Toyota LandCruiser Troop Carrier 2017 Review

A no-nonsense four-wheel drive with decent suspension articulation and ground clearance, low-range transfer, and front and rear differential locks, the ‘Troopy’ foregoes many of the creature comforts of its 200-Series sibling. There’s no automatic transmission, no electronic driver aids (excusing four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction and stability control) and not even a dome light for the front seats!

The four-variant 70-Series LandCruiser range offers single and dual-cab utility, Wagon and Troop Carrier models. Each was updated late last year with a comprehensive safety upgrade that saw only single-cab utility versions achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating for the first time, the model now including a stronger chassis, cabin and bonnet, side and curtain airbags, new seats and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

The 70-Series LandCruiser doesn’t come cheap. In fact, since the update arrived, prices are up by as much as $5500, Toyota increasing the list price of the range to claw back some of the costs attributed to the aforementioned safety upgrade.

A basic single-cab, cab-chassis Workmate is offered from $56,990 (plus on-road costs), the range topping out at $68,990 (plus ORCs) for the dual-cab, cab-chassis GXL.

In GXL grade, the LandCruiser offers AM/FM radio with a single CD player and Bluetooth connectivity, a power antenna, cruise control, front fog-lights, 16-inch steel wheels and a demister. Air-conditioning is optional at $2760.

The windows are electric and the doors centrally locked via remote; however, the mirrors are voice-activated, being that you’ll need to instruct your passenger on how best to adjust them on your behalf.

According to redbook.com.au the model on test retails from $67,990 (+$3000 over the outgoing model), and is offered with a three-year / 100,000km warranty. Service intervals are set at six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.

As we noted in our Australian Launch Review of the updated ‘70’ range, this is a vehicle made for the man or woman on the land, the hard-core off-road enthusiast, or go-anywhere Tradie. Simply put, this is not a status symbol, a Toorak Tractor or suburban school bus.

If, however, you need a dependable off-road-focused vehicle with plenty of V8 diesel grunt (151kW at 3400rpm and 430Nm from 1200-3200rpm), a tonne of payload capacity and generous braked towing ability (3500kg), look no further.

We put the Troopy through its paces at a disused quarry outside of Melbourne and found it virtually unstoppable – lock the diffs, select low range, and hold on! Just be mindful, though, that the rear track is narrower than the front, meaning you’ll need to be careful when placing the wheels over ruts etc. The 70’s wading depth is listed at 700mm with an approach angle of 35 degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees.

Of course the trade-off is that the 70-Series wallows and pitches on-road, and offers the handling prowess of a rusted shopping trolley (thank you recirculating-ball steering and coil/leaf live axles). It’s noisy, the aerodynamics are non-existent and, at freeway speeds, the V8 is begging for a sixth gearbox ratio that just isn’t there. Fuel economy suffers as a result (we managed 12.6L/100km), but with 180 litres* at your disposal, a touring range in excess of 1400km isn’t out of the question.

*Ute models offer 130 litres.

The revised 70-Series range is now available through Toyota dealerships nationally. With little customisation available from the factory, stock levels are generally fine, though larger fleet buyers may expect a lead time of three to four months.

At a dealership level, the 70-Series may be fitted with an airbag-compatible bull-bar, tow pack, winch, roof racks and scrub bars. Aftermarket retailers like ARB offer a more extensive range of accessories.

As we noted earlier, the 70-Series is a vehicle built for a purpose, and is not one for the confines of the inner city. This is a Brobdingnagian workhorse with the heart (and the fuel bill) to match; yet one that offers those who live in remote areas the dependability and off-road ability they require.

In the guise tested, the Troop Carrier Wagon offers seating for five with a lap belt for the rear-centre occupant and lap-sash belts for everyone else. Gone are the longitudinally-set bench seats (of which I have fond memories of in my FJ40), however, the ‘middle’ row is now formed by a collapsible bench-style seat.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries ranks the 70-Series LandCruiser as a light commercial vehicle in much the same vain as the Ford F-250 or RAM 2500.

However, we reckon that depending on model variant, you could also consider the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Land Rover Defender 110 or Mercedes-Benz G-Class Professional as realistic alternatives.

It might be expensive, and it mightn’t offer any of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect from the SUV set. It’s also not the sort of vehicle you’d want to pilot with any sort of exigency.

But it is one of the best off-road vehicles offered anywhere in the world, and on test managed to tackle tracks only one other vehicle has managed (being the Mercedes-Benz G 350 BlueTEC) in my hands.

It’s a vehicle that is built for a purpose, and one that resides in an ever shrinking coterie of go-anywhere 4WDs made tough enough for Australian conditions. In the right landscape, it’s arguably the perfect choice; and better still, you don’t need to travel back in time to get your hands on one.

2017 Toyota LandCruiser Troop Carrier GXL