In November 1984, the Land Cruiser 70 Series was launched as the successor to the 40 Series. As 4-wheel-drive vehicles were becoming increasingly popular for transporting passengers as well as for their original use as commercial vehicles, the Land Cruiser renewed the external styling and improved its ride comfort, drivability, and ease of use to satisfy new demand. The new styling retained the overall image of the 40 Series, while adopting a curved glass for the windshield. The cabin became more spacious, and the utility was also enhanced. An FRP-top model was added to the body variations which included a soft-top and vans. Five wheelbases ranging from 2,310 mm to 3,180 mm were offered to answer a wide range of needs, and a chassis for mounting a custom-designed coachwork was also made available.

In 1999, the leaf springs of the rigid axle front suspension were replaced with coil springs to improve ride comfort. The engine lineup included 4-, 5-, and 6-cylinder units for both gasoline-powered and diesel models, and a 4.5-liter V8 diesel unit was also made available for export models.