2012 Toyota Landcruiser Reviews

Toyota largely built its enviable reputation for toughness and reliability on big, lusty four-wheel drives like the Prado. Regarded as the LandCruiser's little brother, the Prado is a big wagon that is able to cope with life in town. New It can accommodate up to seven in reasonable comfort, with some space left over

The growing popularity of SUVs has seen many of the breed dilute the off-road skill set to accommodate more civilised road manners -- but not this lot.Certainly less agricultural than their forebears, these three examples still have more than enough gumption to gallop down the Gunbarrel Highway or amble along the Oodnadatta Track.The phrase “King Off The Road'' has long been associated with the Toyota LandCruiser and there's nothing to suggest it's a royal fraud.The Japanese brand has built much of its reputation on the back of this beast -- wags will joke that if you want to get somewhere, take a Land Rover -- but if you want to get home again take a LandCruiser.The Toyota's debut was as a workhorse in the 1960s, covering rough ground around the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and its legend has grown from there. The throne is currently occupied by the 200 Series, updated in late 2009.The pricing was a reflection of the demand and Toyota was charging mid-$80,000 for the entry-level GXL wagon. But for towing a caravan, horse float or a boat, there wasn't much that could touch the Toyota's 3500kg braked towing capacity.New vehicle sales figures reflected that, with the LandCruiser regularly outselling Nissan's Patrol by two to one. The Patrol has a long heritage in Australia as well, stretching as far back as the LandCruiser.In 1962, geologist Reg Sprigg and family travelled across the Simpson Desert in a G60 Nissan Patrol, the first vehicle to complete the journey. The Patrol nameplate took hold in the 1980s and has been a part of the 4WD scene ever since.The brand just launched its new model -- with no sign of a diesel engine -- so we'd be inclined to look back to when it had a turbo diesel under its squared-off snout. A left-field choice in this segment is the Jeep Commander, a model that never took off in Australia but had seating for seven, turbo diesel power and the off-road cred that comes with a Jeep badge.There were petrol six- and eight-cylinder options but the 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, teamed with a five-speed auto, had ample torque and a reasonable thirst. Not a stellar sales performer for the US brand, it fell victim to belt-tightening brought on by the GFC, but if you're not interested in a Japanese giant it might fit the bill.HOT TIPSCheck for signs of water intrusion and rust, as serious off-road expeditions gone awry (as well as recent floods) can have rusty consequences.Diesels are generally more frugal and a lot easier to feed in the Outback, where PULP and ULP can be in short supply.Check the fine print on the towing details, as some 4WDs make big boasts but fall over in the capacity details.2010 Toyota Landcruiser GXLEngine: 4.5-litre V8 turbo dieselTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 10.3L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSThe 200 Series took Toyota's full-size diesel 4WD into the realm of the turbo diesel V8, which meant lots of torque, as well as genuine off-road ability and room for eight. Cloth trim, stability control, dual-zone climate control, six airbags and money-can't-buy heritage.2012 Nissan PatrolEngine: 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo dieselTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 11.8L/100CARSGUIDE SAYSLife in the shadows of more popular 4WDs has kept Patrol prices sharp. Three rows of seating, 17-inch alloys, cruise control, airconditioning and stability control are among the features in this full-size off-roader. It was much cheaper than the corresponding 'Cruiser when new and remains a cheaper proposition in the used market.2007 Jeep Commander XH WagonEngine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo dieselTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 10.5L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYSThe brand has long been known for building off-roaders -- its heritage dates from WWII. Jeep is not as adept at ergonomic interiors as the Japanese but the brand's charisma tends to offset niggles. A genuine seven-seater that will get off the beaten track when asked.

