Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series upgrade announced

An upgraded 2023 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series pick-up and wagon range has been announced today, bringing autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus increases in gross vehicle mass (GVM) and payload.

However, as we reported back in mid-2021, the LC70’s GVM upgrade to more than 3500kg (making it officially classified as a medium, rather than light, goods vehicle) makes it exempt from the federal government’s new pole side impact design rule, which is known as ADR 85 and comes into effect for all new light commercial vehicles sold in Australia from November 1, 2022.

Applicable to all new passenger cars, vans and SUVs since November 1, 2021, ADR 85 has already killed off a number of high-profile models including the Lexus CT, IS and RC.

It’s no coincidence that Toyota’s updated workhorse range goes on sale from the same month that ADR 85 comes into effect for LCVs.

Toyota is yet to reveal what changes were made to the 70 Series to increase its GVM and payload, which are yet to be specified.

The company said today that “design refinements have enabled Toyota to increase the GVM to more than 3500kg, supporting useful increases in payload and taking the range from the light [NA] to the medium [NB] goods category”.

In a statement, Toyota Australia’s vice-president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, said: “The upcoming changes are designed to ensure that the legendary LandCruiser 70 Series will continue to be available for the foreseeable future in the Australian market, where its popularity resulted in more than 13,900 sales last year.

“The increase in GVM is sure to appeal to owners who use the 70 Series as a tool of trade or are seeking an even greater ability as a heavy-duty recreational off-roader.

“Combined with heavy-duty suspension and 3500kg towing capacity, these upgrades will enhance the versatility and rugged reputation for this legendary vehicle,” he said.

Toyota says full details and pricing for the upgraded 70 Series line-up – which includes the LC79 two-door ute, LC70 four-door ute, LC78 two-door Troop Carrier and the LC76 five-door wagon variants – will be announced closer to launch.

Currently the Toyota 70 Series, which dates back to 1984 and is sold out until 2024, has an official GVM figure of 3060kg (wagon), 3300kg (Troopie and dual-cab) and 3400kg (single cab/chassis), which is not far short of the 3500kg needed for it to be categorised as a medium commercial vehicle.

There will be no change to the LC70’s 3500kg towing capacity, nor its 151kW/430Nm 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 – the twin-turbo version of which was axed from the bigger new LandCruiser 300 Series in favour of an all-new 700Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6.

Implementation of the strict new Euro 6 emissions regulation, which the 70 Series’ 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel does not meet, doesn’t come into effect in Australia until 2027.

On the safety front, while AEB will join stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes and hill start assist as standard in 70 Series models, the popular dual-cab, wagon and Troopie versions still miss out on the chassis upgrade that allowed the volume-selling single-cab to achieve a fleet-friendly five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2016.

At the time, apart from the range-wide fitment of mandated stability control, the 70 Series’ diesel V8 was updated to meet the Euro 5 emissions standard enforced from November that year.

Other range-wide additions at the time included traction control, hill start assist, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, front seat belt pretensioners, passenger seat belt reminder, cruise control, auto-locking front hubs, a new fuse box and revised gearing to reduce fuel consumption.

But the single-cab scored a stronger ladder frame, side curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, new seats, under-dash padding, relocated steering link and all-new body panels.

Toyota Australia last updated the 70 Series in August 2020, when pricing increased and additions included a 6.1-inch touch-screen, sat-nav, voice recognition and Bluetooth, two USB ports, a 12-volt outlet and cup holder.

Toyota sells upwards of 10,000 LandCruiser 70 Series utes annually in Australia, making it one of the world’s biggest markets for the lucrative LCV.

The 70 Series is a vital model for Toyota in Australia, which has accounted for 20 per cent of about 1.5 million global sales since 1984. More than 300,000 examples of the 70 Series have been sold here since 1985.

LandCruiser is Toyota’s longest-running nameplate, with its origins dating back to the BJ of 1951, before the 4WD was renamed LandCruiser in 1954.

Australia became Toyota’s first export market after early predecessors of LandCruiser 70 Series – the FJ25, FJ45 and FJ43 – were employed by construction magnate Leslie (later Sir Leslie) Thiess during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme.

Toyota has been studying an all-new replacement for the 70 Series since at least 2013, but in 2019 said there was “no end date” for continued upgrades to the current model.

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