Pros
    • Space
    • Versatility
    • Reliability
    Cons
    • Fuel economy
    • Short service intervals
    • Technology- lack of.

    About the Toyota LandCruiser 70

    Loft T purchased this Toyota LandCruiser 70 used for $30,000 (including all on-road costs) in 2017. Loft T would buy this car again because: “Reliability, versatility, parts availability and perfect for touring and camping with family.”

    How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.

    In the almost 3 years of ownership we have had no mechanical problems.
    The only thing that’s been required is a new battery for the key fob.
    Services at our local mechanic have been around the $350 mark for most services. It does require 6 monthly/10,000km intervals.

    What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?

    We bought this primarily as a family hauler for camping and touring trips. For this purpose the car is perfect. Plenty of room for my 2 kids plus having their own air conditioning vents and controls is great. We removed the 2 rear seats and replaced them with a false floor and camping drawers for more space.

    Are you happy with the price and features of your car?

    We paid 30 thousand for it in mid 2017 with 95,000km on the clock and full Toyota service history.

    After looking online now I think I could sell it for a profit!

    It’s missing the latest safety tech but has tri-zone air conditioning, rear vision camera, plenty of air bags and so on. I connect my phone for Spotify which is fine and really looking at the latest Prado which is technically still the same model- 150 Series, I’m not seeing enough benefits to upgrade and pay another $40k.

    What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?

    For a car that weights 2.7t it’s quite quick off the mark especially compared to the diesel equivalent.

    As I have a company car for work and the wife has a run about for her , fuel economy was not a big issue for us and the price difference between the diesel and petrol when looking was around $10k so made the decision easy.

    That being said if it was going to be my every day drive I probably wouldn’t buy the petrol.

    Around town the big 4L uses around 13-15 litres of fuel per 100km and needs min 95RON premium unleaded. On the highway that comes down to a respectable 11L/100km.

    Filling up can be painful though as its tank is 140L, there’s no change from $200.

    On the beach the V6 charges and I’ve yet to get it bogged. If fuel consumption is not a big concern you really can’t go wrong.

    What do you think of the technology in your car?

    Technology is limited. There is a small 4-inch colour screen showing you fuel consumption and cruising range. It’s also the screen used for the reverse camera so nothing special.

    The radio headsets looks the same as the one from my parent’s Camry in the early 2000s. It has a CD deck which I’ve never used. Bluetooth is good but what’s annoying is you can set it up for media to listen to Spotify or phone to have hands free calls. It can’t do both together. You have to change it in the settings every time.

    What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?

    I’ve been very happy with the comfort. We drove from the Whitsundays to Brisbane in a day without any drama.

    Handling is as you would expect from a large 4WD – boat like. However when on gravel roads the constant 4WD is great and you feel more secure especially on corrugated roads.

    Do you have any additional comments about your car?

    If you’re after a reliable, large, go anywhere family adventure hauler this car makes a lot of sense.

    If you don’t intend on it being a daily driver look at the petrol to save a lot on the purchase price and service costs.

    If you’re not interested in camping or cross country trips and simply need a family hauler for hotel trips and trips around town this car makes no sense at all.

    6.8
    Overall Rating

    Technology3
    Reliability10
    Ride & Handling6
    Price & Features8
    Performance & Economy4.2
    Ownership Experience9.5