It takes a bit of getting your head around, the fact that Toyota's $84,000 GXL Landcruiser doesn't have a trip computer.I mean, you pay that much for a car and you expect a bit of kit, like a computer telling you how many kilometres you've got to go before you're empty. It's not right.THE LINEUPThe eight seat V8 GXL is the family wagon and entry point to the petrol range, priced from $83,990 plus on roads.You can get a cheaper, lesser equipped GX from $77,990 but its a five-seater and available only as a diesel, (did I say only because diesel is the way to go with a truck this size). Top of the range Sahara is incidentally equipped with the same diesel, priced from $118,990.NEW V8It's lost a litre but the new 4.6-litre V8 is more powerful and more importantly more fuel efficient. It's good for 228kW of power and 439Nm of torque at 3500 revs and is paired with a 6-speed automatic.Fuel consumption is rated at 13.6 litres/100km but that's on a good day because at 2600kg this is a large vehicle no matter which way you cut it. It has a 138-litre fuel capacity which means you won't see a lot of change from $200 filling up from dead empty. The upside is a theoretical range of 1000km plus.ON ROADIt's a great view from up here. You look down on just about everyone and it affords plenty of warning of traffic snarls up ahead. That's a good thing because you don't want to make any sudden moves and squash anyone. For its size though it's incredibly smooth and quiet, with a smooth changing auto. Roundabouts and speed humps are hardly noticeable.OFF ROADOff road the Landcruiser reigns supreme, challenged only by long time rival the Nissan Patrol and more expensive offerings from Benz and Land Rover. When the going gets tough this is the vehicle you want under your bum. And, despite what others might suggest, the auto makes the whole off road thing much easier just put it in D and you're good to go.There's also sorts of electronic aids these days to take the guess work out of four-wheel driving, including the kinetic dynamic suspension system (KDSS) and crawl control with turn assist which helps maintain a constant speed.With the centre diff locked, 225mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 700mm, almost nothing will stop it. The locally developed KDSS system provides greater wheel articulation off road and controls body roll on road.SAFETYIt's been around since 2007 but apparently hasn't been tested yet (last one got four stars).GOODIESWhile it doesn't get a full featured trip computer it does unaccountably get plenty of other things like Bluetooth, a reversing camera and touch screen satellite navigation. Having said that the sound quality from the audio/satnav system is terrible. There's also smart entry, twin zone climate air, cruise control and steering wheel audio controls.VERDICTCan't help wondering if the Kluger might not be a better option. I know we bang on about Kluger being too thirsty but it has nowhere near the thirst of this monster, particularly if you don't need its off road capabilities?Diesel though more expensive would be a wiser choice. Good to know it qualifies for capped priced servicing, at $210 a pop for six services, 60,000km or three years whichever comes first.Toyota Landcruiser GXLPrice: from $83,990Warranty: 100,000km 3 yearsWeight: 2685kgEngine: 4.6-litre 8-cylinder, 228kW/439NmTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 13.6L/100km, 313 CO2 emissions

Carpet killed the concept of hosing out your car, swirling down the same hole in the ground as the Dodo. It used to be a quick way of cleaning out the car, ute or 4WD.Now, thanks to carpets, it's a huge non-no. Well it was until Toyota presented this family wagon with rubber floors. Now the hose is in action and after a day larking about in beachside dunes, the sill-less floor of the Land Cruiser 200-Series GX is shiny new.The GX gets the serious drivetrain of the GXL and Sahara in a unique body with rear barn doors, pared back luxury items and a $11,000 price cut on the $88,490 GLX diesel. In terms of value and performance it is, seriously, the best 200-Series you can buy.VALUEThe 200-Series GX costs $77,490 and comes only as a V8 turbo-diesel with an automatic transmission. The drivetrain is sh ared with the other 200-Series diesels and isn't the same as the more agricultural 70-Series range.  Toyota has kept the hard-edged bits - full-time 4WD with centre diff lock, six-speed auto, electric-shift transfer case, full steel-plate underbody protection, 17-inch wheels, 138-litre fuel tank, snorkel, hill descent, a “crawl” program (cruise control for snails), and the wide-mouth barn-door access.But it gets aircon (it's optional in the rival 70-Series), electric windows and mirrors, alloy wheels, cruise control, remote locking, Bluetooth with iPod/USB connectivity and top-shelf safety fittings. It misses out on remote push-button start, seven seats, 18-inch alloys, park sensors, sat-nav, reverse camera, chrome trim and Kinetic suspension. I'm sure we can live without them.TECHNOLOGYThe V8 is the big 195kW/650Nm bi-turbo oiler. It's based on the same 4.5-litre V8 in the 70-Series models, but the 200's extra turbocharger gives 44kW/220Nm more oomph. It is mated to a six-speed sequential auto which drives all wheels. There's an electrically-activated transfer case for the switch from 4WD High to 4WD Low.The GX doesn't have the WA-developed Kinetic long-travel, disconnecting suspension of the other 