Land Cruiser: As tough as they come

If you want a no-nonsense 'bring-it-on' bushwhacker, try this.

With this common-rail direct injection and intercooler pushing out 151kW of power and a mammoth 430Nm from as low down as 1200rpm (which it holds all the way to 3200rpm) it proudly wears the crown of the new torque king of the 4WD world.

The V8 is the newest addition to the 9-model Land Cruiser range and the V8 engine is available in all three variants - the 76 Station Wagon, the 79 Single Cab and the 79 Double Cab.

Toyota has retained its legendary 4.2-litre straight six diesel engine and it is still in service in the rest of the range, varying in price from R435,100 to R527,900. The three V8 powered models are price between R527,300 to R588,200 for the flagship Station Wagon 79 Station Wagon.

Our test model was the V8 Double Cab which wears an eye-watering R568,300 price-tag which is clearly not too steep to deter quite a number of dedicated rough riders who have already become proud owners.

Forget the bright lights... these are designed to WORK

These solid, seemingly indestructible chunks of metal on wheels are purpose-built for those whose work or passion takes them deep into the bush, faraway from city lights, gleaming luxury cars and smooth tarred roads.

No frills, but ready for anything.

click to enlarge

Defiantly dressed in retro-styling, sans fancy show-off chrome rims, sloping roofline or unnecessary trim, the V8 Double Cab is focussed on essentials although the list of fancy gear is actually quite impressive with tick-offs such as power steering, tilt and telescopic steering adjustments, aircon, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, SatNav, and a fairly good sound system with USB port.

But having said that, this macho machine does need manning up to. The suspension is rock hard, the seats are bum-achingly uncomfortable, the brakes need to be applied with vigour, the accelerator pedal requires only a gentle prod...and parking the four-door requires focus, judgement and plenty of turns of the wheel, plus well-adjusted outside rear-view mirrors because rear visibility is not great from inside the living quarters.

Full speed ahead

Good load-carrying ability, good power unit, and rugged construction make the Toyota Land Cruiser the vehicle of choice for tough tasks well away from the city lights.

Piloting the Double Cab initially feels a bit like steering a boat and it takes time to get used to the lack of response to gentle steering adjustments... you have to drive this chariot and turn the steering wheel quite enthusiastically to change direction. The cogs are closely spaced so gear changes need to happen quite rapidly from take-off but once up and trotting along there seldom is the need to drop a cog or two, even along undulating stretches, because the torque is available in abundance.

The shift is via a chunky five-speed manual with a two-speed transfer case and a part-time 4WD system with manual free-wheeling front hubs. The gearbox, although fairly directly gated, does have a ye olde world feel to it.

Sadly, I didn't have the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the beast in the sand and dirty conditions it was designed for and our short relationship was conducted solely in a tar and traffic environment but at least there the double Cab drew more than its fair share of admiring glances, walk-arounds, cabin-peekers and question-askers, attracted by its respected name plate, over-the-top chrome from bumper, roof-top high exhaust snorkel and the V8 badge stuck on its cargo flap.

Small family, long legacy

There's suffiicent ground clearance to handle most of what you might like to throw at it.

Land Cruiser is undoubtedly the first name that springs to mind in any discussion about true off-roaders, distant countries and difficult to reach destinations and for all the right reasons. It has acquired full bragging rights in the 43 years that it has been on the local market with a model range that now extends to four, each with its own character and flavour, all wearing the same broad-shouldered badge for toughness and reliability - Land Cruiser 70 Series, FJ Cruiser, Prado and Land Cruiser 200.

The latest addition V8 Land Cruiser 79 is not cheap or comfortable nor will it win any fancy-pants styling awards, quarter mile drag races, or economy runs... but it is one helluva blue-blooded off-road warrior, in many ways unmatched by anything else in this class.

79 series Land Cruiser 4x4 review

Land Cruiser pickup V8 review - Africa Sideways

Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series LC79 Double Cab and the Land Cruiser 200 series GX - Track Test

ARB Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Dual Cab