Journey to the Dark Side - LC70 GXL Test Drive...

[Gav110]

Maybe it's male commitment phobia but just before heading to the altar to sign-up for my new '10 Puma, I did the unthinkable and entered a wait for it... Toyota dealership!

A neighbour on our last camping trip had one of the new LC70 GXLs and was raving about it (then again his last vehicle was a Navara - many Navara war stories in that campsite but that's another story), and given the similar body shapes and purposes, I thought I'd at least check it out before signing on the dotted line.

Here are my impressions. First the good:

1. No way around it, the V8 diesel is an awesome engine. 151 kw and 430 nm makes itself felt, with torque peaking at 1200 rpm. It's also smooth and relatively quiet, with a subtle burble. Oodles of torque down low.

2. Build quality is predictably high, and though rough compared with the rest of the Tojo range, makes you think why we've all put up with LR's dodgy panel fit for so long. Then again, Defender's are hand built - maybe it's character? I see some glimmers of hope in the Puma...

3. Comfort - overall more car-like, but the gear shift lever is oddly low - and I'm not that tall... On this point though, I'd say ergonomics (bar the bashing the window with elbow) and visual appeal is better in the Puma.

4. Factory tick-box diff lock option - OK no traction control, but factory fit option is impressive

5. Practical - twin barn doors expose the full width of the rear cargo bay. Great access and very handy

6. Quality standard accessories at no extra charge - side steps are high and practical, rear step is same, and even the front bumper has tread plates. Snorkel is standard. Oddly a/c is not - apparently some customers don't trust that new fangled technology... Offset somewhat by a higher entry price (with lockers, RRP $71K).

7. Standard driver and passenger airbags - yes I know in a Defender the other vehicle is our crumple zone , but still, why can't we have this, esp. with the Puma facia remodel?

OK and now for the not so good:

1. Size/space - 110 Defender feels more cavernous and airy inside. Not sure if it's an illusion, but it does to me

2. No 7-seat option. Probably not an issue for most, but a key one for me and my team of junior campers. Obviously an after market fit is an option, but the new rear pews in the Puma are really comfortable, and there would be more legroom in the Fender (apparently they fit adults comfortably)

3. No ABS . OK, missing airbags on a Defender is odd, but I'd rather have active safety (i.e. ABS) than passive - if I can't have both... Just an odd omission. It's linked to the ETC omission obviously - which the dealer attributed to being a commercial vehicle with fluctuating GVMs... A worrying omission esp. when towing a loaded trailer, total GVM ~5T...

5. Gearing. This one was the most surprising. I expected a cruisy 5th gear (there is no 6th) given Tojo's reputation as a touring platform, and was impressed with the gearing (1st is similar to Puma in crawl style) up to the point I got the vehicle on to the freeway.

I didn't make it past 100 km/h due to the location of the test zone (mostly 80 zone), but at 90 in 5th it was revving over 2000 RPM, and by 100 it was around 2400 RPM. Who knows what it would be at 110, but nowhere near as relaxed as my current TD5 with GKN overdrive, nor the Puma in 6th. I know we lot mostly cruise at 90/100 esp. when towing , but I could see it grating on me over a few hundred KM...

6. Leaf sprung rear . The last leafy I owned was a sieries 1 Mitsubishi Challenger (the shame), but this took me right back there. I'd forgotten how annoyingly vibrating leafy's can be. You don't just hit a bump, it wiggles on for a few milliseconds longer shuddering your body. I was planning on picking up my better half for a test drive, but turned around after the combination of the bumpy ride and the absence of 6th. No point - a marriage ender...

7. Overall ruggedness. Admittedly the GXL is the model with carpet, and the Workmate isn't, but if you go the Workmate, you end up back on split rims and have to endure vinyl seats (bring on a case of Courier's Crotch !!). It does not lend itself to being hosed out like my Fender. Also some residual concerns about the 'old Prado' underpinnings. No doubt it's tough, but not sure it's as hard.

Verdict:
Overall a nice vehicle - and I was almost tempted there for a while , but all that changed on the test drive.

I will now feel a bit sad passing one on a long drive thinking about the screaming revs and bumpy ride afflicting the occupants. Then again that engine is sweet, but as I've written before, I have been genuinely impressed by the refinement and gearing on the new Puma, and am now confident in moving forward.

Hope this was of some interest to y'all - and I don't get banned for crossing the threshold of a Toyota dealer. I throw myself on your mercy...

Gav

[PAT303]

If you thought the gearing was bad empty you should try one loaded,IMHO the hilux is better.If I was spending 70K I would want more than leaf springs and single piston rear calipres. Pat

[dmdigital]

The GXL must be an incredible improvement over the Workmate. We have the Workmates on site and they make you want a Defender even more. Build quality is rubbish, single folding rear seat, lap belt (like hilux) for centre rear passenger, A/C is something like $3,000 extra.

[Blknight.aus]

theres a reason for that big step on the aircon price.

you think fixing the aircon/heater combo in the disco is entertaining, try sticking your head in and working out how the hell they get the aircon in in the new cruisers.

and it works hard for its money when its running.

rough economy guestimates from the ones at work indicate that the sucker costs you nearly 2k/l in consumption numbers.

[Jeff]

2. No 7-seat option. Probably not an issue for most, but a key one for me and my team of junior campers. Obviously an after market fit is an option, but the new rear pews in the Puma are really comfortable, and there would be more legroom in the Fender (apparently they fit adults comfortably)

Gav

Maybe smaller adults. We found the rear seats in the 7 seat Puma to be next to useless for our family. Even the boy (13 and growing) had his head touching the ceiling in the back back. The middle row were a big improvement on the earlier Defenders, although boy said he preferred the early Defender seats to even Discovery 2 seats.

Jeff

[Frenchie]

I didn't think the LC70 had airbags at all?

[Gav110]

I didn't think the LC70 had airbags at all?

Yes it's a new feature - cam in recently. Passenger and driver - but no ABS, so you get to career to your doom in full glory, then hope like hell the bags deploy

[BigJon]

Airbags in the 7x series Toyota range is a recent improvement, forced on the company by the mining industry which would not purchase non airbag equipped vehicles.

In all fairness to Toyota, at least they listened to their potential customers...

[ellard]

Hi there

In all fairness to Toyota, at least they listened to their potential customers...

Majority of us all know this but Land Rover what are you doing?

Wayne

[rar110]

I don't understand why Toyota made a different chassis/body for the 4 door & why they didn't go with coils across the entire Land Cruiser range. I thought it would be cheaper to have Prado/Cruiser all similar. A 4 door with a wheel base/rear cargo area/roof height/straight body panels the same as the troopy with coils would have been a popular vehicle IMHO.