Less is more: Why Toyota thinks LandCruiser 70 Series can thrive without V8
The polarising new four-cylinder Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series is slowly gaining acceptance among industry and private buyers in Australia and will eventually go on to outsell the V8 it replaces, its maker says.
In July last year, Toyota Australia formally called time on the legendary V8 LandCruiser 70 Series workhorse after 17 years on sale due to “changing regulations and community expectations”.
At that point, orders of V8-powered 70 Series models had been paused for almost two years – as Toyota introduced a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, like that in the HiLux, into the LC70 mix.
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Toyota vowed to continue filling existing V8 orders through to the end of 2025 and is continuing that pledge in earnest.
But six months on from the V8’s axing, Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s vice president for sales, marketing and franchise operations, says Australians are embracing the four-cylinder LandCruiser 70 Series in significant numbers.
“The four-cylinder is doing very well,” he told CarExpert.
“In fact, it’s doing exactly what I thought would happen: as people can’t get V8s they are trying the four-cylinder and acknowledging in the whole that it has great power, great capability, automatic transmission and now a manual transmission. Happy days.
“The four-cylinder will match the V8 for sales in time. But not immediately, maybe 2026.”
When Toyota launched the four-cylinder LandCruiser 70 Series, it arrived as an automatic only, as the manual transmission was exclusive to 4.5-litre V8-powered versions.
Since then, the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel has gained a manual option, fitted with the same five-speed transmission as its outgoing V8 counterpart.
Manual-equipped LandCruiser 70 Series variants are $2000 less expensive than the automatic, however, the three-pedal option isn’t available for single-cab/chassis utes or the Workmate Wagon.
Meanwhile, Mr Hanley confirmed that Toyota Australia remains on track with filling its existing V8 LandCruiser 70 Series order book.
“The V8 has stopped obviously, but most people who ordered their V8 will get their V8, so that’s good news,” he said.
“That will continue through the next 12 months while there are still vehicles coming through – but we’re not taking any more orders.”
Originally published as Less is more: Why Toyota thinks LandCruiser 70 Series can thrive without V8
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