LandCruiser 70 Series V8 v 4-cylinder towing stress test & drag race! Is Toyota's V8 dead?

Summary

The video compares a 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series with a 4-cylinder turbo diesel and a 1976 Land Cruiser 70 series with a V8 through various tests. It finds the 4-cylinder has better acceleration and hill climbing ability despite having fewer cylinders. However, the V8 sounds better and is more enjoyable to drive manually. After weighing them equally, the 4-cylinder decisively beats the V8 in a quarter mile drag race.

Takeaways

• 😀 They compared a 4-cylinder turbo diesel 70 Series Land Cruiser to a V8 76 Series in multiple tests
• 🚙 The 4-cylinder was faster in 0-100 km/h, towing, and hill climbs
• ⛽️ But the V8 used less fuel at highway speeds without towing
• 💨 The 4-cylinder has 500 Nm torque vs the V8's 430 Nm
• 🚚 Towing performance was way better in the 4-cylinder due to the extra torque
• 😢 The V8 struggled on steep hills and needed low gears constantly
• 👀 The 4-cylinder blew the V8 away in real world towing tests
• 🏎 The 4-cylinder narrowly won both standing and rolling drag races
• 😭 But the V8 still sounds better and is more enjoyable to drive manually
• 🚘 Emissions regulations will likely make V8 70 Series extinct soon

Q & A

What vehicles are being compared in the test?

A 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series with a 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and automatic transmission is being compared to a 1976 Toyota Land Cruiser 76 Series with a V8 engine and manual transmission.

What tests are conducted on the vehicles?

The vehicles are tested using a trailer dyno, taken on a simulated country road with hills and tight turns, and raced in quarter mile drag races from a standstill and a 50 km/hr rolling start.

How are the vehicles weighted equally for the tests?

Extra weight is added to the 79 Series to match the curb weight of the heavier 76 Series V8.

Which vehicle performed better in the trailer dyno tests?

The 79 Series 4-cylinder turbo diesel accelerated faster and climbed hills easier than the 76 Series V8 in the trailer dyno tests.

What issue did the V8 have driving on the hill road?

The V8 lacked low-end torque, needing to downshift on hills where the 4-cylinder could stay in a higher gear. The V8's narrow rear track also made it feel unstable on turns.

Which vehicle won the quarter mile drag races?

The 79 Series 4-cylinder won both the standstill and rolling start quarter mile races.

How do the power mode settings work?

The power modes don't add actual power. They alter the throttle mapping to give the illusion of more power under acceleration.

What transmission does each vehicle use?

The 79 Series has a 6-speed automatic while the 76 Series has a 5-speed manual.

What are the reviewer's thoughts on the V8?

While the 4-cylinder performed better, the reviewer enjoyed driving the V8 for the manual shifting experience and sound.

What future comparison is suggested?

The reviewer suggests a future test between the 70 Series models and Toyota HiLux trucks.