200s. The focus is on off-road durab ility, so all the high-end dirt-related equipment is retained (hill descent, the crawl system and so on) while pretty things like the chrome strips, sat-nav, extra speakers and seven seats are ditched. The 17-inch wheels give owners a much bigger tyre choice from street-oriented to specialist off-road rubber - something the 18-inch wheels can't offer.DESIGNThe barn doors - vertically-hung rear doors with the left-side being half the size of the right-side door - are the give away to this model. There's also the big, ugly black air intake snorkel that sna kes along the right-side windscreen pillar, though it's an option on all 200s. There's 17-inch alloy wheels and a fat, black grille. Open the door and there's rubber floors and seating for five (other 200s take seven) though it's not as basic as you'd think.Seats are cloth-covered, comfortable and offer plenty of travel. Cabin space is substantial - well, it's the size of an apartment block - and flexible with a split, tumble-fold rear seat. Dash treatment is attractive offering clear, easy to use instruments and switches.SAFETYThe big wagon doesn't have a crash rating though I suspect it, like the 100-Series, is a four-star car. There is a host of electronic aids  including stability and traction control, hill ascent (crawler) and descent, brake assist and even ABS on four huge ventilated-disc brakes. There's six airbags and a full-size spare. It stands 2m high so placing the occupants higher than a passenger car which indicates potential for less injury in side impacts (with a smaller car), though arguably the tall height also makes the wagon more suspect to rollovers.DRIVINGIt's comforting to hit the sand and know you have 138 litres of fuel on board to get you out and back. It's even better when, with the 17-inch Dunlops down to 17psi, you feel the GX float over some impossibly sticky terrain while hardly slowing down. It's a massive car - over 3-tonnes with fuel and myself aboard - but so confident in really poor offroad conditions.It's a snap to drive unless you plan to park it. The bi-turbo V8 diesel engine so flexible down to 1000rpm, that it makes flicking the switch to 4WD Low seem almost unnecessary. On the bitumen it eats the kilometres, lopping along at 100km/h at 1700rpm. The six-speed auto is smooth and the sequential shift makes easy work of tasks such as slow off-road work and towing up to 3.5-tonnes. Above all, it's very comfortable - even in this base spec.Missing out on the Kinetic system doesn't appear to make much difference. Fuel economy, however, isn't great. Toyota claims 10.3 L/100km but a day in the dirt and the long country road in between drank at the rate of 16.1 L/100km. Thanks for the big fuel tank. The barn doors open to 90-degrees (no further) so it's easy to load big cargo and, with the rear seats tumbled forward, four mountain bikes without removing their front wheels.VERDICTMinimalistic, extremely capable and relatively affordable. One of the best 4WDs.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?Toyota's top of the line Landcruiser 200. Fitted with a V8 turbo diesel and all the trimmings.How much?Deep breath. $118,490 plus on road costs. That's a lot of money for a Toyota no matter how good it might be (mind you it's cheaper than the $140K Lexus)What are competitors?The aforementioned Lexus (brothers under the skin), top of the line Discovery and maybe the Ranger Rover Sport? Top of the line Patrol is not in the same ball park at just over $70K.What's under the bonnet?4.5-litre twin turbo V8 diesel. Kicks out 195kW of power and 650Nm of torque from 1600 revs. It's hooked up to a 6-speed automatic, with full time four-wheel drive. Can tow 3500kg.How does it go?Effortless is probably the best description. But it's a big wobbly truck that doesn't like to be hurried through corners. Off road however it has few rivals. Multi-Terrain Select that regulates wheel-spin in tough off-road conditions with five driver-selectable modes: rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, mud and sand.Is it economical?The diesel is rated at 10.3 litres/100km. We were getting 11.9 after 300km, with 600km to go according to the computer. With a 138 litre tank it has theoretical range of 1340km. At $1.42 or so a litre for diesel that still around $15 per 100km.Is it green?Make that a no. Gets only two stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide. Benchmark Prius gets five.Is it safe?It's been around since 2007 but apparently hasn't been tested yet (last one got four stars).Is it comfortable?Like a loungeroom. Lots of leather and wood and it feels like you're driving on pillows. The beige/brown decor is real old school.What's it like to drive?Think big. Generally quiet inside. Smooth and responsive in a straightline, but gets out of shape easily with too much corner speed. Like the digital speedo display. Better satnav but misses out on speed camera warnings.Is it value for money?Additional kit includes Multi-Terrain Monitor with four cameras for checking terrain hazards. Also has four-zone air and airconditioned front seats, upgraded navigation system, power-operated tailgate, and three-position memory for the power driver's seat, steering wheel and exterior mirrors. Kids will like rear seat DVD with three pairs of wireless headphones.Would we buy one?Probably not. Unless we needed the seven seats we'd opt for something smaller and more dynamic.

