2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Four-Cylinder Review

The 70 series facelift has to be the most controversial facelift of the year.

Not only does the Land Cruiser 70 series now introduce a new drivetrain - the 2.8L 4-cylinder turbo diesel and 6-speed automatic shared with the HiLux - but it has had a significant exterior and unexpected interior redesign, bringing a substantial price increase.

Order books for the V8 with the 5-speed manual are still closed, with Toyota saying they are trying to fulfil the 12-month backlog of orders.

But go into a dealership now, and the 4 cylinder is (relatively) readily available.

A big fear is did they ruin the land cruiser 70 series by fitting a 4-cylinder engine? Let’s talk about that in today’s review!

How much does the LC70 cost?

Today we’re reviewing the Land Cruiser 79-Series Single Cab Chassis in GX trim with the 4-cylinder engine.

However, the LandCruiser 70 series offers two distinct powertrain choices, each influencing the vehicle's cost:

• 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel: This engine option represents the starting line for the LandCruiser 70 series. It’s the more economical choice, both in terms of fuel efficiency (9.6L/100km) and initial outlay. This engine represents an increase of ~$6000 over the pre-facelift V8.
• 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel: For those seeking more power – and willing to invest in it – the V8 turbo-diesel is the premium choice. It’s like adding extra sauce to an already flavorful dish. This engine option commands a significant premium, with the V8/manual combination notably costing $4,100 more than the I4/auto, showcasing the value placed on raw power and manual control. This engine represents an increase of ~$10,000 over the pre-facelift.

That translates into a rather significant price increase for the LC70 range, which is as follows for 2024:

2.8-litre Four-Cylinder Turbo-Diesel

• 76 Series Wagon WorkMate: $75,600
• 76 Series Wagon GXL: $79,800
• 78 Series Troop Carrier WorkMate: $79,200
• 78 Series Troop Carrier GXL: $82,500
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis WorkMate: $76,800
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis GX: $78,800
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis GXL: $80,900
• 79 Series Double-Cab Chassis WorkMate: $79,300
• 79 Series Double-Cab Chassis GXL: $83,500

4.5-litre V8 Turbo-Diesel

• 76 Series Wagon GXL: $83,900
• 78 Series Troop Carrier WorkMate: $83,300
• 78 Series Troop Carrier GXL: $86,600
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis WorkMate: $80,900
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis GX: $82,900
• 79 Series Single-Cab Chassis GXL: $85,000
• 79 Series Double-Cab Chassis WorkMate: $83,400
• 79 Series Double-Cab Chassis GXL: $87,600

Note: All prices are before on-road costs.

Of course, options are available too.

• Front and Rear Differential Locks: $1,500
• Premium Paint: $675

What’s the interior and tech like of the LC70?

First of all, what’s new for the interior of the LC70?

The biggest change is really the instrument binaccle, which has been significantly improved. You now get a 40-series inspired gauge cluster, with a digital display that shows plenty of information. Before, you couldn’t even see fuel economy.

The 6.1” display has been removed in favour of a… 6.7” display, which really isn’t much of an improvement, but the good news is that you now get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

If you fork out for the GXL, which is top of the range, you would also get two USB-C ports instead of USB-A ports. Instead, a 12V socket is in place in lower models and a single USB-a port within the infotainment display.

Stepping inside, you’ll very quickly notice the odd lack of manual transmission, replaced by a 6-speed AISIN-sourced automatic for the 4-cylinder (don’t worry, the V8 is still exclusively 5-speed manual).

It does help to add another cupholder, though, with a redesigned centre area for phone storage too which is nice.

Another big change is the steering wheel, which drops the early 2000’s Coaster Bus design in favour of the more recent HiLux steering wheel. It’s still plastic, but it feels much nicer than before.

Unfortunately, thats where the changes end. The seats are still a hard vinyl with almost no support, there are only 2 speakers in the single-cab, which sound horrendous, and you get manual wind-up windows with manually adjusting mirrors.

However, for some of you, that’s idyllic. The reality is, with the LC70 you’re not paying for features, in fact you’r’e paying for less features and 39-years of proven reliability. 

Also, it’s important to understand that most things in the car can be fixed with a simple Phillips head screwdriver, which means issues out in the middle of nowhere are much easier to fix.

