cab utes.

Meaning this 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 76 GXL Wagon, with a V8 diesel and five-speed handbook, is on its technique to retirement by yr’s finish.

Concern not although, the 70 Sequence will proceed to be obtainable with a reworked model of the two.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel shared with the likes of the HiLux and LandCruiser Prado. A brand new handbook model is on the way in which too.

Whilst you could not be capable of order one anymore, if you have already got one on the way in which or should you’re taking a look at a near-new instance (that hopefully isn’t being subjected to cost gouging), is it nonetheless price a glance?

Right here, we’ll deal with the extra each day duties one would possibly use their LandCruiser 70 for – if you wish to see the way it fares off the overwhelmed observe, you possibly can learn our devoted off-road overview right here.

How does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 towards equally sized autos.

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LandCruiser 70

How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence price?

If you happen to needed the 76 Wagon with the V8 turbo-diesel, the GXL was your solely selection at $83,900 plus on-road prices.

To see how the LandCruiser 70 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.

What’s the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence like on the within?

If you happen to like a throwback, the inside of the 70 Sequence is a correct step again in time.

The upright and bluff design components, the velour fabric trim, in addition to the plastic gear knob and 4WD selector are suitably heavy obligation and from one other time.

Toyota has additionally preserved the retro HVAC controls, which embody old-school sliders and rotary dials for temperature and fan speeds. No capacitive nonsense right here….

Some modifications have been utilized with the facelift to make the inside of the 70 Sequence extra fashionable, together with a brand new touchscreen head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to a revised instrument cluster with supervision show.

Multifunction steering wheel controls are additionally useful, bringing the 70 Sequence into the fashionable age to cowl the fundamentals however nonetheless retaining that old-school and heavy-duty really feel inside.

But it surely’s all nonetheless very primary and old-school. For instance, the top unit could have smartphone mirroring however there’s actually no the place to truly retailer your cellphone when you could have it plugged in, and the infotainment system itself seems and looks like an inexpensive aftermarket unit from a decade in the past.

Whereas the comfortable entrance pews provide ample assist, there’s minimal bolstering so you might lean and slide a bit in bends.

The urethane steering wheel received’t be your pal within the sizzling Australian summer time, however the multifunction steering controls at the very least let you regulate quantity, reply calls and regulate menus within the driver’s show in a method you couldn’t within the outdated automotive.

Not a lot else is fashionable concerning the entrance row, with round air vents scattered all through and little in the way in which of storage. You sit very excessive within the cabin, although there’s good visibility via the tall glasshouse – and the electrically adjusted mirrors on this spec are way more user-friendly than the outdated handbook ones.

Whereas the five-door wagon would possibly seem to be the sensible selection within the 70 Sequence lineup, the second row isn’t precisely what I’d name capacious.

At 6’1 house within the rear behind a taller driver like myself is tight at greatest, not helped by the excessive flooring and minimal toe room to fit your ft below the seat in entrance of you.

Just like the entrance, there’s not a complete lot in the way in which of rear seat facilities. There are map pockets behind the entrance seats, and you may recline the rear seat backs.

Aside from that, there aren’t any cupholders, no ISOFIX anchors, no prime tethers. Actually, it is a again bench for incidental use if it is advisable take a few folks with you on an journey or across the worksite – no infants or kiddies.

Toyota doesn’t quote a baggage capability for any 70 Sequence mannequin, and whereas the boot space is deep, the ground could be very excessive and has fairly huge wheel arch intrusion which reduces the world width.

If you happen to want extra space you possibly can tumble the rear seats proper ahead, which extends the load space additional. The total-size spare wheel lives on the again of the handbook barn-door-style tailgate.

To see how the LandCruiser 70 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.

What’s below the bonnet?

The automobile on check has the enduring 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel below the bonnet.

To see how the LandCruiser 70 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.

How does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence drive?

Whereas there have been quite a lot of updates to the tech, in addition to the choice of a brand new four-cylinder diesel with computerized transmission, the V8’s on-road manners are extra of the identical.

From the turn-key ignition to the hefty shift motion, the LandCruiser 70 harks again to a motoring period of outdated.

The diesel engine up entrance is a loud, gruff factor. It fires up noisily after which settles into this meaty, beast-like idle that is among the key indicators that this isn’t working only a HiLux motor up entrance.

A springy clutch and rubbery shift motion make it really feel extra like a truck, which might take a little bit of getting used to in stop-start visitors, but it surely has a lot torque that you simply’ll wrestle to stall it, and it effortlessly will get off the road.

You possibly can realistically begin in second to keep away from short-shifting from first after setting off, and in any respect speeds there’s loads in reserve maintain it transferring.

Fitted with heavy-duty leaf springs on the rear with inflexible reside axles at each ends, the LandCruiser 70 is probably a key reference level to how far the LandCruiser nameplate has developed with context to the most recent 300 Sequence and Prado.

It actually does trip like an outdated ute, thudding over tram tracks and highway joins, and bouncing occupants round even if you’re going over pimply tarmac at decrease speeds.

