Toyota Land Cruiser crew cab misses crash stars

Toyota Australia is adding a five seat version of its 70 Series ute, but it has only a three star ANCAP crash rating, something which could hurt it given some mining companies are starting to demand utes with five star crash test scores.

Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen says the company has improved the crash rating of the 70 Series through the years and says a five star rating is not impossible."We have got it up to a three star rating, so it is a work in progress," he says. "We will keep working on improving it because people love it."

Toyota is working to constantly update the 70 Series to keep it on the road and is finally introducing anti-skid brakes on all models, including the crew cab. It doesn't have traction control, Electronic Stability Control and makes do with two airbags.

Other upgrades to the 70 Series range include a snorkel fitted to the A-pillar, new seats and a new sound system that incorporates Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming.All 70 Series models are fitted with the durable 4.5-litre common rail turbo diesel V8 with 151kW and 430Nm, which is linked to a five-speed manual and a part time four-wheel drive system that includes a two-speed transfer case.

The basic Workmate gets 16-inch steel wheels, side steps, vinyl seats, rubber floor covers and black bumpers. Stepping up to the GXL adds 16-inch alloy wheels, flared wheel arches, remote central locking, electric windows, carpet, fog lights, differential locks (which are optional extras for the Workmate) and cloth seats.

The ancient LandCruiser -- which was first introduced all the way back in 1975 -- is a far different vehicle to the far more modern and city friendly 200 Series LandCruiser wagon, has been updated through the years but is still a basic and tough machine known for its simple design. It has been available as a wagon, a troop carrier with a tall roof and single cab ute and, from September, a crew cab.

Sales continue to tick over thanks largely to continued interest from miners and farmers who want a tough go-anywhere vehicle. But the company sensed it was missing out on a lot of sales given the amount of people who asked about a crew cab version.

It was given more encouragement when a range of small engineering firms started chopping 70 Series wagons to produce their own crew cab utes. Toyota's Japanese chiefs responded and hit the green light for the new workhorse crew cab, which will only be available in Australia.

Its engineers took the 70 Series wagon as a base model and developed rear panels along with a sturdy custom metal tray. The tray is very similar to the one available for the Hilux cab chassis crew cab, the model that many loyal Toyota customers purchased in lieu of a 70 Series crew cab ute.

It measures 1800mm in length and 1840mm in width and is available with fold down sides, side rails for tying down loads load bars to allow for long items to be carried and a mesh grille to protect the rear window. The ute retains its one tonne payload and is able to tow up to 3500kg.

It is available in two specification levels, the Workmate at $63,990 and the GXL at $67,990. Despite the hefty prices, the 70 Series is still a basic machine. It still has solid beam front suspension, instead of each side being independent, which is very rare these days.