Overview
TOYOTA added the choice of a five-speed guide transmission to its beloved LandCruiser 70 Sequence vary late final 12 months, the tried-and-true workhorse, which now contains a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine throughout the vary, having been beforehand supplied solely with a six-speed automated transmission.
Priced from $75,600 plus on-road prices, the class-of-its-own LandCruiser is one thing of an anachronism when seen towards extra trendy four-wheel drives however is one which Australian consumers proceed to admire for its go-anywhere ruggedness and no-nonsense design.
The newly supplied guide transmission is obtainable on chosen Toyota LandCruiser 70 Sequence variants and is claimed to “benefit from the four-cylinder engine’s greater torque output with shorter first, second and third ratios to help start-off efficiency, and an extended fifth gear to assist enhance gas economic system and scale back engine noise when cruising at freeway speeds”.
A brand new flywheel appropriate with a 12-inch clutch has additionally been adopted for the brand new powertrain, offering glorious clutch slip resistance, whereas a triple synchronisation mechanism has been added for the primary gear to boost shifting operability.
The ultimate drive ratio additionally differs at 4.1:1 towards the automated’s 4.3:1.
Together with the vary of durability-focused engine upgrades utilized to four-cylinder grades in late 2023, guide variants additional add a mud seal to the rear-end plate to stop ingress of overseas matter to the discharge bearing.
Aside from the deletion of the entrance console field because of the packaging of the guide gear shifter, and downhill help management, all variants geared up with the guide transmission supply the identical stage of apparatus and share the identical GCM and towing capability as their automated counterparts.
Entrance and rear differential locks stay elective on chosen grades ($1500), whereas premium paint attracts a $675 surcharge.
The LandCruiser 70 Sequence vary continues to be powered by Toyota’s 1GD-series 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine growing 150kW of energy at 3200-3400rpm and 450Nm over 2400-3000rpm.
Toyota says the four-cylinder engine comes with a number of mechanical upgrades which enhance cooling and reliability in “heavy-usage eventualities”. The modifications embody the addition of a bigger diameter cooling fan and an isolation crank pulley to scale back the load on the engine’s serpentine belt.
A newly designed sump pan, strainer and oil stage sensor has additionally been launched, geared toward bettering oil supply in “off-camber and hilly conditions”, whereas the orientation of the oil filter has been adjusted to go well with its new location.
Toyota says noise, vibration and harshness ranges have additionally been lowered due to the inclusion of a stability shaft.
In automated variants, we discover a deeper oil pan, optimised oil strainer consumption place, and newly added oil catch tank. The automated transmission additional affords an influence/haul mode, and a second gear begin swap for simpler restoration from mud, snow, or sand.
Lastly, the up to date LC70 sports activities an underbody guard for the transmission, whereas the breather hose has been raised to a top of 900mm to help water wading.
Figuring out the up to date LC70 from its predecessors are LED headlights with automated excessive beam, the up to date design of the ‘70’ additionally sees the addition of a brand new black mesh grille with “heritage impressed” bonnet and switch alerts, and darkish gray alloy wheels and over-fenders on 76 and 79 Sequence GX and GXL variants.
The 76 Sequence wagon vary (examined) is now out there with a brand new Eclipse Black paint hue becoming a member of the carry-over six colors already out there all through the vary. Metallic paint is a $675 possibility.
Inside, the updates lengthen to a bigger 6.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice recognition and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4.3-inch digital instrument cluster show, and new-look instrumentation that remembers the FJ40 collection LandCruiser.
New multimedia and security help management buttons have been added to the steering wheel, whereas the console has been “redesigned with better amenity” in thoughts. GXL grades achieve two USB-C ports which change the present 12-volt socket, whereas the 76 Sequence line-up provides a reversing digital camera.
Throughout the vary, an expanded suite of Toyota Security Sense applied sciences arrives, now providing downhill help management, highway signal help, and lane departure alert – the options be a part of the present pre-collision system with autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Guarantee cowl extends to 5 years / limitless kilometres. The LandCrusier 70 Sequence requires servicing each six months / 10,000km (whichever comes first), and is obtainable with capped worth servicing to the tune of $545 per go to – sure, an costly proposition irrespective of the way you select to have a look at it.
