Off-road in Toyota's 70th Anniversary edition LandCruiser

It's both refreshing and nerve-racking when you jump behind the wheel of a 76 Series LandCruiser, especially this stunning Merlot Red limited edition 70th Anniversary model of which only 80 exist in Australia.

First impressions are key when testing vehicles, and my first thoughts revolved around how massive the steering wheel is, and despite requiring many (many) turns, it is very slow to respond. This is made even worse thanks to its rather average turning circle, something that you get used to in time – but it will catch you out initially.

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This isn’t my first foray in to the 76 Series platform; I’ve reviewed them when they were released many years back, and I was involved in the complete rebuild of an ex-mining 76 we were stupid enough to think would make for a good, cheap project… good and cheap should never be used in the same sentence. This is, however, my first shot at a 70th Anniversary model, which I was beyond excited to get to know over the space of a week.

Jumping in – you do have to jump thanks to the high sill clearance featured in the 76 Series – and you are transported back in time. It doesn’t beep at you for leaving your shirt untucked, it doesn’t try and steer you back in to your lane if you wander slightly, and it makes V8 noises that are so delightful you wonder why all four-wheel drives don’t sound this good.

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Then you drive it on the highway, and remember why… the 76 Series is loud inside, both from engine noise and wind noise. My inner teenager is squealing with delight, but the mid 30-year-old who houses said inner teenager isn’t so sure this is acceptable for a brand-new vehicle costing more than $80,000.

The interior is as basic as they come, even in this higher spec 70th Anniversary model, and the ride (while better than expected) sure isn’t plush. You don’t simply close the doors either, you have to give them a bit of gusto as they are rock solid.

The 76 Series LandCruiser is an expensive machine, and it realistically needs even more money spent on it to make it a good thing off-road. It’s not a rational purchase, it’s something that tugs at your emotions. If you want one, you’re just going to want one. I hope you get yours – I’m still trying to work out if I really need to eat food every day, and perhaps owning two kidneys is just being selfish?

What's in the box?

This is what you get: premium seats, two additional cupholders, faux wood trim on the dash, and piano black trim around air vents. There’s 70th Anniversary badging inside and out, black 16-inch wheels, as well as a black front bumper and flares.

The steering wheel has been updated, and while it has blanks for switches, they are just that … blank. A missed opportunity there by Toyota, as it would have been great to see phone and infotainment integration for the steering wheel.

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One item which had our resident 70 Series aficionado Mick Ellem from Offroad Images staring at with lust, was the retro-styled grille … he mentioned many times how much he liked it, and wondered how it would look on his beast of a 79 Series.

And the handbrake worked on this 76 Series (Hilux/80/100 Series owners know what I mean) which was a pleasant surprise. If only my own Hilux shared the same sort of enthusiasm.

Powertrain and performance

A 4.5L turbo-diesel V8 on paper is a thing of dreams, and this one is a proven package in Australia. While we mention specs on paper, with 430Nm quoted you’d think this motor would be underwhelming, but the way that VDJ thong-slapper produces grunt is spectacular.

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Take your foot off the clutch (yep, no automatic gearbox offering) and it just moves, you’d have to try hard to stall a stock 76 Series. It could definitely do with a sixth ratio in the gearbox though, with revs sitting at around 2300rpm doing 110km/h, the 76 Series is louder inside than it needs to be. It drinks more fuel than it should be when sitting at highway speeds too – the addition of a sixth gear would solve many issues.

While the power produced is less than that of a new Hilux, for example, there’s not much you can’t do to this engine to extract loads more power and torque from it. These engines are so under-stressed in factory tune, it’s not funny. They have been designed to run in rough conditions with reliability at the forefront. A good remap and run on the dyno should see conservatively 150kW at the wheels. Not bad at all, and that’s before playing with injectors and turbos. Food for thought.

Cabin and accommodation

This 70th anniversary edition includes more than the GXL model that sits below it – genuinely useful additions that all 76 Series LandCruiser models should have too, like multiple cupholders. I like the retro badges and grille design, and the seats are a bit nicer than what you get in the GXL or Workmate models, but I would have liked to see more than cosmetic additions to make this a truly special vehicle.

