Toyota Land Cruiser manual ute 2007 review

These days the 70 is something of a dinosaur, but it has a loyal following among buyers who prefer simplicity to sophistication.

Toyota makes rare changes to the hard-working 70 Series, which is one of the most enduring models on the motoring landscape.

It prompted other changes, most importantly a new V8 turbo-diesel engine. It also got an MP3-compatible CD sound system and better power steering.

Toyota says the job of re-engineering the front end to be compatible with airbags was too big and expensive to justify considering the limited market for the 70 Series, which dates to the 1970s.

Toyota Australia reportedly fought hard with head office to have the 70 updated -- Australia is one of the few countries that persists with it. The arguments were obviously effective because Toyota has shoehorned a new 4.5-litre V8 common-rail turbo-diesel into the front of the 70 Series to bring it into line with the latest emission rules.

As the V8 is wider than the outgoing six, it meant a rework of the front end and a new look.

The new engine is Euro 4 compliant, has double overhead camshafts, four valves a cylinder, and a variable nozzle turbocharger with an air-to-air intercooler. It puts out 151kW at 3400 revs and has a remarkably flat torque curve that peaks with 430Nm at 1200 revs and holds it until 3200 revs.

That's almost 24 per cent more power and a touch more than 13 per cent more torque than the outgoing turbo-diesel six. Even better, Toyota says fuel consumption is better.

A five-speed manual overdrive gearbox processes the extra grunt, sending it through a two-speed transfer box to either the rear wheels or, when selected, all four. Front hubs are manually set, there is a limited-slip rear diff as standard, and optional front and rear diff locks can be added for better off-road traction.

The power steering has more assistance at low speed. The interior looks much as it always has, but there's been some work done to make it more habitable.

Toyota has expanded the range to eight models and a new four-door wagon replaces the entry-level, live-axle 100 Series.

In addition to the new wagon there are the familiar 70 Series cab-chassis and two-door Troop Carrier body styles, with Workmate, GX and GXL specification levels.

On the road, the 70 Series drives like it belongs in four-wheel-drive country. It gets the job done and feels safe and secure, but its on-road manners are dulled by its bias towards the bush.

The ride is comfortable enough over smooth surfaces. Off road, it is in its element, there's plenty of wheel articulation and, with low-ratio four-wheel drive and optional diff locks if needed, there are few places it couldn't go.

After mechanical reliability, towing is the most valued attribute of the 70 Series, according to Toyota research, which finds that more than 70 per cent of owners will make use of its 3500kg towing capacity at least once a month.

To drive a piece of history you will pay $53,490, which gets you aboard an entry-level Workmate cab-chassis, but for the range-topping Troop Carrier GXL you will have to stump up $61,490.