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Toyota’s Most Desirable Land Cruiser Brings Off-Road Heritage to City Streets

The oldie-but-a-goodie Series 70 soldiers on alongside the latest Series 250, but now with a unique twist.

Beige Toyota Land Cruiser with black grille, round headlights, and off-road tires parked by a white wall.Toyota
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By Chris Chin

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This may look like some old, boxy foreign Land Cruiser from the 1980s. And well, it is, but it hasn’t been restored or restomodded in any way.

It’s actually brand new and, believe it or not, Toyota’s been manufacturing the Series 70 new since the model came out in 1984. Of course, it’s undergone multiple revisions over the years. Especially as automotive technology and regulations have evolved tenfold since the ’80s.

But it was recently given another update and it’s one that’s a bit more unconventional than the previous ones.

Toyota still makes a nearly 50-year-old car?

Beige Toyota Land Cruiser driving through a shallow, muddy river surrounded by dense green forest.
Believe it or not, Toyota still makes this old relic.
Toyota

Toyota’s been making the FJ70 for nearly 50 years now, mainly for specific export markets such as South and Central America, Africa, South Asia and beyond. That’s because it’s incredibly popular for obvious reasons.

Roads in those regions aren’t the smoothest or most developed. As a result, people in those places appreciate vehicles like the FJ70 for their capabilities.

Beige Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD driving uphill on a snowy mountain trail with rocky peaks in the background.
The Land Cruiser FJ70 remains a favorite in the furthest, most desolate corners of the world.
Toyota

Many countries in those areas also don’t have as many strict environmental and safety regulations. So, Toyota is free to sell the FJ70 in those markets, where they sell hand over fist at minimal cost.

And as the saying goes, don’t fix what ain’t broken. Because the FJ70 is so popular in those markets, Toyota simply maintains the vehicle as-is. Minus a few modern updates and revisions from time to time.

Black Toyota Land Cruiser SUV driving on a steep dirt hill under a blue sky.
Aside from some technical and equipment changes, the FJ70 remains virtually the same as it was from 1984.
Toyota

Throughout the Land Cruiser Series 70’s production life to date, Toyota updated the engine, electronics, interior, and other bits that could benefit from today’s tech versus the old stuff. But it ultimately still preserved the Land Cruiser’s core theme of being the ultimate, rugged four-by-four.

Interior view of a Toyota Land Cruiser dashboard with black steering wheel, digital display, and gear shifter in a desert setting.
Ahh, to have a simple, honest driving experience like the one in the FJ70.
Toyota

The most recent “update” however slightly deviates from that. Now, Toyota just revealed two special Land Cruisers to take on another frontier: the urban wild.

A rugged Land Cruiser for the…city?

Beige Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with black trim and off-road tires parked in front of a building.
The Land Cruiser FJ70 Urban Style Concept is one big hat-tip to the 1980s.
Toyota

It’s called the Urban Style Concept. While Land Cruisers are known for conquering the wilderness, they also make for great urban runabouts.

Additionally, rugged SUVs and trucks like the FJ70 simply glide or drive over pothole- and crater-ridden roads as if they don’t exist.

Beige Toyota 4WD SUV with black trim and spare tire mounted on the rear door, parked beside a building.
The FJ70 roots its origins to 1984.
Toyota

To embrace the Land Cruiser’s versatility, the Urban Style Concept variants feature bespoke updates. But the FJ70 gets the raddest of treatments.

It dons a unique beige exterior with retro vinyl stripes that tips its hat to the FJ70’s 1980s origins. A special all-terrain tire and wheel package also honors the FJ70’s urban and back country capabilities.

Metallic gray Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with black accents and tinted windows, shown from the rear side.
The current Land Cruiser 250 also gets dressed up for the occasion.
Toyota

The present-day 250 gets a similar treatment. A fully matte gray exterior with gloss black accents goes for a retro two-tone look, complete with metallic black-painted 20-inch wheels.

So, while they are just unique appearance packages, the two concepts also celebrate the existence of Land Cruiser Base, a hub geared for enthusiasts of all kin. It also serves up lifestyle accessories and gear for the most hardcore fans.

Silver Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with black roof and tinted windows on a gray background.
We think the Land Cruiser 250 makes for a great urban runabout, don’t you?
Toyota

Toyota and Land Cruiser Base plan to showcase the Urban Style Concepts at the Field Style Tokyo 2026 expo on May 9-10. So if you’re in town and love everything about Land Cruisers and the outdoor lifestyle, be sure to check them out.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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