How many new Toyota Land Cruiser 79s were sold in its first month in South Africa

The recent facelift to the Toyota Land Cruiser (LC) 79 has boosted the popularity of the venerable 4×4 in South Africa by a noticeable margin.

In February, 229 units of the bakkie found local buyers split across 111 double cabs and 118 single cabs, marking an 88% increase in comparison to the 127 sales that the pre-facelift model accrued in January, Toyota South Africa confirmed to TopAuto.

The picture looked slightly different for the new LC 76 Station Wagon as it neither gained nor lost customers.

In January, 15 pre-facelift LC 76 units made their way off showroom floors, with the new model similarly reporting exactly 15 registrations in February as well.

Apart from the fresh looks and slightly enhanced equipment, the new 2.8-litre, GD-6, turbo-diesel engine option in the LC 70 family was a big driver behind the increased sales of the LC 70 Series.

The 2.8GD-6 was the unequivocal leader in market share last month, accounting for 167 – or 69% – of all new LC 76 and 79 purchases.

LC 70 Series specifications

After many years on the market, the LC 70 Series was on the receiving end of various visual tweaks complemented by a more up-to-date equipment list at the start of 2024 to bring it in line with its contemporary rivals.

The iconic Toyotas now wear a retro-inspired mesh grille, circular headlights, LED fog lights, plated bumpers, aluminium side steps, and 16-inch alloy wheels finished in dark grey metallic.

Standard equipment on the base models encompasses remote central locking, vinyl seats, manual airconditioning, electric windows, two speakers, a 12V power outlet, two airbags, and ABS.

The pricier derivatives additionally come with fabric upholstery, interior carpets, a leather steering wheel with wood inserts, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, navigation, and a USB port.

The new 2.8GD-6 variants with their automatic gearbox boast an assortment of safety systems, too, including brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-assist control, downhill assist, traction control, and vehicle stability control.

A wide variety of powertrains is on the cards for the new LC 70 Series, comprising:

It’s worth noting that the 76 can only be had with the 2.8GD-6 and V8 options, while the 79 is available with all four drivelines.

All versions of the Toyota are also equipped with a selectable 4×4 system and front and rear differential locks for added versatility both on the job site and in the great outdoors.