Driving Impressions
Given the unsure political instances we stay in, the LandCrusier’s Orwellian origin date of 1984 appears one way or the other reasonably becoming…
Positive, the engine and driver help applied sciences supplied within the 70 Sequence have come a great distance in 40 years, however the tried-and-true recipe is actually unaltered – one thing LandCruiser loyalists wouldn’t have every other means.
The 1GD-series engine acquainted to the HiLux and others is an efficient match for the ’70 offering first rate acceleration and respectable gas economic system. On check, we managed 10.6 litres per 100km, which outperforms my HiLux throughout comparable utilization patterns – and is all of the extra spectacular when you think about the ’70 makes do with simply 5 ahead ratios (towards the HiLux’s six).
After all, the ’70 is nowhere close to as refined as HiLux with its the independently sprung entrance finish. It’s, nonetheless, a steadier proposition than the likes of the Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator and gives a reassuring foothold on sealed and unsealed roads alike, the latter a 70 Sequence spotlight.
Toyota modified the ultimate drive ratio of the ’70 to accommodate the four-cylinder engine, lessening the discount ratio for crawling to 38.5:1 (down from 44.0:1 within the now-departed V8). Together with first gear, we discovered it greater than able to pulling itself up steep off-road grades.
It didn’t, sadly, change the front-to-rear wheel observe discrepancy which stays 95mm wider on the entrance. In reality, it’s not the trouble as some make it out to be however can nonetheless be felt when tackling tough obstacles at a slow-motion tempo.
The five-speed ‘field feels as acquainted as any LandCruiser I can recall, there’s even a way the previous HZJ75 is sitting beneath your left hand at instances… The clutch motion is progressive and with acceptable weight for the duty at hand, although we did sometimes discover it essential to take your time when returning to first to keep away from that little ‘snag’.
Whereas we gained’t go in to repeating the rest our drive impressions of the automated four-cylinder 70 Sequence, we’ll take a second to spotlight among the downsides possession may pose – particularly in case you’re viewing the automobile as an alternative choice to a extra trendy four-wheel drive, just like the Y62-series Nissan Patrol, 300-series Toyota LandCruiser, or a ute-based various just like the Ford Ranger or Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
As a lot as I personally love the honesty of this automobile, there may be merely no getting across the reality it’s a 40-year-old design. It’s not as spacious or snug as a contemporary four-wheel drive. The cabin is slim, rear-seat legroom is cramped, the seats are about as snug as deck chairs, and the ergonomics are woeful.
Sound insulation is principally non-existent, and the extent of in-cabin storage is a joke. Entrance seat occupants might want to combat over the cup-holder and rear seat occupants don’t get one.
There’s little or no when it comes to oddment storage, and gear choices are restricted. No rear-seat air flow shops, no local weather management, no sat nav, no seat heaters, no wi-fi cellphone charging pad, no self-dimming mirror… the checklist goes on and on.
The up to date infotainment system is likewise laughable with a tiny display and horrible audio high quality. In reality, at freeway speeds you may’t even hear it.
Sure, we all know lots of people wish to personalise their LandCrusier with armrests, consoles, cup holders and audio gear.
However to retail a automobile for near $80K and supply it with so little or no – particularly when you think about its design prices have now been nicely and really amortised – is a joke. Anticipating prospects to should possibility the automobile with 1000’s of {dollars} of aftermarket equipment to carry it in step with a base spec Corolla is just insulting.
In 2025 we reckon you’d should want a 70 Sequence for it to make any sense in any respect.
Should you stay in a distant space the place the “roads” will destroy a lesser four-wheel drive very quickly flat – or just need easy-to-repair pragmatism that solely the LC70 gives at the moment – then it’s arguably a automobile that makes plenty of sense.
However in case you’re a mall crawler who desires the boxy look and can seldom head off-road then maybe you’re higher off trying elsewhere. Personally, I feel I’ll follow the HiLux for now.