There’s something very Australian about the Toyota LandCruiser. Ever since 1949 when the first ever ‘Cruiser was privately imported to work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme this big rugged off-roader has been the yardstick against which all other serious 4WDs have been measured.Our distinctive local conditions make it an ideal market for the big 4WD and a considerable amount of development work and testing is carried out here. Rather than rest on its laurels as the perennial best seller in its category, Toyota gave the LC200 an upgrade in March 2012 with a facelift, extra equipment, improved off-road technology and a new more powerful V8 engine.VALUELandCruiser buyers get plenty of choices. Apart from the two engines there are four equipment levels, in ascending order GX, GXL, VX and Sahara with prices ranging from $77,990 for the diesel-only GX to $118,990 for a diesel Sahara. The new petrol V8 is available in the three higher-specced models and is priced at $5000 below the diesel.As well, Sahara has Multi-Terrain Monitor that uses four wide-angle cameras to display hidden terrain hazards on a 7.1-inch multi-function display. Standard features in all Toyota LandCruiser models include front, side and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, multi-terrain ABS brakes and luggage tie-down hooks. VX and Sahara get the added safety of driver and front passenger knee airbags.Also standard are cruise control, enhanced with the Toyota CRAWL system for heavy terrain driving, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, and Bluetooth/USB/Auxiliary inputs.LandCruiser GXL adds a rear spoiler, satellite navigation with a new 6.1-inch touch-screen audio system that includes a single CD and USB input and reversing camera. In addition to these features the VX model has the Multi-Terrain System mentioned previously, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, auto-retracting side mirrors and front and rear parking sensors.Standard in the flagship LandCruiser Sahara are rear seat entertainment with a 9-inch LCD display and three wireless headphones, power back door, larger (7.1-inch) LCD screen incorporating an Electro Multi Vision (EMV) system that controls a numbers of features including air conditioning, audio, Bluetooth and satellite navigationToyota LandCruiser is a big vehicle with all the advantages and disadvantages that entail. On the plus side there’s plenty of interior space (head, leg and shoulder room) for up to eight occupants. Six adults and two children can travel in comfort, a pair of adults in the third row seats would not enjoy the trip.DESIGNThe visual changes to the 2012 LandCruiser include new grille treatments that vary according to model levels and include new chrome surrounds, revised bumpers, new colour and interior trim choices.Even with all seats in place there’s a reasonable amount of storage space. This can be expanded by folding the third row seats up against the side of the luggage area.There’s plenty of in-cabin stowage space including a large, practical centre-console box, large door pockets that can take large drinks bottles and a number of other apertures for smaller items.TECHNOLOGYThe new V8 petrol engine drops from 4.7 to 4.6 litres, but as we’ve come to expect from the new generation of engines across the automotive industry, not only does it generate more power (up by 12.9 per cent to 228 kW) and torque (increased by 7.1 per cent to 439 Nm at 3500rpm), but there’s also a reduction in fuel consumption (by 6.2 per cent to 13.6 litres per 100km) and CO2 emissions (down by 8.2 per cent to 313 grams per kilometre).Adding to the attraction of the new V8 engine it now gets the impressive six-speed automatic gearbox that so impressed us when we drove the 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel LandCruiser. The previous V8 petrol was mated to an older five-speed ‘box.Although Toyota has its LandCruiser 70 Series for serious off-road conditions the more urbane 200 Series still ventures off road more often than anything else in its class, so off-road technology in the upgraded model sees the introduction of a multi-terrain anti-skid braking system that detects and automatically adapts to off-road conditions. The existing vehicle stability control and active traction control are assisted by this new ABS system.Adding to the LC200’s already excellent off-road credentials the VX and Sahara now both have Multi-Terrain Select that regulates wheel-spin in tough off-road conditions with five driver-selectable modes: Rock, Rock and Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock, Mud and Sand.DRIVINGIts handling is softer than the driving enthusiast would prefer but it’s a ‘Cruiser by name and a cruiser by nature and it does what it was designed to do extremely well. That includes NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) suppression and towing, where it has a braked trailer capacity of 3500 kilograms.Long distance cruising is further enhanced by the inclusion of twin fuel tanks with a capacity of 138 litres (93 litres in the main tank and 45 litres in the back up tank).The downside to such a large vehicle is that it can be difficult to get into and out of for the less agile and it can be a handful to manoeuvre around the city and suburbs.

