Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series wait time out to 2024

If you order a new 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series today, you’re almost certainly going to get the forthcoming facelifted model that is all but certain to be more expensive and in some cases will carry a waiting time of at least 18 months.

“It’s fair to say if you order one now, you will get the facelifted model,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told carsales.

“Dealers are letting customers know that the vehicle they order today may not be one they get. At some point the [ordering] system will notify dealers and they will inform customers.”

Pricing and detailed specification for the upgraded 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series hasn’t yet been confirmed, despite the car-maker confirming the new model will get improvements to safety and towing capacities.

But unless you’re at the start of the order queue for Toyota’s legendary go-anywhere workhorse, you could be waiting until 2024 for your new off-road rig.

“We would recommend customers talk to local dealers, because not all dealers have a long wait time. But some are out to 2024,” said the Toyota spokesperson.

One of Toyota Australia’s oldest but most sought-after vehicles is widely used by mining companies and customers seeking off-road capability, reliability and the continued availability of a turbo-diesel V8 engine.

The lack of availability and unprecedented demand for the LC70 has inflated prices, with several models listed on carsales for more than $160,000.

The hugely popular off-roader will be upgraded from November with a range of new features, chief among them an increase in gross vehicle mass (GVM) and an improved towing capacity of more than 3500kg.

The fitment of a pre-collision safety system with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection is the other major improvement.

It’s no fluke the vehicle’s greater GVM and towing capability will reclassify the ageing LandCruiser as a medium commercial vehicle, not a light commercial vehicle, which in turn allows it to dodge stricter side impact design rules (ADR 85) that come into effect for LCVs on November 1, 2022.

These new rules have already seen several cars banned from sale in Australia, such as the Nissan GT-R and Lexus IS series.

Toyota will continue to offer its tried-and-tested 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 engine (151kW/430Nm), driving all four wheels through a dual-range transfer case for low-speed off-road scrambling.

Strict new Euro 6 emissions regulations that scotched the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series’ 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 in many global markets don’t bite until 2027 in Australia, allowing the LC70 a stay of execution on that front as well.

This also means the newer, more potent 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 (227kW/700Nm) in the new LC300 won’t be offered on the upgraded Toyota LC70 for now.

All body styles in the LandCruiser 70 Series range – LC70 dual-cab ute, LC79 single-cab ute, LC78 two-door Troop Carrier and LC76 five-door wagon – are expected to benefit from the upgrades, but some will get more than others.

Only the LC79 single-cab ute gets a five-star safety rating, with other body styles remaining untested by ANCAP – and this will most likely continue post-upgrade.

Toyota will release detailed pricing and specifications closer to the LandCruiser 70 Series’ local launch in November, but the final spec is still not set in concrete as manufacturing and supply chain issues continue to plague car-makers.

“Some elements are not 100 per cent locked in yet. Closer to the launch we will have more details,” said Toyota’s spokesperson, adding that there’s also uncertainty around supply levels.

“We’re negotiating with TMC [Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan] to get as much stock in as possible for everything. It’s a global issue.”

Current supply appears to be steady for now, with 4671 LC70s delivered to customers this year (to the end of May), up slightly on the 4418 units sold over the same period last year.