Driving Toyota’s updated 70 Series ute

This beast is one of the oldest, least advanced cars on the road. Yet Australians can’t get enough of a car firmly established as a modern classic.

Toby Hagon

3 min read

April 13, 2023 - 5:15PM

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VALUE

The LandCruiser 70-Series is an old-school four-wheel drive, right down to its design, which can be traced back to the mid-1980s. But the price tag is anything but old school, kicking off at about $77,000 drive-away for the basic single-cab Workmate, which is powered by a 4.5-litre turbo diesel V8 engine mated to a five-speed manual (there’s no auto option).

The Toyota LandCruiser 70-Series is an anachronism. Photo: Toby Hagon

The top-of-the-range GXL tested here brings such luxuries as alloy wheels, carpet and cloth for the seats instead of vinyl. There’s also a CD player, but no smartphone connectivity beyond Bluetooth.

If you want more cabin space then there’s a dual-cab ute, four-door wagon and two-door Troop Carrier.

All were updated late in 2022 to raise the gross vehicle mass, which means they can carry more (more than 400kg extra in the wagon). There were no hardware changes to the body or suspension, with Toyota instead suggesting it re-evaluated the car from an engineering perspective.

Toyota upgraded the LandCruiser’s load capacity in 2022. Photo: Toby Hagon

Toyota says the change was about responding to customer requests, but there was also the added benefit of getting the car reclassified as a light truck, which brings lower safety requirements.

The only visual change – other than the camera in the windscreen – are larger side indicator repeater lenses.

COMFORT

Utility is favoured over comfort in the 70 Series. As with the exterior design, the cabin is old school 1980s, right down to the slider controls for the ventilation system (which is icy cold). There’s a mass of rugged plastics and not a hint of innovation.

The LandCruiser’s cabin is a sparse affair. Photo: Toby Hagon

Grab handles help you climb into the cabin and there’s great headroom and ample seat adjustment. You have to lean out of the windows to adjust the mirrors and if you’re the last one to close your door the air pressure in the cabin means you’ll have to give it a good slam. Seats are nicely supportive and a small, covered centre console looks after odds and ends.

SAFETY

The 2023 update brought autonomous emergency braking for the first time. It meant the inclusion of a forward-facing camera at the top of the windscreen and a radar behind the Toyota badge.

However, there’s no blind spot warning and not even a reversing camera.

Most 70-Series only come with two airbags, although the single-cab ute also gets side airbags.

Traditional ute customers can’t get enough of the 70-Series. Photo: Toby Hagon

DRIVING

The 70-Series gets live axle suspension front and rear, designed to maximise off-road capability.

It does nothing for its on-road manners, which are ponderous and generally vague.

The V8 engine doesn’t have V8-like outputs, either, with only 151kW and 430Nm (many four-cylinder diesels have more). But it’s got grunt where you need it, way down in the rev range, something that makes for easy – if leisurely – acceleration. A very short first gear means it’s often easier to take off in second.

The LandCruiser 70-Series is surprisingly capable off-road. Photo: Toby Hagon

Once you take it off-road all that old-school hardware makes sense. It ambles over gnarly obstacles effortlessly. Low-range gearing maximises torque and allows for slow speed crawling, while front and rear differential locks maximise traction. It makes for a ludicrously capable off-roader. Potholes and rocks do little to shake the sturdy body.

ALTERNATIVES

Toyota HiLux Rogue, from about $76,000 drive-away

Highly capable off-road with a well-earned reputation for durability. The updated Rogue has wheels spaced further apart for better driving manners.

The Rogue looks tough on the road.

Jeep Gladiator Night Eagle, from about $78,000 drive-away

Impressive off-road credentials, although the long body makes it easy to scrape over humps. Lack of diesel options hurts its appeal for travellers.

Jeep’s Gladiator represents a fun pick.

Ram 1500 Express, from $95,950 plus on-road costs

Bigger and more luxurious, with a dual-cab layout that’s handy for families. Built for towing, but off-road credentials are good rather than great. Petrol V8 can be thirsty.