Toyota LandCruiser 200 with the V8 petrol engine has a reputation as being a gas guzzler, something we criticised in a big way the last time we road tested one. Now Toyota has introduced what it says is, “a more powerful and more efficient V8 petrol engine.”ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONLandCruiser's new 4.6-litre V8, down marginally from 4.7 litres in the outgoing unit, has had its power increased by 12.9 per cent to 228 kW at 5500rpm and torque by 7.1 per cent to 439Nm at 3500rpm. Naturally, there’s an emphasis on improved torque in the lower regions of the rev range, but the engineers have also worked on making the 4.6 engine operate well at higher revs.Fuel consumption on the official scale has been cut by 6.2 per cent to 13.6 litres per 100km while CO2 emissions are down by 8.2 per cent to 313 grams per kilometre. The LandCruiser petrol now has a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the five-speed in the previous petrol engine. Taller gearing in top is part of the economy package and should make for more relaxed open-road cruising. The new automatic is the same one we have admired in turbo-diesel models for some time now.OFF-ROADMore LandCruiser 200s go off-road than anything else in its class, so off-road technology in the upgraded model sees the introduction of multi-terrain anti-skid braking system that detects and automatically adapts to off-road conditions. The existing vehicle stability control and active traction control are assisted by this new ABS system.Toyota LandCruiser VX and Sahara now have Multi-Terrain Select that regulates wheel-spin in tough off-road conditions with five driver-selectable modes: Rock, Rock and dirt, Mogul, Loose rock, Mud and sand.The GX’s off-road cruise-control system, ‘Crawl’, has been improved from three low-speed settings under 25 km/h to five settings. It automatically controls the engine output and brake pressure to maintain a uniform vehicle speed with minimal wheel spin or lock-up. The system now includes an Off-road Turn Assist function that makes it easier to negotiate sharp bends by automatically applying the inside rear brake.EQUIPMENTThe top-of-the-range Sahara has Multi-Terrain Monitor with four wide-angle cameras for checking terrain hazards that are normally hidden from the driver's view. A facelift is part of the package, with new front grille and lights, revised bumpers. Audio systems have been upgraded.All LandCruiser 200 models now have 138-litre fuel-tank capacity with 93-litre main and 45-litre sub tanks. LandCruiser GX, sold with a 4.5-litre V8 twin-turbo diesel engine, now has centre wheel caps for the 17-inch steel wheels, a new design of black grille and revised rear lights with LEDs. LandCruiser GXL now has satellite navigation with a new 6.1-inch touch-screen audio system that includes a single CD and USB input. New styling sees the GXL with a black grille with chrome surround, restyled halogen headlamps, and clearances lamp positioned between the low and high-beam lamps.DRIVINGLandCruiser 200 from Toyota is mainly aimed at country and outer suburban buyers and is an excellent tow vehicle. Getting in and out is awkward at times, a drawback of this being a genuine off-road vehicle. It’s a fair climb up to the seats and they are set a good distance inboard.The interior is spacious and the LandCruiser 200 can seat up to eight people. Six can be adults, though four plus four children is more realistic. The second-row seats can slide backwards and forwards to juggle the amount of legroom. When they are all the way back the legroom they provide is limo-like. Naturally, the third row seats are very cramped when you slide the centre row all the way back.In-cabin stowage space is very good, with a cavernous centre-console box, large door pockets that can take large drinks bottles and numerous little nooks and crannies for sunnies, mobiles, wallets and so on. The two rearmost seats fold up against the side of the luggage area when not in use and there's still plenty of luggage space between them when they are stowed. Even with the seats in use you can fit a fairly hefty suitcase behind them.Some drivers may find it too soft in the handling department, and the steering on the slow side, but this Cruiser is very much a cruiser and sharp dynamics were never part of the dynamic agenda. Cruising is exceptionally easy as suppression of NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) is most impressive and the big Toyota has the sort of luxurious feel you expect in an upmarket passenger car.The complete 2012 Toyota LandCruiser range is:GX 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel: $77,990GXL 4.6-litre petrol: $83,990GXL 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel: $88,990VX 4.6-litre petrol: $94,990VX 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel: $99,990Sahara 4.6-litre petrol: $113,990Sahara 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel: $118,990TOYOTA LANDCRUISERPrice: from $77,990Warranty: three years/100,000kmService: 10,000km/6mthsThirst: 13.6/100km, CO2 313g/kmCrash rating: 4 starsEquipment: 8 airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD, stability and traction controlsEngine: 4.6-litre, V8 petrol, 228 kW/439NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, 4WD constantBody: 4-door wagon, 8 seats 

