Features / 3 February 2024 / Albert du Toit

First look at the new Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series in South Africa – Photos

The new Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series is launching in South Africa this month and the automaker recently gave local media a sneak peek at the 4×4 at its annual State of the Motoring Industry Address.

One of the brand’s longest-running nameplates, the latest evolution of the Land Cruiser 70 has received a mild facelift, a more refined cabin, and a new turbo-diesel powertrain option that was previously reserved for models such as the Hilux and Fortuner.

It will be available in several body styles, including a station wagon dubbed the “76” and as single and double-cab bakkies badged “79”.

A 4×4 stalwart

The new 70 Series retains its unmistakable squared-off silhouette but has been slightly updated in the styling department to keep it looking fresh in the modern era of swanky off-roaders.

Up front, it gained new circular LED headlights with daytime-running lights replacing the rectangular halogen fixtures of before, a retro-inspired mesh grille, and a redesigned bumper with smaller foglights positioned nearer to the edges.

A new selection of wheels is also available, with the examples on show wearing rugged-looking black alloys.

The interior of the Toyota has similarly been upgraded to bring it more in line with the high-tech vehicles in its class.

It now sports a leather steering wheel with wood inserts, a 6.7-inch centre touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB-C connectors for charging devices on the go, and a cupholder integrated into the window sill.

Toyota’s Safety Sense package brings a new pre-crash safety function, auto-control lighting, and drive-start control which controls the output power as well as the input of the engine when there is any sudden change from the accelerator or brake system.

The 70 Series also adopts an array of driving and braking intervention systems, including vehicle stability control, active traction control, and hill-start assist control.

Toyota didn’t confirm exactly which powertrains are on the cards for South Africa, but said that the 2.8-litre, turbocharged diesel engine will be “added to the line-up.” Judging from the wording, the current engine assortment should remain unchanged.

At present, there are three 4×4 drivelines available across the Land Cruiser range comprising a 4.0-litre, V6 petrol; a 4.2-litre, straight-six diesel; and a 4.5-litre, V8 turbo-diesel.

The performance metrics of these drive units are as follows:

2.8-litre turbo-diesel – 150kW/500Nm
4.0-litre petrol – 170kW/360Nm
4.2-litre diesel – 96kW/285Nm
4.5-litre turbo-diesel – 151kW/430Nm

The new 2.8-litre will also be available with a six-speed automatic transmission that provides a “Power/Haul” mode and downhill assist control, while the rest are exclusively paired with a five-speed manual.

There is bad news for fans of the V8 – the massive powerplant will be “phased out within the next year or two,” said Toyota South Africa senior vice president of sales and marketing, Leon Theron.

The reason for its demise is that Toyota can’t find a suitable automatic transmission to pair with it, and the company has simultaneously been able to improve its smaller engines to the point where they are much more efficient and powerful than the old mill, the combination of these factors rendering it pointless to continue producing the V8.

The complete specifications and model line-up of the new Land Cruiser 70 Series will be unveiled later this month at its official launch.