The Land Cruiser is the longest running SUV nameplate out there. And while the 300 Series now carries all the bells and whistles, Toyota will still happily sell you a model from the generation first introduced 40 years back, the 70 Series.
The LC is one of the brand’s flagships and responsible for Toyota’s image of making bulletproof cars. Retro-inspired designs are all the rage nowadays, but rather than inspiration, this is the real deal, barely changed through the decades. The station wagon look in beige is a winner.
The new front fascia is the most successful part of the design and looks proper cool. It changes what dated the previous model and pulls on heartstrings while bringing excellent LED headlights and fog lights while at it.
Through the satisfying action of the chrome handles, you get inside this time machine.
Seats are only offer basic adjustment and are very flat, as are the door cards. It’s all about handling the hard work and standing the test of time, things the Land Cruiser family has always been known for.
Many moons ago I had an old (then already) car with ventilation controls like the ones found here. I am all for reliability and I know these commands are likely to last forever, but this might be a step too far, we figured out rotating dials by now.
But there is more technology that made its way to this updated 70 Series. Emergency braking, lane departure warnings and their corporate cruise control stalk are all to be found here. Parking sensors? Nope. Blind spot monitoring? Forget it. You won’t need those things on the farm or off-road, so Toyota focuses on those that will make the real difference to customers.
By the gear selector for the six-speed auto is the high-low selector. It is a bit finicky to interact with, but shows plenty of feedback when engaged, and clearly changes the behaviour of the truck. A diff-lock selector close to the steering wheel gives you control over the three differentials, and it gets me thinking how big of a hole you need to get yourself into that this level of off-road prowess won’t get you out of.
As for the actual driving, this is a truck, through and through. The all-terrain tyres eat up small imperfections and reflectors like they’re not there, but at motorway speeds, the LC is ponderous and busy. The suspension architecture handles low frequency bumps well, but repetitive undulations can upset the frame and send judders towards the occupants.
Steering is extremely slow and vague on centre. By the time it weights up, there is enough roll to get you to back off. It is much more comfortable on the straights, and there the engine shines.
The 2.8-litre, 500Nm, four-cylinder diesel used here is borrowed from none other than the Hilux, another hard working champion. It might be dropping the cylinder count by half, but it still has adequate power and torque, and matches the truck’s character well. The gearbox is smooth and predictable, and is useful for engine braking when required. This is a competent and reliable powertrain, but maybe not the most efficient: during my driving, it clocked close to 11L/100km of diesel.
All of that in exchange for truck loads of character. I’m no off-roader, but this truck made me want to be one. If outside of its comfort zone it was this charming, I can only imagine how well it’d do in a muddy rut, a farm environment, or even the beach. The body on frame layout, the tall suspension and the competent running gear make for a durable combination for a go-anywhere-do-anything vehicle.
The 70 Series is a unique offering, that addresses the needs of a niche market like few other vehicles. It is the total antithesis of a flashy, disposable product, and the thought of driving out of a showroom with a 30-year-old brand new vehicle is a novelty in itself. It’s very easy to understand why it is a staple with a cult following.
Words and photos by Harry de Souza