The LandCruiser is as much a part of the rural uniform as an Akubra. In just about any town with proximity to paddocks, you'll see 'Cruisers crawling the streets in a lineage that sometimes stretches back to their 1960s origins.They've gained a reputation for offering a combination of offroad ability and onroad comfort that has made them the wheels of choice out there. And they clamber over the competition in the sales charts, repeatedly beating the nearest rivals who aim to offer the same 'bush and blacktop' blend.VALUEThe LandCruiser tested here in V8 turbodiesel Altitude spec will set you back from $90,440 --  not cheap.It's about $2800 more than the same drivetrain in the GXL on which it's based. For that extra ask, it adds in quite a bit of upmarket kit from the top-spec Sahara version, including 18-in wheels, leather touches on the shifter and seats, powered front pews, and a colour touchscreen satnav/audio system with four-disc CD stacker, MP3 and Bluetooth.The Cruiser gives you eight seats, an astonishing 650Nm of torque and towing capacity of 3500kg. Its only real offroad rival in the large SUV class is the Nissan Patrol - although if you step into the luxury SUV section there's the Merc G-Class, but at more than twice the price.The Patrol is more affordable at $72,690 for the Ti with a capable 3.0-litre turbodiesel and dual-range 4WD - along with leather and quite a few luxury features -- but with one less seat, only 354Nm of torque and a similarly lower tow of 2500kg.Cherry-picking the tougher contenders out of the medium SUV class puts you in the turbodiesel Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed for $77,690, which gets you back up to 441Nm and a tow rating of 3000kg. It also seats seven, but it's going to feel a bit snugger than the Patrol if you fill every seat.And still with a big fan club is the turbodiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee, which in Overland spec at $69,500 gives you a whopping  550Nm with the five-speed sports auto, and 3500kg of towing capacity, but only seats five. But it comes with a heritage and -- even if it doesn't quite live up to every bit of the legend these days - people still love it.TECHNOLOGYUnder the bonnet is a 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8, developing 195kW of power at 3400rpm and the 650Nm of torque from a low 1600-2600rpm, with the drive going to all four corners via a six-speed automatic transmission with 'manumatic' shifting.Those are the kinds of numbers that bring smiles to a lot of faces, but they'll broaden into big bright grins at the mention of the 10.3L/100km fuel economy.  It might start as a smirk of disbelief at that official figure - which we didn't manage to achieve - but the 16.2L we finished with in a mix of highway running, city jousting and dirt crawling showed the engine is pretty efficient for its size.While the LandCruiser has constant four-wheel drive, it also has high and low ranges that use a Torsen limited-slip diff -- selected electronically using a dash-mounted switch -- and crawl controls for up and down steep hills.Unfortunately, the Altitude is one of the few LandCruisers that doesn't get as standard kit the Aussie-developed Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System -- which limits body roll with coupled hydraulic cylinders on the stabiliser bars, and uncouples the cylinders to allow full suspension travel in offroad crawling. You can have the KDSS added as an option, but it will set you back another $3250.SAFETYIt gets a four-star crash rating, and is fitted with eight airbags, ant-skid brakes with brake assist for emergency stops and brakeforce distribution to counter uneven load weighting, plus stability and traction controls.DESIGNThe LandCruiser's looks send a serious muscle message, starting with the hefty grille and its outright size. It's long, big and tall, with good ground clearance, and that means you have to climb up into it. But once you get there, you'll find acres of room for the first two rows, with the split-fold second row having slide adjustment for extra leg room.Even the side-mounted third row pews are more or less workable - although adults wouldn't like to be there for a long trip. Some buyers will look at it as being perfect for the weekend school soccer circuit, and to some extent that's a shame because this is not an ideal vehicle for town life.DRIVINGWe felt awkward driving the LandCruiser in the city, and wanted to slap a pony club sticker on the rear bumper so people would think we'd just blown in from the bush.It bullies its way through lane changes and narrow streets, is a trial in low-roofed underground carparks - and threatens to block out the neighbours' sun if you do manage to find a spot for it outside.Admittedly, it's smooth and quiet enough to not invoke any council noise regulations, and manages corners and roundabouts very well for something of its size, although there's a considerable amount of body roll with the standard suspension.But on the highway and into the dirt it really comes into its own, giving you a comfortable ride no matter what you throw it at: scrub, fire trails and creek crossings all vanish into the rearvision mirror with never a falter.We didn't get the chance to tow anything, but with 3500kg braked capacity it would have hauled anything in our sights. boat, horse trailer, caravan or camper. Hell, you could probably stick a wheel under each corner of your house and do a bit of relocation.VERDICTIt's the perfect vehicle for carry a troop in comfort around the country, towing big loads and getting far off the beaten track. Just keep it outside the city limits unless you're picking up the month's supplies.

