Toyota Australia has announced pricing and specifications for its updated Land Cruiser 70 Series lineup which will see the venerable off-roader debut a four-cylinder engine and automatic gearbox for the first time in its history, with price rises across the board.
While the new engine and transmission headline the changes, the upgraded model lineup will also include new safety features, updated tech and tweaked exterior styling when it goes on sale in November.
The model range will now begin from $75,600 plus on road costs for the entry-level four-cylinder, around $6000 more than the previous entry price for what was until now an eight-cylinder only range.
On sale since 1984, the 70 Series Land Cruiser is a long-recognised stalwart on Australian roads
Despite the price increase, Toyota expects the changes to ‘broaden the appeal’ of the vehicle, with Chasing Cars having also previously reported how the big changes to the 70 Series model lineup came to fruition.
An immensely popular model with Australian customers, the updates will also hopefully help reduce wait times for the vehicle which is one of many Toyotas to have suffered long delays and corresponding price markups by dealers.
Retro-inspired exterior styling
It won’t be difficult for Land Cruiser fans to spot the new model range in traffic with the 70 series scoring its first facelift in many years thanks to a new retro-inspired front-end which Toyota says pays tribute to the old 40 Series.
Undergoing its first facelift in years, the new 70 Series will feature new retro-inspired headlights
The new design features new circular LED headlights with automatic high beams, as well as a new mesh grille.
Dark grey alloy wheels and overfenders will be available on the 76 Series and 79 Series GX and GXL grades, with the 76 Series wagon models now also available in ‘Eclipse Black’ in addition to the six existing colours which include ‘French Vanilla’, ‘Silver Pearl’, ‘Graphite’, ‘Merlot Red’, ‘Sandy Taupe’ and ‘Midnight Blue’.
Updated interior for 70 Series range
Changes aren’t limited to the powertrain and exterior of the vehicle, with a number of updates for the interior as well.
The refreshed range will also see updates to the interior of the 70 Series
These changes will see the Toyota equipped with a number of new features including a larger 6.7-inch touchscreen multimedia system with voice recognition, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, new control buttons for multimedia, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster display and more.
Grade walk for the 2024 Land Cruiser 70 Series range
The Land Cruiser 70 Series will continue to be offered in four body types including the 76 Series Wagon, the 78 Series ‘Troop Carrier’ (two door), and 79 Series single and double cab chassis ute.
Each grade is available in entry-level ‘WorkMate’ grade or top-spec ‘GXL’ grade, with the single cab-chassis 79 Series also available in mid-spec ‘GX’ grade.
All grades bar the entry-level 76 Series ‘WorkMate’ wagon – only offered with the four-cylinder – will be available with either the four-cylinder or eight-cylinder turbo-diesel.
This will be the first ever 70 Series to feature a four-cylinder engine (pictured)
New features for WorkMate grade:
- 6.7-inch touchscreen multimedia system with voice recognition
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster display
- New-look retro-inspired speedometer and tachometer
- New buttons for multimedia
- Automatic variants to feature redesigned centre console with centre storage box (new)
New features for GXL grade:
- Two new USB-C ports replacing existing 12V socket
First ever four-cylinder, automatic Land Cruiser 70 Series
The 70 Series will adopt Toyota’s long-used ‘1GD’ 2.8-litre turbo-diesel inline-four cylinder powertrain, a familiar unit from vehicles such as the Hilux.
The four-cylinder turbo-diesel featured in the 70 Series is a modified version of the familiar Toyota engine
However, Toyota says the engine has undergone a number of mechanical tweaks for use in the 70 Series to ‘improve cooling and reliability in heavy-usage scenarios’.
Changes include tweaks to the cooling fan diameter, the addition of an isolation crank pulley, a new oil pan, strainer and oil level sensor, adjustments to the oil filter, and the introduction of a balance shaft.
Available across the entire model lineup, the four-cylinder turbo-diesel will be equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission exclusively – another first for the 70 Series.
Four-cylinder versions of the 70 Series will be available exclusively with an automatic transmission
Like the engine, Toyota says the transmission has also been tweaked. Updates include a deeper oil pan, changes to the oil strainer intake position, and the addition of an oil catch tank.
The automatic will also include a ‘power/haul mode’ and ‘second-start switch’, as well as a transmission guard. Toyota also says the breather hose has been raised to assist with water crossing.
In terms of power output, the four-cylinder turbo-diesel powertrain makes for 150kW with 500Nm which is actually more than the current ‘1VD’ 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel which will continue to be available on all variants except the 76 Series WorkMate.
The rugged appeal of the Land Cruiser 70 Series has resonated with Australian customers for several decades
The eight-cylinder diesel engine produces 151kW and 430Nm and – unlike the four-cylinder engine – is mated exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission.
All 70 Series Land Cruiser models have a braked towing capacity of 3500kg regardless of engine choice.
How safe is the 70 Series?
The updated 70 Series range will also include an expanded suite of active safety features including the below additions for all models:
- Downhill Assist Control
- Road Sign Assist
- Lane Departure Alert
A suite of new active safety features will also make their debut in the updated 70 Series model range
These join existing safety features including an anti-lock braking system and vehicle stability control with hill-start assist control.
The vehicle already comes with automatic emergency braking across the range, however there is no word on an official ANCAP rating across the updated range. The single cab chassis variant was crash tested in 2016 and received a five-star rating at the time, however the requirements for five-star ratings have changed considerably since then.
The pre-facelift 76 Series wagon pictured in GXL grade
A reversing camera will also now be included for the 76 Series wagon only.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
70 Series four-cylinder:
- 76 Series Wagon WorkMate: $75,600
- 76 Series Wagon GXL: $79,800
- 78 Series Troop Carrier WorkMate: $79,200
- 78 Series Troop Carrier GXL: $82,500
- 79 Series single cab chassis WorkMate: $76,800
- 79 Series single cab chassis GX*: $78,800
- 79 Series single cab chassis GXL: $80,900
- 79 Series double cab chassis WorkMate*: $79,300
- 79 Series double cab chassis GXL: $83,500
70 Series V8:
- 76 Series Wagon GXL: $83,900
- 78 Series Troop Carrier WorkMate: $83,300
- 78 Series Troop Carrier GXL: $86,600
- 79 Series single cab chassis WorkMate: $80,900
- 79 Series single cab chassis GX*: $82,900
- 79 Series single cab chassis GXL: $85,000
- 79 Series double cab chassis WorkMate*: $83,400
- 79 Series double cab chassis GXL: $87,600
*Front and rear differential locks: $1500