Toyota Land Cruiser 75 Series Diesel Troop Carrier Review

Overall Rating

Build strength is excellent. Will take heavy punishment without chucking in the towel. Easy to work on, so emergency repairs (if you ever need to that is) are a piece of cake since everything is laid out sensibly and access to most bits and pieces on the vehicle is straightforward. Incredible amount of cargo space and if you fold up the two sets of rear seats, you have enough room sleep 2 people comfortably. 4WD capability - EXCELLENT. Have been through terrain that would make most other 4WD think twice. Controlled Chassis flex enhances an already amazing amount of suspension travel. All essential mechanicals underneath are well protected with heavy duty bash plates as standard. Location of air intake is very high up (almost level to dashboard)so if you're going in deeper water than that, you really should get a submarine.

Ride is very firm unladen. Huge turning radius (11++ metres). Tends to have a blind spot as you reverse (but hey, you can probably push the obstacle away anyway).

The toyota landcruiser 75 series continues a tried and tested line of the landcruiser series. With decades of experience behind designing and building these machines, it goes without saying that the 75 series is truly the most reliable, durable, practical and indestructable Landcruiser yet.

It can seat up to 11 people (in TroopCarrier config) or 10 (RV Spec). I have the RV, which I've had since new in August 1995. To date there have been no problems whatsoever, and if you do the regular maintenance (which you should for any vehicle anyway) this vehicle should last you 25+ years.

The engine sounds sweet and is very quiet for a diesel, and is tractable from off idle which is essential for smooth and steady progress through very tough terrain.

Fuel economy is driver dependent. You can drive like a bat out of hell and get upwards of 16L/100km or you can drive more sensibly and achieve figures around the 11L/100km mark. Either way, with the Twin 90L tanks giving you a total capacity of 180L of Diesel, you're still looking at a range of 1000+++ km. Best I've got was approximately 1600KM on a set of tanks, with 8 people on board + luggage + supplies. Try and do that in any other 4WD.

Though no longer in Production, these vehicles are still very much sought after. I had an offer for mine (which has done 250,000km)from a used car dealer for AUD$35,000 cash. Not too bad for a vehicle which I initially paid $51,000 back in 1995. Needless to say I didn't take up the offer, nor was I tempted. I'm keeping this baby!

Members' Comments onJayJay994's Review

• vansmith on 17th Sep 2004

  They may not be available where you are (we cannot get them in the USA :-( ) but I just got a quotation from the Toyota Gibraltar dealer for delivery of a new vehicle to Nicaragua. Toyota Land Cruiser Hardtop, 13 Seater - 4x4 LHD, Model: HZJ78L-RJMRS, with A/C for $30,866.00 They ship world-wide.
  
  I had an HJ-75 in Uganda in 1985. Outstanding truck! 1300 km range, 19.6 miles per US gallon on tarmac, 17.6 in the bush. Worst mileage ever was 15.5 pulling a trailer with 750 kg cement during the rainy season in Karamoja, Uganda. We loved it!