The 70-Series is a seriously rough and tough vehicle that will cope with the roughest conditions in the country, but it's really out of its depth in town.  It is a big and cumbersome vehicle that needs to be driven with a large amount of common sense in traffic.  But if you want a reliable vehicle for the round-Australia dream drive that won't cost you an arm and a leg, then it's worth considering.MODEL WATCHThe 70-Series is one of the last uncivilised Landcruisers. That's not to put it down. It was simply designed to work hard.  Built on a ladder frame, the 70-Series came in a range of models in short and long wheelbases with ute, hardtop and troop carrier body styles.Back when four-wheel-drives were driven by men in hard hats, blue singlets and Blundstone boots, Toyota's Landcruiser was the king.  Underneath it had solid axles slung from leaf springs front and back. It was great for going bush, with plenty of ground clearance and good articulation, but it made for a hard ride.Toyota offered a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The 4.0-litre overhead valve six-cylinder petrol engine boasted 111kW and 284Nm, and the 4.0-litre overhead valve diesel six had 72kW and 229Nm.A five-speed manual gearbox was standard, with high ratio two-wheel-drive, plus low ratio four-wheel drive able to be selected via a transfer case. The front hubs had to be locked manually.The 70-Series Landcruiser didn't have many creature comforts. The seats were trimmed in a hard-wearing cloth, the plastics were simple and basic, and the floor was covered in vinyl mats.IN THE SHOPTHE first and most important thing to understand is that the Landcruiser is often used by serious offroaders.  Though it is perhaps the toughest vehicle around, it needs proper and regular maintenance to help it survive.  It won't survive if it isn't serviced, so it's important to see a service record. If there isn't one, get a check by an acknowledged specialist.Rust is a problem. The most common places to see rust are around the windscreen and the side windows, but you might also see it around the roof where it joins the body sides.It's also important to check underneath. Running for hours on dirt roads can be like sandblasting the underbody, stripping the paint and protection right back to the bare metal, which can then rust.Caring owners will have moved things such as diff breathers higher to minimise the chances of water entry in river crossings, but even then it's almost impossible to eliminate it.The 70-Series is generally a hardy vehicle and little goes wrong with its engines, gearboxes and diffs if they're regularly serviced.  Some petrol-engined Landcruisers have been converted to LPG, but be wary of them because they add load to the cooling system.A regular problem that Dragan Vasic of All Terrain 4x4 has seen is failure of the seal on the transfer case input shaft.  Replacing the seal can be an expensive exercise, but there's a less expensive fix which is often employed and doesn't involved stripping the transfer case.Vasic recommends repacking the front axle bearings every 40,000km minimum, earlier if you're regularly driving through water, and replacing the swivel hub seals and gaskets as well.Window regulators are a common failure, but the cause is usually found in the window channels which are often pinched, making it hard to crank the glass up and down.OWNER'S VIEWNICK Bywater bought his 1985 70-Series Troop Carrier three years ago to do just that.  As a scout leader, he uses it to transport the boys and their gear as well as go on the occasional serious four-wheel-drive adventure. He knew of the 70-Series' reputation for toughness and reliability in rough and rugged conditions.A check by All Terrain 4x4 identified a few minor problems that needed attention, but it was otherwise in quite good condition.  It has clocked 327,000km and shows no sign of tiring.CRUNCH TIMESAFETY wasn't a high priority for the designers. Their brief was to design a vehicle to stand up in the harshest conditions on earth. Safety simply was not critical.  Mass and a rigid chassis are the keys to the old Landcruiser's safety performance.THE BOTTOM LINEROUGH but reliable wagon. The 70-Series is generally a hardy vehicle and little goes wrong with its engines, gearboxes and diffs if they are regularly serviced.