This year, the truck’s venerable design will be updated to meet stricter safety regulations.
The Land Cruiser Series 70 is one of the oldest cars on the market. It was released in 1984, when many of us were not even born. This venerable off-roader was launched in 1984, and it is still going strong 38 year later. Toyota has decided to update the truck again in Australia by the end the year, in order to meet stricter side-impact collision regulations. The J70 will remain as the pickup because Toyota is investing money in it.
Toyota has been busy over the past two years because of high demand for Land Cruisers. Drive, an Australian magazine, cites local dealers that have calculated the production rate and projected sales and claim that existing orders will be fulfilled in 2024.
There is a silver lining to those who aren’t able to wait, provided Toyota can ramp up production for the Series70. The Land Cruiser has been affected by global supply chain problems, just like every other vehicle. When the most recent orders from Down Under are received, the all-terrain vehicle will mark its 40th year anniversary.
Toyota Australia still offers an SUV version the J70. The J70’s turbodiesel V8 engine is the same as the others. However, the GXL trim level offers more luxury without sacrificing the 4×4 capability. The GX is the truck bed’s workhorse, so there are plenty of options.
Okay, but is it any wonder that some people are still interested in a truck from the 1980s? It’s virtually indestructible and, if it does break, the Land Cruiser Series 70 can be easily repaired. It starts at just over 100,000 AUD, while the Series 300 is priced at approximately 150,000 AUD.
The J70 isn’t the exact same truck as it was in 1984. Toyota has made many improvements to the J70 over the years, including power windows, air conditioning, ABS and cruise control. All trims include cruise control, a 6.1 inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and navigation, and the GXL has a hill start assist system.
The Series 70’s diesel engine is connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox, delivering power to all four wheels regardless of the choice. GXL and WorkMate have differential locks, while GXL has auto-locking hubs. The standard Land Cruiser can carry 130 liters (334.3 gallons), but you have the option to add 180 liters (47.5gallons) to your fuel tank.
The Ineos grenadier is the modern-day J70. Land Cruisers, Mercedes G-Classes, Land Rover Defender, and Land Rover Defender are all more luxurious than their predecessors.