Back to catalog
Toyota

LandCruiser

70-Series (78 / 79)· 1999-2024 ute Top pick
Price (AUD)
$25k-$110k
Body styles
Single Cab, Dual Cab, Troop Carrier (78)
Drivetrain
4WD part-time
Origin
Japan
Built in
Japan

Overview

Cab-chassis workhorse. Solid axles front and rear, leaf rear suspension, manual-only transmission. 1HZ I6 NA diesel (1999 to early 2007) was mechanical injection, then replaced by the 1VD-FTV V8 single-turbo diesel from March 2007 through to the end of V8 production in late 2024. Holds resale better than any other Toyota — cult-following ute among graziers, miners and overlanders. The V8 was Toyota's only V8 diesel and was discontinued globally end of 2024 (replaced by a 2.8L 1GD-FTV variant from 2025).

Engines & variants

4.2L 1HZ (NA diesel I6)

Engine
Mechanical NA diesel I6
Config
I6
Displacement
4.2L
Power
96kW
Torque
285Nm
Drivetrain
4WD part-time
0–100
~17s
Economy
~13-15 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Gear-driven, no service required

Pros

  • Mechanical injection - virtually nothing to fail
  • 1HZ runs forever - 700k+ km is common
  • Solid axles, leaf rear, true workhorse
  • 3500kg towing rating
  • Massive resale - holds value insanely
  • Aftermarket support better than anything else

Cons

  • Painfully slow - 96kW NA
  • Thirsty
  • No safety features
  • Expensive even very high km
  • Hard manual gearbox

Known problems

low
1HZ injector pump timing (very high km)
1HZ rarely fails but injection pump can drift on very high km units.
Fix: Pump re-time by diesel specialist. Inland Australia has dozens of these specialists.
From 500k+ km · ~$800-1500
low
Glow plug failure
Glow plugs fail individually - hard cold starts.
Fix: Replace as a set. Easy DIY.
From 150k+ km · ~$300-500
low
Front swivel hub seals
Same as Patrol - swivel hub oil leaks.
Fix: Reseal kit. Weekend job.
From 200k+ km · ~$200-400 DIY
medium
Cracked exhaust manifold (turbocharged conversions)
Aftermarket turbo conversions stress the cast iron exhaust manifold which can crack.
Fix: Upgraded manifold. Worth doing pre-emptively if buying a turbocharged 1HZ.
From After turbo install · ~$1500+

4.5L 1VD-FTV (V8 turbo diesel)

Engine
V8 common-rail TD
Config
V8
Displacement
4.5L
Power
151kW
Torque
430-440Nm
Drivetrain
4WD part-time
0–100
~13s
Economy
~11-14 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven, inspect from 250,000km+

Pros

  • V8 diesel character
  • Solid axles, single turbo (simpler than 200 series)
  • Genuinely unbreakable when maintained
  • Best resale of any 4WD in Australia
  • Strong torque, effortless towing
  • Cult following, immense aftermarket

Cons

  • Expensive even with high km
  • Manual only (5-speed)
  • Oil filter housing issues (see problems)
  • Toyota stopped V8 production end of 2024

Known problems

high
Oil filter housing spout failure
Cartridge oil filter cap has a center spout that can break off. If unnoticed during oil change, the new filter is unsupported and gets sucked into the oil pump - restricting oil flow and destroying the engine.
Fix: ALWAYS check the spout when changing oil filter. Replace cap if showing wear. Cheap insurance.
From Any · ~$50 part / $$$$ if missed
high
Oil pick-up plastic strainer
Internal plastic strainer on oil pickup can break and travel into the oil pump - severely restricting oil flow.
Fix: Replace pickup at major service. Pre-emptive job that prevents catastrophic damage.
From 150k+ km · ~$$ engine damage
medium
Injector failure (fuel contamination)
Piezoelectric injectors fail with poor diesel quality - especially in remote areas.
Fix: Fit a quality secondary fuel filter (Racor or similar). Mandatory for outback duty.
From 150k+ km · ~$2700+ set
medium
High oil consumption (early units)
Pre-2010 1VD-FTVs had a vacuum pump that caused excessive oil consumption.
Fix: Updated vacuum pump fixes it. Verify replacement done on pre-2010 examples.
From Pre-2010 · ~$500-1500
medium
Starter motor (deep water crossings)
Starter located low in the engine bay - prone to water damage on deep crossings.
Fix: Snorkel + waterproof starter cover. Common upgrade.
From After water · ~$600-1200

Common problems (all variants)

low
Front swivel hub seal leaks
Swivel hub seals leak EP90 oil onto brake assemblies. Common on all solid-axle 70-series.
Fix: Reseal kit, fresh swivel hub grease/oil. Weekend DIY job with basic tools.
From 150k+ km · ~$200-400 DIY
low
Rear leaf spring sag
Rear leaf packs sag under sustained load. Affects payload and tow ball geometry.
Fix: Upgraded leaf pack (Dobinsons, Lovells, EFS) or airbag helpers. Universal aftermarket support.
From Heavy use · ~$400-1500
low
Door alignment / hinge wear
Front door hinges wear, door drops on its pin. Cosmetic mostly but causes wind noise.
Fix: Hinge bush kits available. Easy DIY.
From 200k+ km · ~$100-300 DIY