It’s also a completely modular interior, as is the exterior, so it’s insanely simple to just replace things as you like.

Compared to any other ute on the market, the interior is a terrible place to spend time when stock standard - but that’s by design.

How much can fit in the tub of the LC70?

As part of Toyota’s bid to continue the sale of the Land Cruiser 70 series with increasing safety regulations, in 2022 Toyota added a GVM ugpraded to the LC70.

As a result, the LC70 comes with a GVM of 3.51 tonnes across the range.

Our test unit was fitted with a Genuine Toyota Tray, which provides more raw space than any other ute in its segment.

Because we have the lightest LC70 - the LC79 single cab with the 4 cylinder - the payload is phenomenal at 1.38 tonnes.

That’s one of the benefits of the 4-cylinder over the V8, it simply can carry more weight stock.

What’s under the bonnet of the LC70?

The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series features two different engine options, each with its own specifications and capabilities. The first option is the new 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, delivering 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque. This engine is mated exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission. It has a claimed fuel economy of 9.6 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

In contrast, the series also offers the 1VD-FTV 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine. This engine produces 151kW of power and 430Nm of torque and is paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The V8 variant has a slightly higher fuel consumption, with a claimed figure of 10.7 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

Both models are equipped with a part-time four-wheel drive system and a low-range transfer case. The LandCruiser 70 Series also includes locking front and rear differentials, which are standard on GXL models and available on GX models.

A big thing to remember about the LC70’s V8 is just how under stressed it is. In it’s state of tune, it puts out very little power and torque versus what can be pulled out from it via a simple engine remap.

Although Toyota stress the new 4-cylinder is reliable and its DPF issues have been remedied, only time will tell.

They have made some pretty major improvements to the 4-cylinder engine in order to cope with the higher demands of the larger land cruiser 70 series versus a HiLux:

• Differential ratios changed from 3.9:1 to 4.3:1 to accommodate the new gearbox and four-cylinder engine's revving nature.
• Crawl ratio adjusted from 44.04:1 to 38.5:1, indicating less overall reduction.
• Increased oil capacity of the transmission with a larger oil pan.
• Addition of a transmission breather with an oil catch tank for heavy-duty work.
• Incorporation of a power/haul mode for more responsive throttle and distinct transmission shift mapping.
• Manual mode for gear selection, allowing for maximum revving without unwanted upshifting and late downshifting.
• Introduction of a newly designed top-mounted water-to-air intercooler for the engine.
• Replacement of the cast aluminium sump with a pressed steel unit and a redesigned oil pick-up and strainer.
• Larger cooling fan using an isolation crank pulley to handle additional loads.
• Remove the letterbox-style bonnet scoop from the V8; the top-mounted air-to-air intercooler is now fed air through venting in the bonnet and the redesigned grille.

How does the LC70 drive?

Although in reality the 4 cylinder Land Cruiser with its 6-speed automatic is aimed at fleet buyers, it’s genuinely just the better drivetrain pick for most people.

Regarding outright, straight-line performance, we timed the 0-100km/h sprint of the new 4-cylinder Land Cruiser 70 series at just 11.19 seconds. Contrastingly, the V8 with about 90kg less payload at the time was 14.51 seconds.

That means the 4-cylinder LC70 series is at least 26% faster than the V8.

Thanks to the lack of a third pedal, the 4-cylinder LC70 is also far easier to drive day-to-day, with the engine not screaming at highway speeds unlike the V8 thanks to the 6th gear in the automatic.

Though the torque band is much narrower in the 4-cylinder, its pulling power was far stronger thanks to the 70 Nm of extra torque, and it never felt as if it were struggling under foot.

Although we haven’t towed the LC70 personally, motoring journalist colleagues who have noted to us that at its 3.5-tonne braked towing limit, the 4-cylinder felt more effortless than the V8 simply because of the extra torque and automatic transmission.

Sure, you could tune the V8, but if you do from new your drivetrain warranty is gone so it’s a risky game.

It also handles better thanks to the lighter front end. Of course, it’s still incredibly heavy to steer, tiresome and feels antiquated - but that’s the good, old Land Cruiser 70 series for you.

You can sometimes feel the rear end trailing the front wheels, where the front track is 95mm wider than the rear. 

