Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series 2016 Review

Toyota LC70 wagon, single-cab, double-cab and Troop Carrier
Australian Launch
Werribee, Victoria

Toyota has given the trusty 70 Series LandCruiser ute, wagon and 'troopie' line-up its biggest overhaul since it was first produced in 1985, since which time about 1.3 million have been sold globally, including more than a quarter of a million in Australia – its fourth largest market. Toyota Australia has sold 260,167 LandCruiser 70s since 1985 and, of the 75,000-odd examples sold worldwide last year, Australian sales remained steady at around 7500. The substantial late-life upgrade focuses on the volume-selling single-cab, which now comes with a five-star safety rating thanks to a beefed-up ladder frame and the addition of side curtain and driver's knee airbags. However, all LC70s now come with electronic stability and traction control as standard, plus a more efficient Euro 5 emissions-compliant diesel V8 and a host of other running changes. The upgrades come with prices increase of at least $3000 across the board.

The 70 Series is an anomaly in today's automotive landscape, in which most cars are completely renewed about every five years, given it has remained virtually unchanged for more than three decades.

Now the Land Rover Defender is gone, few current models can lay claim to a lifespan that long -- except perhaps the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Not even Nissan's aged Y61 Patrol, which is about to be killed off because it can't meet the November 1 Euro 5 emissions regulations the 70 Series now complies with, comes close.

At the same time, few current models can lay claim to the simplicity and go-anywhere ruggedness that has made the 70 Series so iconic in the Aussie bush, where parts availability and the ability to fix problems on the side of the road are paramount.

But despite its longevity and utility, the 70 Series has never come cheap and the upgraded range is even pricier, with prices now starting well into the $60,000 bracket – a price point hitherto reserved for top-end premium versions of popular mid-size 'lifestyle' dual-cabs.

Of course, none of these mid-sizers can match the size, capability, durability, reputation or breadth of the rugged LC70 line-up, which has grown to include single-cab, wagon, 'Troopie' and dual-cab derivatives variants, the latter conceived just for Australia only a few years ago.

Rightly, then, Toyota says the 70 Series is the only heavy-duty 4x4 remaining in the Australian market, excluding full-size locally converted US pick-ups like the F-Series, Silverado and RAM.

All models are now better equipped now, thanks to the standard fitment of electronic stability control, which was mandated for all new vehicles sold in Australia earlier this year, as well as an upgraded 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 that meets the Euro 5 emissions standard in effect from November 1.

Other range-wide additions include active traction control, hill-start assist control, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, front seatbelt pretensioners and a passenger seatbelt reminder.

Also now standard across the range is cruise control, auto-locking front hubs, a new fuse box and revised gearing that reduces fuel consumption, while wider (6.0-inch – up from 5.5) 16-inch one-piece wheels are now fitted to base models, with alloys continuing on the rest.

However, none of the LC79 single-cab's other safety upgrades -- which include a stronger ladder frame and the addition of side curtain airbags, a driver's knee airbag, new seats, under-dash padding, all-new body panels, relocated steering link and locally developed chassis tune -- apply to other 70 Series models.

Sadly, that means the family-focussed LC79 dual-cab ute, LC76 wagon and LC78 Troop Carrier, all of which can seat up to five occupants, continue to be 'unrated' by ANCAP and continue with just two airbags, but now cost $3000 extra at base level.

Clearly, Toyota has focused its investment on the volume-selling single-cab version, which previously achieved a lowly three-star safety rating yet accounts for half of all 70 Series sales, and is the vehicle of choice for most farmers, miners and government departments.

Indeed, the company makes no bones about the fact this upgrade targets more business buyers, which now account for less than 60 per cent of sales – down from more than 65 per cent at the height of the mining boom.

The single-cab's extensive upgrades bring with them a $5500 price rise at base level, where the WorkMate ute now starts at $62,490 plus on-road costs, while air-conditioning remains a $2761 option across the range (fitted), despite the fact this option box is ticked by almost all buyers.

Apart from a host of Aussie-engineered genuine accessories including bullbars and mine-spec trays, premium paint costs $550 extra and front/rear diff locks cost a further $1500 on the single-cab GX and double-cab WorkMate (they're unavailable on base single-cab, Troopie and wagon models, but standard on everything else).

So throw in air-con, premium paint, a bullbar, tray and diff locks, and it's easy to spend well over $80,000 to put even a mid-range GX single-cab on the road.

