Few nameplates carry as much weight in the Australian four-wheel-drive market as the LandCruiser 70 Series. It has been on sale here in essentially continuous form since 1984, and the dedicated buyer base that has grown around it is not shy about opinions. The late-2023 facelift gave Toyota's workhorse a new face, an additional engine, and a new transmission, and it promptly divided owners into two camps: those who welcomed the changes, and those who started hunting for clean pre-facelift examples before dealers ran out. Neither instinct is wrong, but the decision deserves more than nostalgia or novelty.
Whether you are shopping new, buying used, or wondering what your current vehicle is worth holding onto, this guide lays out the honest differences between the pre-facelift (2007 to 2023) and the facelifted (late 2023 onward) 70 Series, without declaring a winner, because the right answer depends entirely on how you use the thing.
At a Glance
- Pre-facelift vehicles run the 4.5-litre V8 1VD-FTV diesel paired to a five-speed manual, a combination that still commands strong resale.
- The facelift added a 2.8-litre four-cylinder producing 150kW and 500Nm, paired to a six-speed automatic. The V8 stayed on sale alongside it.
- The V8 is now finished. Production ended in September 2024 for most variants, the 79 Series GXL single and double cab utes ran into 2025, and the last customer deliveries were completed late that year. Every V8 is now a used purchase.
- The facelift introduces a 6.7-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus meaningfully more safety technology.
- MY26 facelift vehicles add AdBlue (diesel exhaust fluid) to the equation, a maintenance consideration worth factoring into ownership costs.
- Aftermarket steering wheel control modules, audio upgrades, and headunits are compatible across both generations on dual-airbag dash vehicles from 2008 onward.
What the Pre-Facelift Got Right
The 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 1VD-FTV is the engine most people picture when they think 70 Series. It is large displacement, naturally heavy on fuel by modern standards, and enormously well-regarded in the field. Paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, it gives the driver direct mechanical control that a lot of serious off-road users genuinely prefer. There is no torque converter, no transmission calibration to second-guess, and no concerns about software updates changing shift behaviour after a service.
The cabin was minimal, which was either a feature or a flaw depending on your perspective. There was no factory touchscreen, no CarPlay, and connectivity was whatever you fitted yourself. For buyers who were always going to replace the head unit anyway, that blank slate was an advantage rather than a compromise. It is worth noting that a well-chosen aftermarket head unit, properly integrated with steering wheel controls, can deliver a more capable infotainment setup than many factory systems from that era.
Resale is a genuine consideration. Pre-facelift V8 examples in good condition have held value stubbornly, partly because supply of low-kilometre vehicles is tightening and partly because the V8-manual combination has become something of a collector proposition in its own right.
What the Facelift Brings to the Table
The 2023 facelift is more than a new grille, though the retro-styled front end did attract considerable attention on its own. The mechanical changes are the real story. The 2.8-litre four-cylinder GD-FTV, producing 150kW and 500Nm in automatic specification, is more thermally efficient than the V8 and considerably better on fuel across typical mixed-use driving. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, well-suited to highway cruising, and removes the fatigue factor on long outback runs where constant clutch work in traffic or technical terrain adds up.
The factory 6.7-inch touchscreen with wired CarPlay and Android Auto is a meaningful upgrade for daily users. Navigation, phone integration, and audio are all handled through a single interface without a separate aftermarket install. The expanded safety technology suite, including features that were absent or optional on pre-facelift vehicles, reflects how much the broader market has moved on active safety in the past decade.
MY26 models introduce AdBlue, which is worth understanding before purchase. The system requires periodic top-ups of diesel exhaust fluid and adds a layer of maintenance discipline that remote travellers will need to plan around, particularly when travelling to areas where AdBlue availability is limited.
The V8 Did Not End With the Facelift
This is the part most comparisons get wrong, and it changes what you are actually choosing between. The late-2023 facelift did not retire the V8. Toyota added the four-cylinder and the six-speed automatic to the range and kept selling the 4.5-litre V8 beside it, so there are facelifted vehicles wearing the new face with the old engine under the bonnet.
The V8 ended later, and in stages. Production finished in September 2024 for most variants, while the 79 Series GXL single and double cab utes carried on into 2025, with the last customer deliveries completed in the final quarter of that year. Toyota put the retirement down to changing regulations and community expectations after 17 years of local sales. The 2.8-litre four now carries the entire range, and it has since picked up a manual gearbox of its own, so the old shorthand of V8 equals manual and four equals automatic no longer holds either.
For a buyer in 2026 the practical consequence is simple. A new V8 is not an option at any price, from any dealer. The choice is between a used V8, pre-facelift or facelifted, and a new or near-new four-cylinder. That is a used-versus-new decision as much as a generational one, and it should be weighed with the usual used-vehicle questions about history, hours and how hard the thing has worked.
Off-Road and Working Use: Does the Generation Matter?
For genuine working vehicles and serious off-road use, both generations are capable platforms. The V8 manual has a proven track record in remote and agricultural contexts where simplicity and parts familiarity matter. The 2.8 auto carries its own strengths, including better fuel economy on extended trips and a transmission that manages low-speed crawling competently.
The choice often comes down to the specific demands of the job. If you are running remote stations where mechanical self-sufficiency is a daily reality and spare parts availability is a factor, the V8 manual ecosystem is deeper. If you are covering long highway distances between destinations and want a vehicle that is easier to hand to multiple drivers, the auto's approachability is a real advantage.
Aftermarket Compatibility Across Both Generations
One area where buyers on either side of the facelift can take comfort is aftermarket support. Steering wheel control interfaces, audio system upgrades, and replacement head units are designed to fit dual-airbag 70 Series dashboards from 2008 through to current production. You are not locked out of modern connectivity or control integration simply because you own a pre-facelift vehicle, and equally, facelift owners looking to expand on the factory setup have a full range of compatible options available. PVS Automotive's wireless steering wheel control kit, for example, carries a lifetime warranty on the electronics and covers both generations.
Which One Should You Buy?
Start with what is actually available. A new V8 is no longer one of the options, so if the V8 is what you want, you are shopping used and condition matters more than the badge on the grille. Beyond that there is no universal answer, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. If you prioritise mechanical simplicity, the V8 soundtrack, a true manual gearbox, and are comfortable sourcing a used example with known history, the pre-facelift remains an excellent choice. If you want a vehicle that is more efficient, comes with modern safety technology and factory connectivity, and you are happy managing AdBlue on MY26 variants, the facelifted model is the easier daily companion.
Match the vehicle to the use. Both generations are legitimate, capable 70 Series vehicles, and the aftermarket ensures neither generation has to feel like a compromise.