There’s loads of engine noise and there’s a little bit of wind whistle at increased speeds given this has the aerodynamic properties of a brick wall. For some, that’s precisely what 70 Sequence possession is all about.

Regardless of being constructed as a heavy obligation adventurer and hauler, the 70 Sequence isn’t essentially at residence on the open highway. With simply 5 gears the V8 engine is spinning at round 2500rpm at 110km/h, the place its presence is all the time felt within the cabin.

The sunshine and obscure steering combined with a scarcity of any lane preserving help additionally makes for fixed corrections on the open highway. Lane departure warning helps considerably, however by the point it sounds it’s usually too late.

Price noting is the LandCruiser 70’s part-time 4WD system, a stark distinction to the fixed AWD setups used within the LandCruiser Prado and 300 Sequence.

This implies it’s primarily 2WD (RWD) till you choose 4H which it’s best to solely use on unsealed surfaces. This retains the identical drive ratio however engages the entrance hubs and redirects 50 per cent of energy and torque to the entrance axle.

Having 430Nm of torque from principally idle means there’s all the time pulling energy, and there’s low-range if you actually need it. GXL variations additionally rating entrance and rear locking differentials for much more traction.

Right here’s what we needed to say concerning the 70’s off-road capacity in our off-road overview:

“The entrance coils are a pleasant contact, offering a softer trip up entrance, however they don’t appear to offer any actual enchancment in suspension articulation. The 70 Sequence are famend for being stiff and the dearth of flex can actually solely be compensated by the activation of each entrance and rear diff locks.

“With out these although, the 76 is arguably extra comfy, but no extra succesful than a 60-, 55- or perhaps a 40 Sequence LandCruiser.

“On the dust it trundles alongside reliably however presents nothing to impress past the torque of the diesel V8. In low vary it crawls with confidence and management, however there’s nothing excellent, groundbreaking or noteworthy. It merely will get the job completed with no frills (or thrills).

“What extra can we are saying, while the LandCruiser 70 Sequence driveline stays pretty just like that of the unique 40 Sequence from the late ’70s and early ’80s, and the entrance coils do provide some concessions and advantages, you might be principally nonetheless driving what’s affectionately known as a ‘brick on wheels’.

“It’s primary, purely practical, nothing fancy.”

To see how the LandCruiser 70 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.

What do you get?

The GXL on check is the best grade obtainable.

LandCruiser 70 Workmate normal gear:

• LED headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• Black mesh grille
• Heritage-inspired bonnet
• Heritage-inspired flip alerts
• Metal facet steps
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display screen
• 6.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice recognition
• Two-speaker sound system
• Centre storage field (6AT)
• Vinyl upholstery

LandCruiser 70 GX Single-Cab provides:

• Darkish alloy wheels
• Overfenders

LandCruiser 70 GXL provides:

• LED entrance fog lights
• Chrome and painted entrance bumper (79 Sequence)
• Moulded black entrance, rear bumpers (Wagon, Troop Service)
• Aluminium facet steps
• Chrome roof drip rails
• 4-speaker sound system (N/A Single-Cab)
• 2 x USB-C ports
• Driver, entrance passenger map pockets
• Fabric upholstery

Is the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence secure?

The LandCruiser 70 Sequence was examined by ANCAP again in 2016 and acquired 5 stars, nevertheless this was for the Single-Cab Cab-Chassis variant towards older standards.

It acquired a entrance offset rating of 14.75 out of 16, a facet influence rating of 16 out of 16, a pole rating of two out of two, and a seat belt reminder rating of three out of three.

Customary security options embody:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane depature alert
• Visitors signal recognition

The 76 Sequence Wagon good points a reversing digicam.

How a lot does the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence price to run?

As with the broader Toyota lineup, the 70 Sequence is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the LandCruiser 70 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence

The LandCruiser 70 is an icon, there’s no shying away from that…

However even the greats have their stars fade, and it appears as time goes on the LandCruiser 70’s shine is beginning to wane increasingly.

The V8 diesel is on dying row, and whereas the reworked 2.8-litre four-cylinder presents extra energy and is extra environment friendly, it takes away one of many 70’s key factors of distinction; the opposite being its heavy-duty payload and towing skills which the brand new mannequin retains.

It truly is a specialised product nowadays, so you probably have the particular wants the LC70 actually caters for, it’s nonetheless a worthwhile purchase and there’s nothing else actually prefer it in 2024 for related cash.

However for most individuals, the one motive you’d purchase a LandCruiser 70 over one thing like a Prado or 300 Sequence is kind of since you need the look and the popularity.

Different vehicles will tow and go off-road simply as nicely, even when they don’t fairly have the unbreakable branding the LC70 does. There’s a appeal that comes with that although, and it’s clear why this automobile stays so enduringly common.

Whereas it doesn’t essentially stack up nicely throughout our vary of scoring metrics, there’s little doubt that for purchasers procuring solely on match for objective the LandCruiser 70 may nicely be a ten out of 10.

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