Facelifted 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 ‘shorty’ three-door detailed, not returning to Australia

The facelifted Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series ‘shorty’ three-door has debuted in the Middle East.

Known officially as the ‘71 Series’, the three-door wagon has received the same updates as its larger ute, five-door wagon and Troop Carrier siblings now arriving in Australia.

Toyota Australia has no plans to re-introduce the ‘shorty’ locally. It was last sold in Australia in 1992, seven years after the LandCruiser 70 Series launched, with hardtop and convertible body types.

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Compared to the five-door wagon, the 71 Series rides on a 420-millimetre-shorter 2310mm wheelbase – less than a Kia Picanto light car, and similar to a Suzuki Jimny and Fiat 500.

Unique features include a larger 9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – up from 6.7-inch, with wired-only connectivity – a tan-coloured leather upholstery option, and new 16-inch alloy wheels.

Under the bonnet, Middle Eastern versions of the LandCruiser 70 Series are fitted with a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre ‘1GR-FE’ petrol V6 – also found in FJ Cruiser, HiLux and Prado models from the 2000s and 2010s – developing 170kW and 360Nm and matched to a six-speed automatic. No diesel option is available.

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That is the opposite to Australia and Japan, which offer a new 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel from the HiLux and Prado with a six-speed auto.

The tried-and-tested 4.5-litre single-turbo V8 diesel and five-speed manual is also retained for the Australian market, though it remains unavailable to order due to existing demand.

Would you like to see the LandCruiser 71 Series return to Australia as a dearer, more-powerful Suzuki Jimny tiny off-roader alternative? Let us know below!

Stay tuned for our first local drive of the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series next month.