Toyota Land Cruiser 70 SWB: the shortest Land Cruiser stays true to its off-road roots

A 2,310 mm wheelbase, a ladder frame and two solid axles — Toyota has kept the Land Cruiser 70 as close as possible to a classic off-roader. The short-wheelbase version is just 60 mm longer than a Suzuki Jimny’s wheelbase, and even 120 mm shorter than the compact Toyota Aygo X.

In a video on Toyota’s official channel, the model was shown in several configurations. The base black hardtop is aimed at commercial use: steel wheels, a snorkel, manual window winders and a simple vinyl interior.

The pricier sand-coloured hardtop gets flared wheel arches, power windows, an infotainment screen and a mix of suede and leather trim. The most unusual version is the soft-top: its windshield folds flat onto the bonnet, and side-facing rear seats mean the cabin can carry six or seven people.

The mechanicals stay conservative. The front suspension uses coil springs, the rear uses leaf springs. Buyers get a choice of a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre inline diesel with 129 hp paired to a five-speed manual, or a 4.0-litre petrol V6 with 228 hp paired to a six-speed automatic. Both versions come with four-wheel drive.

Toyota expects around 90% of short-wheelbase Land Cruiser 70 production to go to the Middle East. The rest is earmarked for select markets in Asia and South America.

In the UAE, the three-door hardtop starts at AED 177,900, roughly $48,400 at current exchange rates. That’s AED 10,000 less than the five-door version. No Russian deliveries have been announced, though a rare unit could still arrive through parallel import.