Toyota Australia has temporarily paused orders for the LandCruiser 76 Series GXL Wagon automatic variant due to strong customer demand and low production levels, but all other 70 Series models remain available with reasonable wait times.
If you’ve been eyeing that shiny new Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, you might have heard some concerning news recently. Don’t panic – the situation isn’t as dramatic as it might seem, and most variants are still readily available.
What’s Actually Happening with LandCruiser Orders
Order books temporarily closed on July 17 for the range-topping 2025 Toyota LandCruiser 76 Series GXL Wagon automatic as the Japanese car-maker grapples with “strong customer demand and relatively low production levels”. This isn’t a complete shutdown of the legendary 70 Series – it’s a targeted pause affecting just one specific variant.
The company cited strong demand combined with constrained production levels as the reason for halting new orders. The decision is intended to help dealers fulfil existing orders more efficiently and offer clearer delivery timeframes to customers.
Which Models Are Still Available
Here’s the good news for prospective buyers: The pause applies only to the GXL Wagon automatic variant. Toyota confirmed that all other models in the LandCruiser 70 Series line-up remain available, with many variants either in dealer stock or available for delivery within two to four months.
The current 70 Series lineup includes:
- Two other 76 Series wagon grades (still available)
- Four 78 Series Troop Carriers (all available)
- Seven 79 Series utes (all available)
- Manual transmission variants of the GXL Wagon (still available)
Understanding the Wait Times
All other 70 Series variants remain available to order with estimated wait times of up to four months depending on the configuration and dealer stock. This is actually quite reasonable compared to the industry-wide supply challenges we’ve seen in recent years.
Why This Pause Makes Sense for Customers
Toyota’s approach here is refreshingly customer-focused. “We know in the past, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic and during the global semi-conductor supply shortage, vehicle supply challenges caused a degree of frustration with our customers with wait times for delivery of new vehicles being extended significantly,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations.
The company learned from previous experiences where customers faced uncertainty about delivery dates, sometimes waiting years for their vehicles. By pausing orders for this specific variant, Toyota aims to provide existing customers with more reliable timeframes.
The Bigger Picture: Production Changes Coming
There’s more to this story than just high demand. Production of the entire 70 Series portfolio will halt for the best part of eight months in September while Toyota upgrades the popular 4×4 to be Euro 6-compliant – AdBlue will likely be added to the recipe as per the LandCruiser Prado.
This production halt is necessary to meet new Australian regulations. From November 1, 2025, all new vehicles sold in Australia with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 3500kg will need to comply with ADR 80/04 regulations, which closely reflect Euro 6 restrictions overseas.
What Changes Are Coming
The upcoming modifications will likely include:
- Enhanced emissions control systems
- Possible addition of AdBlue technology (already used in Japanese market LandCruisers)
- Updated engine management systems
- Compliance with stricter environmental standards
According to the spokesperson however, the production halt won’t have any major impacts on the availability of 70 Series – besides the GXL Wagon auto – since Toyota Australia has “ordered additional supply” so it can “continue to meet demand and cover the production pause”.
Learning from Past Experience
This isn’t Toyota’s first rodeo with order management challenges. It’s the second time in the past three years that Toyota has closed order books for the 70 Series, with the last such instance occurring in July 2022. At the time, high demand for the V8-powered model saw wait times as high as four years at some dealers, prompting Toyota to stop taking orders.
The previous pause was more dramatic, affecting the entire V8 range and eventually leading to the complete phase-out of V8 engines from the 70 Series. This time, the situation is much more contained and temporary.
The Evolution of the 70 Series
The current 70 Series represents a significant evolution from its V8 predecessor. The subsequent addition of the four-cylinder saw Toyota reopen 70 Series order books almost two years later, but not for the V8. Instead, the V8 is set to be phased out from September, with not all existing orders set to be fulfilled.
The new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, introduced in late 2023, actually offers several advantages over the old V8:
- More torque for better off-road performance
- Significantly improved fuel economy
- Faster acceleration
- Lower emissions
What This Means for Current and Future Buyers
If you’re currently waiting for a GXL Wagon automatic, dealers will contact you directly about updated delivery timeframes. For everyone else, the 70 Series remains business as usual.
“Since we launched the new four-cylinder LandCruiser 70 Series in late 2023, we have seen its appeal grow for Australian customers with strong demand across the entire range,” added Hanley. This popularity is exactly what’s driving the current supply constraints.
Alternative Options
If you specifically wanted the GXL Wagon automatic, consider these alternatives:
- GXL Wagon with manual transmission (still available)
- Other 76 Series wagon variants
- 79 Series ute configurations
- 78 Series Troop Carrier models
Each offers similar capability with slight variations in features and pricing.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect
The order pause is temporary, though Toyota hasn’t provided a specific reopening date. In a move eerily similar to when V8 order books closed – never to reopen – there’s no firm timing as to when the current pause is expected to end.
However, this situation differs significantly from the V8 phase-out. The GXL Wagon automatic will likely resume orders once production catches up and the Euro 6 compliance updates are complete.
The production resumption after the September halt should bring improved vehicles with better emissions compliance, potentially making the wait worthwhile for environmental and regulatory reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the order pause affect other LandCruiser models like the 300 Series? A: No, this pause specifically affects only the 76 Series GXL Wagon automatic variant. All other LandCruiser models, including the 300 Series, continue with normal ordering processes.
Q: How long will the production halt last, and will it affect vehicle availability? A: Production of the entire 70 Series portfolio will halt for the best part of eight months in September for Euro 6 compliance updates. However, Toyota has ordered additional supply to maintain availability during this period for most variants.
Q: Should I consider the manual transmission GXL Wagon instead of waiting for the automatic? A: The manual transmission GXL Wagon remains available to order with standard 2-4 month delivery times. It offers the same capability and features as the automatic variant, with the trade-off being the transmission type. Many off-road enthusiasts actually prefer manual transmissions for better control in challenging terrain.