Driven: new Land Cruiser 70
Mario Lupini - Cars in Action
Posted Thu, 12 Apr 2007
The Toyota Land Cruiser has always impressed as a vehicle able to operate in most extreme conditions. Those almost daily TV newscasts more than testify to this from hotspots such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Ethiopia — but then add rocket launchers to the mix too. Simple, tough and resilient it has always been an extreme-conditions machine.
The new Land Cruiser looks as tough but with some needed restyling and new features added to keep it at the front of the game. Most of the styling changes occur at the front end of the vehicle and the cab that are new from the ground up — with the chassis and driveline remaining true to the proven Land Cruiser formula.
The redesigned front end has not lost any of that true tough-purpose-in-life look. The new-look cab is softened with wraparound headlights with inbuilt indicator lights while the bonnet, grille, front bumper and mudguards are also updated. The front track, too, is modified, increased by 80mm.
Under the skin there are a number of functional changes. Of interest to the long range adventurer will be the increase in fuel capacity of both petrol and diesel models to 180 litres. This is via twin tanks, each with a capacity of 90 litres.
Another feature that will find favour among off-road users is the selection of the front and rear differential locks that are now electronically selected, either with differential lock off, on at the front only, or on at front and rear combined. This is now achieved via a switch on the dash on the left hand side of the steering column.
The efficacy of this new arrangement was more than illustrated when attacking an ominous 35-degree rock-strewn, potholed incline with no wheels locked. When half way up the Pick-up was about to stall when the switch was flicked to the AWD-lock position. Lightning-quick it corrected the situation — with the rest of the treacherous climb completed without much ado. The change to four-wheel drive now achieved without the need to stop and lock the hubs manually proved a godsend.
The suspension remains the proven tough combination of live axles front and rear, with coils at the front and leaf springs at the rear. The front coil set-up allows for more travel than a leaf spring set-up. Both front coil and rear leaf rear springs are now up to Toyota’s heavy-duty specification for the Land Cruiser Pick-up.
The front suspension provides long travel while long leaf springs are used at the rear. These two systems act together to provide a superb overall ride, handling and stability characteristics, excellent wheel articulation and suspension qualities.
A change to the design of the clutch pedal now improves the feel of the clutch with an optimised pedal ratio, which together with a revision to the spring-assist mechanism reduces clutch effort. The power steering is also revised to provide for a better feel, especially at lower speeds.
The addition of a long-range tank now takes up the space previously occupied by the spare wheel under the load box and is subsequently now mounted behind the driver in the load box. A lockable guard frame provides theft protection.
Comfort and convenience includes a digital clock, air-conditioning and key operated central locking system. A pre-wired arrangement for radio fitment with an antenna fitted is standard while an auxiliary power point is provided under the bonnet.
The 4.2-litre diesel engine develops 96kW at 3800rpm and 285Nm at 2200 while the 4.5-litre petrol Land Cruiser pick-up is fitted with the electronic fuel injected 6-cylinder engine with 162kW at 4600rpm and 384Nm at 3600. Both variants are fitted with cyclonic air filters with pre-filtering and have 12-volt electrical systems.
New to the Land Cruiser range is the Land Cruiser 70 Station Wagon that is based on the Pick-up. Sharing the mechanical specification and ladder type chassis with Pick-up its wheelbase is 450mm shorter. However the softer spring rate on the Wagon offers improved ride quality over absolute load carrying capacity. Brakes are ventilated disc at the front and drums at the rear with a load sensing proportioning valve.
Drive — as is the case with the Pick-up — is via a five-speed manual transmission. The 16” alloy wheels fitted with 265/70R 16LT tyres are standard.
The body configuration is that of a four-door station wagon with a vertically split rear door with seating for five: two bucket type seats at the front and a transverse seat with space for three passengers at the rear. Seat facings are cloth while the floor covering is vinyl. An aluminium side step is provided for ease of access.
The Land Cruiser 70 Station Wagon is only available with the 4.2 diesel engine and should offer much to the more adventurous families and extend the Land Cruiser experience into a new market segment with the functionality and ruggedness the Land Cruiser name has come to stand for.
Over a two-day test run in the mountainous Gamtoos Valley we had the best opportunity to test the Land Cruiser range. What emerged was enough proof of the SUV’s capabilities and rank as one of the most able on the market at present under such extreme driving conditions. This was especially proven during ‘inching’ conditions in extra low first and second gears over the run that extended some 70km at an average speed of around 7km/h.
The Land Cruiser 70 Pick up and Station Wagon are covered by a ToyotaCare Vehicle Warranty, which covers defects in materials or workmanship for a period of three years, or 100 000km. A three-year corrosion perforation warranty is also standard.
ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance is included in the warranty package for the Land Cruiser 70 models. The 24-hour emergency roadside assistance includes out-of-fuel assistance, jumpstart service and/or replacement battery (if the battery is still under the one-year manufacturer warranty), change of flat tyre, key lockout service and towing of the vehicle to the nearest Toyota dealership in the event of a mechanical or electrical breakdown (if roadside repair is not possible), and a message relay service. The Roadside Assistance Programme is only applicable in South Africa and Namibia.
Land Cruiser 70 Pricing:
Pick up 4500 Petrol: R312 200
Pick up 4200 Diesel : R328 000
Station Wagon 4200 Diesel: R362 000
