The Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series is perhaps one of the most iconic – if not most important – models in the Land Cruiser’s history. Since its introduction in 1984, the classic off-roader has been receiving timely updates throughout the years, but today, the Japanese carmaker has given it its first major refresh since 2015, while still retaining many of its iconic bits.
Positioned as the heavy-duty model in the line-up alongside the Land Cruiser 300 and the all-new Prado 250, The Land Cruiser 70 retains its classic boxy exterior design, though it’s been slightly modernised with a new grille and round LED headlamps up front.
The new Land Cruiser 70 also comes with black front and rear bumpers, alongside wheel arches, giving it a rugged look. And just like the Land Cruiser Prado 250 series and Lexus GX, it also comes with squarish side-view mirrors.
Newly designed alloy wheels are fitted onto the refreshed heavy-duty off-roader, alongside horizontal tail lights that are integrated into the rear bumper. Other elements that have been retained here are the rear fender air vent garnish, as well as the old-school retractable radio antenna.
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Underpinning the refreshed Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series is a ladder-frame chassis carried over from before. However, the engineers have given it some tweaks to provide a more comfortable ride, but at the same time retain its off-road capability.
Powering the new Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series is the brand’s 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which is also found at the heart of the Hilux. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and makes 204 hp and 500 Nm. The Australian market will continue to receive the V8 turbodiesel engine making 205 hp and 430 Nm, alongside a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Moving inside, you will find its interior looking rather familiar, albeit with changes made such as the redesigned centre console. To keep the classic off-roader up to date, Toyota has also given it some modern equipment such as the 4.2-inch instrument multi-info display and a 6.7-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Toyota isn’t letting the new Land Cruiser 70 series lose out in the safety department either. It is equipped with the Toyota Sense Safety Suite, which includes safety features such as lane departure alert (LDP), road sign assist (RSA), and automatic high beam (AHB).
The Japanese carmaker has not given up on the Land Cruiser 70 due to its robustness and reliability, which explains why it continues to prove itself popular in markets such as Africa and Australia. The Land Cruiser 70 also plays an important role in humanitarian aid works, as it is often utilised by United Nations (UN) and many non-government organisations (NGOs) around the world.
The classic off-roader will be making its launch in the coming winter in Japan and will be joining both the Land Cruiser 250 and Land Cruiser 300. The Australian market will also be receiving the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series in Q4 this year, which will be available in various body styles, such as Single Cab, Double Cab, Trooper Carrier, and Wagon.
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