Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series short wheelbase now available to order, but not here

The facelifted Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series is now on sale in the United Arab Emirates in its short-wheelbase 71-Series variant.

Sold alongside the five-door 76- Series, the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 71 Series features a 2310mm wheelbase, 420mm less than the five door, and is available in a single, VXR specification.

This gives buyers a choice of four colours (metallic grey, beige, metallic silver and white), 16-inch alloy wheels, black over-fender flares, LED headlamps and fog lamps. There is a slightly revised interior that includes a 9.0-inch LCD display (larger than the 6.7-inch unit that Australian-market 70-Series variants will receive) that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Inside, there’s stylish tan (Chamois) nubuck and synthetic leather upholstery, and five seats. The new car also includes a pre-collision detection system, lane departure alert and adaptive high-beam headlamps.

Pricing starts from AED169,900 (AU$70,000), which is in line with the $79,800 starting price for a 76-Series five-door GXL wagon (four-cylinder) in Australia. For context, a five-door 76-Series is listed at AED179,900 ($74k) in the UAE.

All cars use a 170kW/360Nm 4.0-litre petrol V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine is unavailable in any Australian-specification 70-Series.

In profile, the short wheelbase still looks a little awkward, especially when combined with the facelifted car’s new bonnet and front clip. Some markets will offer a seven-seat cabriolet SWB version (with a middle 'jump' seat up front and a pair of two-seat side-mounted benches in the rear) for both commercial and civilian applications.

Sadly, while the 70-Series will be sold in Australia as a 76-Series wagon, 79-Series ute and 78-Series troop carrier, the 71-Series ‘shorty’ is not destined for our shores.