In short, the upgrades – which Toyota says are the biggest in the LC70's history and the result of five years of R&D and 100,000km of Australian testing, mostly off-road -- don't come cheap, but they do significantly improve the LandCruiser workhorse, at least in single-cab form.

Although it suffered from excess oil consumption early on, the LC70's bullocking DOHC 4.5-litre diesel V8 – a long-stroke design that continues with unchanged outputs of 151kW of power at 3400rpm and 430Nm of torque over 1200-3200rpm – has proven itself as a trusty, torque-laden device that's perfectly fit for purpose.

It's now even better thanks to taller second and top gear ratios in the LC70's sole five-speed manual transmission, which extracts more of the significant torque available at low speeds and reduces engine speed to less than 2000rpm in top at 100km/h.

That means it's better geared for highway cruising yet still offers acres of grunt for overtaking, while the addition of piezo electric injectors further reduces fuel consumption – by1.2L/100km or 10.1 per cent to 10.7L/100km. CO2 emissions are also down as a result, to 281g/km, and a switchable diesel particulate is fitted.

Apart from increasing rigidity and crash safety, the stiffer frame and 12 new body panels (including the floor and a butch new pedestrian-friendlier raised bonnet with 'power dome) combine with the taller gearing to make the LC70 single-cab noticeably quieter and more refined inside.

Another obvious benefit of the stronger ladder frame -- which benefits from thicker side rails and seven revised cross-members, one of which is new – is improved handling precision, making it slightly easier to position the 'Cruiser more accurately on the road.

The LC70's basic live-axle suspension architecture – with coil springs and a stabiliser bar up front and leafs at the rear – continues, but the locally-tuned suspension package delivers better rough-road suspension compliance, a less jiggly ride on most surfaces and what feels like less free play in the slow power-assisted recirculating ball steering system.

And rest assured, the LC79's proper low-range reduction ratio still endows it with tractor-like low-speed crawling capability, as evidenced by a number of reasonable testing off-road exercises -- including a deep water crossing and extreme wheel articulation test -- at the Werribee 4x4 park during the media launch.

Despite tackling it in first gear low-range, in which stability control (but not traction control) is automatically disabled, we got stuck halfway up a particularly snotty hillclimb as one front and one rear tyre scrambled for traction in deep holes chopped out by my colleagues.

The solution? Simply roll back a few metres, select second gear, and the let the active traction control do its work to distribute just enough torque to each wheel to get going again.

While all LC70s come with the new powertrain and electronics package, and continue to offer a 3500kg towing capacity, only the Troopie remains with dual 90-litre fuel tanks. That spells significantly reduced driving range – a key factor for Outback travellers – for LandCruiser ute and wagon owners.

Kerb weights are slightly up for all models and now start at 2165kg for the GX single-cab, while payloads are slightly down but remain above 1200kg for single-cab models, and towing capacity is unchanged at 3500kg.

Some traditionalists won't like the switch from split rims on the old entry-level LC70 WorkMate, which now runs on single-piece steel wheels with tubeless 225/95 tyres, and ute models still come with a woefully big 14.4-metre turning circle – reducing to 13.6m for the Troopie and 12.6m for the wagon.

Base WorkMate models still come with a hose-out vinyl interior, but remain ahead of most other utes by offering tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, while Bluetooth connectivity and new standard equipment like cruise control, auto-locking front hubs and an accessories-friendly make all models easier to live with.

GXL variants add luxuries like cloth seat trim, but once again only single-cabs bring new bucket seats bring enhanced structures, mounting points, side bolstering, lumbar support and trim.

As for the all-important running costs, capped-price maintenance costs are $340 for every scheduled service, although intervals remain relatively short at 10,000km.

This upside here though is lower fuel consumption, just as the higher purchase prices should be somewhat offset by higher resale values for a model that's traditionally strong in that regard.

Yes, it's a pity Toyota didn't see fit to upgrade the entire 70 Series line-up for 2017, because the single-cab's more rigid chassis not only improves crash safety but also dynamics, ride comfort and refinement.

Thankfully, however, safety and emissions regulations have forced it to bring the rest of the range into the modern world too, with welcome advances like stability/traction control and a cleaner and even more effective V8 diesel.

2016 Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series single-cab WorkMate price and specs:
Price: $62,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel
Output: 151kW235kW/430Nm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 10.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 281g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP