Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Now Rated 5-Stars By ANCAP – Also Toyota Prius

Toyota promised its Australian customers that a safer LandCruiser 70 Series was on the way, and now the carmaker has delivered.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has today confirmed a new maximum 5-star safety rating for the 70 Series owing to safety (and general) upgrades for 2016.

Among the changes are new head-protecting side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, redesigned seats and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

Outside, Toyota has made structural improvements to strengthen the cabin and chassis, and the bonnet has been altered.

ANCAP said that new 5-star rating applies only to single cab-chassis LandCruiser 70 models, with other variants to remain unrated for now.

“It is encouraging that Toyota has responded to consumer demand, particularly from commercial and fleet buyers, and implemented design changes and safety upgrades to improve the LandCruiser safety rating,” ANCAP CEO, James Goodwin, said.

“Safety is a key consideration for everyday consumers and corporations with a significant proportion of businesses requiring minimum 5-star vehicle standards for not only their own fleets but also their contractors.”

Mr Goodwin said the 70 Series has ‘jumped 2-stars’ with its new 5-star safety rating - and the new result was all down to market forces.

Toyota has made little secret of its desire to push the 70 Series into more business fleets across Australia, and the urgency of that push may have stepped-up following an announcement from Mercedes-Benz that a new G-Class Professional is under consideration for Australia.

Prius