Verdict
B
Large SUV · Japan · 1996-Present
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser — spec data and generation history.
Years
1996-Present
Generations
4
Segment
Large SUV
Toyota's full-size body-on-frame 4x4 — UK got the medium-wheelbase 'Prado' line as Land Cruiser, plus the long-wheelbase 'Amazon' (J100/J200) flagship sold alongside until 2021. J90 (1996-2002) was the original Colorado-name UK car; J120 (2003-2009) added independent front and proper modern interior; J150 (2009-2023) was the long-running mid-size with 3.0 D-4D and later 2.8 D-4D; J250 (2024-Present) is the bold retro-styled new car. J100/J200 'Amazon' sat above on a separate page in some catalogues — V8 petrol or 4.5 D-4D diesel, fleet-pulling and overland favourite. Ignored 70-Series commercial. The world's most respected 4x4 lineage. The Defender died and came back hipsterised; Land Cruiser just kept being Land Cruiser. Buy any with full Toyota service history.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
J90 Colorado 1996-2002 → J120 2003-2009
BHP +38 bhp
Torque +125 Nm
0–60 mph −2.0 s
Top speed +5 mph
MPG +5 mpg
J120 2003-2009 → J150 2009-2023
BHP +17 bhp
Torque +90 Nm
0–60 mph −1.0 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +5 mpg
J150 2009-2023 → J250 2024-Present
BHP +5 bhp
Torque +50 Nm
0–60 mph −0.5 s
Top speed +5 mph
MPG +5 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1996-2002
J90 Colorado
→
3.0 D-4D — 165 bhp, 0-62 in 12.5s.
Verdict
C
BHP
165
0–60
12.5 s
Top
105 mph
MPG
23 mpg
Used
$4,400-$12,000
- + Bulletproof drivetrain
- + Real off-road capability
- − Truck-like on road
- − Cabin dated
2003-2009
J120
→
3.0 D-4D — 170 bhp, 0-62 in 11.5s.
Verdict
B
BHP
170
0–60
11.5 s
Top
110 mph
MPG
25 mpg
Used
$8,300-$23,000
- + Independent front, proper road manners
- + Cabin a generation on
- − Injector issues on diesel
- − Heavy fuel use
2009-2023
J150
→
2.8 D-4D — 200 bhp, 0-62 in 9.7s.
Verdict
B
BHP
200
0–60
9.7 s
Top
109 mph
MPG
29 mpg
Used
$23,000-$70,000
- + Long-running, well-developed
- + Off-road tech (Crawl, KDSS, MTS)
- − DPF problems if used short
- − Cabin dated by end
2024-Present
J250
→
2.8 D-4D MHEV — 201 bhp, 0-62 in 10.9s.
Verdict
B
BHP
201
0–60
10.9 s
Top
109 mph
MPG
29 mpg
Used
$89,000-$104,000
- + Bold retro styling
- + TNGA-F platform stiffer
- − Expensive new
- − MHEV gain modest
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1996-2002 · J90 Colorado
- 1KZ-TE diesel head crack
- Body rust on chassis rails
- Steering box wear
2003-2009 · J120
- 1KD-FTV injector failure
- Front upper ball joint wear
- EGR cooler
2009-2023 · J150
- DPF on short trips
- Rear KDSS hydraulics
- 3.0 D-4D oil cooler leak
2024-Present · J250
- New model — early production niggles
- Infotainment software updates
- MHEV 48V battery (early)
Rivals
Land Rover Defender · Land Rover Discovery · Mitsubishi Shogun · Nissan Patrol