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Visibility is a strong point, as you sit up nice and high with plenty of glass to see through. That’s almost where the good stuff ends, but this was never designed to be a luxurious or particularly comfortable 4WD – so we can’t judge it too harshly. One thing I can’t live with though is the stereo, which is utterly terrible. Just throw it and the speakers in the bin and start again, if you listen to anything other than cricket on the ABC.

I’m a lanky lad at nearly 200cm tall, and found there was plenty of headroom. Leg room in the second row of seating was cramped, but not awfully. I did laugh at the number of ashtrays, especially the ones mounted in the doors. It’s not something you see too often these days. Otherwise, it’s a simple, fuss-free affair, and with the extra bling you receive with this 70th Anniversary model, it’s a fun driving experience all-in-all.

On-road ride and handling

I wasn't expecting much, but this thing rides better than you’d expect, especially off-road. If you hit a speed bump too fast when unladen, you certainly feel it, but I was mighty impressed with the tune of the factory suspension.

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The steering is awful, though. This was the biggest let-down for me, as not only is the turning circle barge-like, the amount of turns required to go from lock to lock is exhausting. The good news is you get used to it in time, but it’s something that could be improved.

The 76 Series 70th Anniversary model tracks true on the highway – as well as a front solid-axle-equipped vehicle can – with the only complaints being the previously mentioned wind noise from the A-pillar and the drone of the engine. Please Toyota, can we have a couple more gears?

Off-road

With twin diff locks, stump-pulling low-range gearing and V8 diesel torque from damn near idle, the 76 Series is incredible in the rough stuff. It does like to lift a wheel from time to time as there’s not much suspension travel in stock form, but it just keeps chugging along. Sill clearance is impressive too, giving you confidence over rocks and deep ruts. However, those rear leaf springs tend to get hung-up, as they are mounted under the axle.

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I’m not going to dive deep down the well-documented rabbit hole that is the rear track-width issue, as this has been discussed at great length and there are many aftermarket-based solutions to this problem. In general day-to-day driving, it’s not really an issue; but when driving in deep ruts and on soft sand, this is when you notice the rear axle is four inches narrower than the front. Disappointing to see this hasn’t been updated, but if you must have a 76 Series, there are plenty of simple (albeit costly) fixes available.

I’d also be ditching that factory raised air intake and replacing it with a quality sealed snorkel. In fact, it would probably be the first thing I’d do if I owned one, something I’d like to achieve in the future. You see, while it might seem like I’m throwing shade at the 76 Series, it’s only because I like it so much.

It’s the perfect vehicle for my needs on paper, but for the money there are just better options available these days that offer more refinement and safety. In saying that, there’s nothing much else like the 76 Series on the market today, and it’s pretty cool that you can still buy such a stripped-back and unique off-roader from the showroom in 2022.

Practicalities

Considering the 76 Series wagon is basically a box on wheels, it’s a really practical vehicle to load up with camping gear and other bulky items. There are some small tie-down points in the cargo area, a cubby on the passenger’s side for the jack and tools, and not much else.

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Call it an excellent blank canvas to make in to your own ideal tourer. I also love the roof gutters, as these make for a sturdy and simple install when bolting on a roof rack or storage platform. Something I’d wager most 76 Series owners would do.

Towing capacity is rated at 3500kg braked, and this 76 Series Cruiser can carry a usable payload of 795kg which is fair for the size of the vehicle. Fuel capacity is also decent with 130L of diesel available, giving a hypothetical range of 1000km between fills – but I’d feel more confident filling up at the 900km mark.

Verdict

It's a dinosaur, it should be extinct ... but I’m so happy this vehicle still exists on the Australian market. If you enjoy the feeling of constantly correcting the steering wheel, want a sturdy no-frills off-roader and have $80,000 burning a hole in your pocket, I support your decision to buy this vehicle.

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You have to grow with this 4x4 to learn how it feels to actually drive again. If you get it – and not everyone will – you’ll be hooked. Is it safe? Not particularly. Is it practical? Well, yes and no. Is it worth $80,000? Not even close. Do I want one? Absolutely.

70th Anniversary 76 Series specs