IF you want a definition of the term ‘workhorse’ look no further than Toyota’s 70-Series LandCruiser. Whether it’s carrying miners or carting hay bales in every dairy community in Australia, the 70-Series is a hard-working 4×4 that earns its keep day in day out, year in, year out.
The LandCruiser 70 is an old-school 4WD that comes as either a wagon or a cab chassis, the latter range recently expanded to include the option of a dual cab. While the addition of the rear seats was primarily for the mining and rural sectors, we would not be surprised to see a few picked up by serious off-roaders as the family getaway vehicle.
All variants are powered, and we mean powered, by a 4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel engine.
Our test vehicle was the dual-cab cab chassis in top-of-the-range spec.
To put the 70-Series through its paces we took it to the pastures of south-east Queensland and a disused tin mining area.
Toyota will not be upgrading the 70-Series to modern safety standards, so the vehicle is likely to end production in about four years.
Like the rest of the vehicle, the interior is designed for function, not for looks.
The 70-Series GXL dual cab may well find a home with 4WD fanatics who like off-roading in difficult areas. They will not be disappointed.
Prices start at $58,790, not including government or dealer delivery charges.
— Murray Hubbard
