Land Cruiser 79 Series

If the 70 Series is Africa's workhorse, the 79 bakkie is its most beloved form. Coil springs at the front, leaf springs at the back, solid axles at both ends. From 2007 the flagship was a 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel that pulls like a locomotive. Since 2024 the 79 has a new face and the 2.8 GD-6 four-cylinder, which brought the first automatic, alongside the 4.2 diesel and 4.0 petrol. V8 production ended in 2025. In South Africa it's the vehicle of choice for farms, game reserves, construction sites, and expedition setups, a vehicle so right for this continent that Toyota has kept building it for four decades.

1. 1 The first automatic 79 arrived in 2024 with the 2.8 GD-6, and it makes daily driving much easier
2. 2 Old and new fronts take different bull bars, lights and snorkels: check fitment before buying kit
3. 3 Load box condition is critical: check for rust in the floor and wheel arches
4. 4 Look at the underbody: commercial use often means serious impacts
5. 5 A kitted double cab can be near its GVM: ask what it weighs loaded

• Birfield joint wear on pre-2007 models
• Rust in load box floor on high-mileage commercial examples