By Theodore Opara

Visitors who trooped to the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, to have a feel of the all new Toyota LandCruiser LC70 pickup during a recent test drive, gave a thumb up for the all-terrain conquering pickup.

Mr. Naji Mehanna, Plant Engineer, Setraco Nigeria Limited, who spoke to Vanguard Motoring after a brief test drive, commended Toyota Nigeria Limited for introducing the pickup into the Nigerian market, describing it as an outstanding vehicle and a workhorse.

“The LC70 is a workaholic. It is at home on-road and off road. As a construction company, we have few units of the LC70 and it goes where other pick-ups cannot go.

It is good in swampy areas and more rugged than the Hilux. Its engine is very powerful and the auxiliary is more powerful than the other pickups we have tested,” he said.

According to him, comparing the LC70 and other pickups is not proper, because it is a heavy duty vehicle.

“May be, its competitor should be the Hummer H1 which is no longer in production”, he said.

“It can push beyond expectations, it can cross any river. It has more torque, it tows more load, it is smoother and more comfortable to ride in. In fact it is like a diamond.

The plant engineer, who further noted that his company has been using six units of the LC70 since 2004, explained that they have only changed brake pads after many years.

For Mr. Adah Anthony, of Marrest Nigeria Limited, an NGO, which collaborates with the Ministry of Health, the LC70 will conquer the terrains where small pick ups cannot cross.

“We work in 48 countries and we are in 26 states in Nigeria. Our activities focus on communities where government cannot easily reach to produce service. So we need a pickup like the LC70 to overcome the tough terrains in the far north, such as Dogondaji and Lila in Sokoto State.

“We have more of the 50 units of Hilux pickups but the drivers complain, so from what I have seen, after the test drive, the LC70 wil do the job in the desert with much ease with its auxiliary gear and other functions.”

For Umar Abubakar, the LC70 is “classic and legendary.”

Emeka Nwosisi of Galaxy Backbone Limited, commented: “It is rugged with a lot of power and excellent drivability. It feels like a military armoured vehicle in motion.”

Engr. Bashir Sale, one of the visitors, described it as an all purpose, all terrain vehicle. It is rugged and the torgue is amazing,” he said.

Other visitors who attested to the strength of the Toyota LC70 include military personnel from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Prisons, Nigerian Police, representatives of Comptroller-General of immigration, among others.