Toyota has introduced a station-wagon version of its Panzer-like Land Cruiser pickup to the South African market.
Unburdened by the electronic gimmickry, low-profile tyres and tonnes — almost literally — of luxury features found on top-end 4×4 wagons, the Land Cruiser 70 wagon uses most of the underpinnings of its rugged bakkie sibling to provide the ultimate off-road performance at the cost of some comfort.
Live axles at each end are great for off-road performance because of the superior wheel articulation they offer, but lousy on-road. Who cares? If you want a Prado, buy a Prado.
The Land Cruiser 70 Wagon uses heavy-duty coil springs up front and leaf springs at the rear. It boasts diff locks an both the front and rear differentials, and, like the face-lifted bakkie it’s based on, now has auto-locking front hubs, meaning that you don’t have to disembark to engage the front hubs manually when you need four-wheel-drive. That’s handy, particularly if you’re in the middle of a swamp at the time.
Let’s not waste too much time talking about air bags, electric windows, Satnav, ABS brakes, brake assist, EBD, ATC, ESP and HIV, because the Cruiser doesn’t have any of ’em. It comes with power steering, key-activated central locking, an air con (hooray!), two cup holders, a radio/CD player and a rear-window demister. OK, and a clock. This wagon is like an anvil — designed for a purpose, without any frills.
The new Toyota comes with a 4,2-litre, 1HZ, naturally aspirated, in-line, six-cylinder diesel engine offering 96 kW at 3Â 800rpm and 285 Nm of torque at 2Â 200 rpm, driving a five-speed manual transmission. There is, of course, a low-range transfer box.
At the launch, I drove the wagon and the bakkie on tar and across some of the roughest terrain I’ve ever traversed, up and down a couple of mountains near the Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape. Compared to the pickup, the wagon felt positively plush. It’s not really at home on tar, though, and needs to be taken into the rough stuff before it comes into its own.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 70 wagon is not a poser’s 4×4, but the real thing, designed to work hard, year in and year out, over the roughest terrain Africa has to offer, without breaking. Its credentials are impeccable as far as this is concerned, leaving only one question: Why is such a basic vehicle so expensive? At R362Â 000 it’s a whopping R25Â 000 more pricey than the Fortuner D-4D 4X4, which is also extremely competent and offers loads more features for the money.