It costs around $7,000 to increase the rear track width to match the front and is an absolute necessity if you want better off-road and on-road driving performance.

The fact that Toyota has declined to fix this problem, despite introducing the wider front track width to accommodate a V8 engine is disappointing, to say the least.

Still, it’s easy to see the merits of the 4-cylinder over the V8. The whole driving experience is substantially better than the V8 in pretty much every single way.

What are the specs and features of the LC70?

WorkMate Standard Features:

• 16-inch silver alloy wheels
• LED headlights with automatic high-beam
• 4.2-inch digital instrument display
• 6.7-inch infotainment screen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection)
• Lane departure alert
• Speed sign recognition
• Reversing camera (wagon/76 Series only)
• Black mesh grille
• Heritage-inspired bonnet and turn signals
• Steel side steps
• Two-speaker sound system
• Centre storage box (automatic variants only)
• Vinyl upholstery
• Available colors: French Vanilla, Sandy Taupe (no cost); Midnight Blue, Graphite Metallic, Silver Pearl, Merlot Red, Eclipse Black ($675, wagon/76 Series only)

GX Adds (over WorkMate):

• 16-inch dark grey alloy wheels
• Wheel arch flares

GXL Adds (over GX):

• LED front fog lights
• Chrome and painted front bumper (79 Series ute only)
• Moulded black front and rear bumpers (Wagon and Troop Carrier only)
• Aluminium side steps
• Chrome roof drip rails
• Four-speaker sound system (excluding single-cab ute)
• Two USB-C ports (in place of 12V socket)
• Driver and front passenger map pockets
• Cloth upholstery
• Front and rear differential locks (available for an additional $1500)

Additional Options:

• The Toyota LandCruiser 79 GX single-cab chassis can be equipped with front and rear differential locks for an additional $1500.
• Dark alloy wheels and overfenders available on the 79 Series GX single-cab chassis.

How much can the LC70 tow?

All Land Cruiser 70 Series - no matter whether 4-cylinder or V8 - have a 3.5 tonne braked towing capacity, and 750kg unbraked.

How much does the LC70 cost to run?

The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series comes with Toyota's standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. This coverage can be extended to seven years for the powertrain, provided all scheduled services are maintained.

For maintenance, the LandCruiser 70 Series requires servicing every 10,000km or every six months, whichever occurs first. This relatively frequent service schedule might be seen as a drawback for a vehicle that is often heavily relied upon.

In terms of cost, the first ten services for both the 4-cylinder and V8 models of the LandCruiser 70 Series are priced at $525 each.

Is the LC70 Safe?

Sort of.

The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series incorporates several safety features, though it's important to note the limitations imposed by its older platform architecture. Here's an overview of the safety aspects of this vehicle:

ANCAP Rating

• The LandCruiser 70 Series was tested by ANCAP in 2016, where ONLY the single cab-chassis variant received a five-star rating.
• In this testing, it achieved a front offset score of 14.75 out of 16, a side impact score of 16 out of 16, a pole score of 2 out of 2, and a seat belt reminder score of 3 out of 3.

The LC79 is single cab is the only LC70 variant to have received an updated crash safety structure and knee and curtain airbags. Every other land cruiser 70 series maintains an older crash structure and dual-airbags only.

Standard Safety Equipment

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Helps prevent collisions or reduce their severity by automatically applying the brakes if a potential impact is detected.
• Lane Departure Warning: Alerts the driver when the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane without signaling.
• Traffic Sign Recognition: Detects and displays traffic sign information to the driver.
• ABS, Electronic Stability, and Traction Control: These systems help maintain vehicle control during emergency braking and in challenging driving conditions.
• Airbags: The LandCruiser 70 comes with driver and front passenger airbags. However, it's noteworthy that there are no airbags for back seat passengers.

The 76 Series Wagon includes a reversing camera, enhancing safety during reverse maneuvers.

What’s CarSauce’s take on the LC70?

As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, the facelifted LC70 - especially with the 4-cylinder - is a much welcomed nip and tuck to a tried formula.

It remains one of the worst driving Ute's on sale today, but considering it's 39 year old underpinnings that's hardly surprising.

It's no frills design and proven reliability make the Land Cruiser 70 a beast, but an expensive beast at that.