Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series now offered with manual transmission, again

Fans of the Land Cruiser 70 Series in Australia can breathe a sigh of relief as this modern classic off-road SUV is now available again with a manual transmission.

Due to stricter emissions regulations, Toyota had previously ceased sales of the LC70 equipped with the 4.5-liter V8 engine, thus ending the availability of the manual transmission model.

However, Toyota has now reintroduced the manual transmission option for the Land Cruiser 70 Series, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.8-liter diesel engine producing 201 hp and 450 Nm of torque.

Despite having four fewer cylinders, the 2.8-liter engine offers nearly the same horsepower and torque as the V8 model.

In the Australian market, the LC70 is also available in a six-speed automatic version, which increases torque to 500 Nm at an earlier engine speed of around 1,600 rpm, compared to 2,400 rpm in the manual version.

The manual model features a unique gear ratio, with shorter ratios for gears one through three to enhance performance, while the fifth gear has a longer ratio for improved fuel efficiency and reduced engine noise.

Toyota has also installed a new flywheel component but had to remove the hill descent control feature.

The manual version of the Land Cruiser 70 Series starts at a price of AU$77,800 (RM221,033).

In addition to the Australian market, the 40-year-old Land Cruiser 70 Series is also offered in Japan and the United Arab Emirates.