Even after 40 years, Toyota’s tank in SUV clothing refuses to die.
It’s official, the Toyota Land Cruiser “70” is immortal. It’s proven to the world that it’s undeniably one of the most reliable cars ever made. Originally launched in 1984, it was a successor to the legendary FJ40 model — not a small task. Still, it did pretty well, and the 70 series was discontinued back in 1999, only to be later introduced again in 2007 as a spin-off model. Since then, it has been storming the world thanks to its outstanding performance.
Throughout its production, the Toyota Land Cruiser has maintained a consistent fascia, but it has seen six significant updates. The latest announcement from Toyota introduces the 2024 Land Cruiser 70 series, which continues this tradition. It stays true to its roots with an authentic retro off-road design underpinned by a sturdy ladder frame, preserving the vehicle’s classic and rugged appeal.
That said, the 70 now boasts a new turbocharged 1GD-FTV 2.8-liter inline-four common rail diesel unit producing 201 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque connected to a torque converter six-speed auto. The same engine can be found in other 14 Toyota models, including the smaller Land Cruiser Prado, and so far, the engine has proven to be very reliable, with zero known complaints.
Other than the new engine, the revamped 70 Series received a host of new safety off-road techs, including hill-start assist and downhill assist, as well as stability control and active traction control — nothing too fancy, only the essential.
Toyota also offers the 70 Series Land Cruiser with officially-approved aftermarket body kits from Modellista, which has been a sub-brand for the company for years and has already built a wide range of upgraded components for Toyota models such as Camry, Alphard, and Land Cruisers. However, it’s important to mention that for the 70 Series, Modellista sourced its part from a fellow brand, Jaos.
The Modellista 70 Series features a new rugged bumper with two vertical light bars for extra protection, complemented by classy yellow-tinted fog lights and protective aluminum skid plates! Furthermore, the vehicle is given 18-inch Modellista exclusive alloys finished in gold and wrapped in Yokohama’s Geolander all-terrain tires — an additional roof rack is also available if that’s your thing.
As for the interior, Modellista kept a conservative approach with only minimal changes. The cabin now features new wood grain inserts, LED lighting, and a rubber boot cover to prevent dirt from sticking to the carpets due to outdoor activities. It also offers other tidbits, such as tinted windows and license plate bolts.
Overall, it’s nice to see a modern vehicle boasting a basic recipe and no complicated electronics. Not to mention, it’s priced reasonably at $32,500, with the Modellista options adding up about $6,000 to the MSRP.
Sadly, but rather unsurprisingly, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser “70” will be sold exclusively in Japan — bummer.
Gallery: 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser “70”
