The military vehicle has managed to become a multifunctional tool.
When mentioning the "Cruiser," it is now necessary to specify which particular vehicle is being referred to. Toyota has released the new Land Cruiser FJ and turned the Land Cruiser into a whole family of four vehicles.
It now includes the flagship Toyota Land Cruiser 300, the less expensive Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, the utilitarian Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series, and the new and most compact Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. Let’s explore what vehicles are hidden behind these names.
The family of all-wheel-drive Land Cruisers is one of the most "age-old" lineups in Toyota's range. Vehicles bearing this name have been produced since 1951. An SUV that started as a military vehicle has ultimately become a multifunctional tool and a favorite among drivers in countries where reliability and durability are very important.
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ
The newest SUV in the Land Cruiser lineup is the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, unveiled on October 20. This is the most compact model with the legendary name, which in this case refers both to the Toyota Land Cruiser J40 of the 1960s and to the Toyota FJ Cruiser of the 2000s. However, the new model shares its design and name with other "Cruisers," as technically the "baby-Cruiser" is unified with somewhat different vehicles from the Japanese brand.
The Land Cruiser FJ is based on the IMV platform, known from the Toyota Hilux pickup and the Toyota Fortuner SUV. The vehicle features a part-time four-wheel drive with a low range and a rear differential lock. Currently, only a naturally aspirated 2.7-liter gasoline engine is announced for the Land Cruiser FJ, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The production of the compact SUV will be established in Thailand, and the new model will be sold in Asian markets and Latin American countries — the appearance of the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in the USA and Europe is not currently planned.
Thus, fans of Toyota in general and Land Cruiser in particular now have a choice of four models with the common name: the compact Land Cruiser FJ, the utilitarian Land Cruiser (J70), the conditionally urban Land Cruiser Prado, and the flagship Land Cruiser 300. Officially, no vehicle is sold in Russia, but through unofficial channels, sellers are ready to bring any Toyota SUV.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
The story of the Land Cruiser Prado began in 1990, when Toyota created it as a "lighter" and more affordable version of the flagship "Cruiser." Depending on the generation and market, the names of the vehicle changed, but its essence remained the same — a frame construction, like that of the "regular" Toyota Land Cruiser, a transfer case, and a solid rear axle (in the first generations, it was also present in the front).
In 2023, the fifth generation of the Land Cruiser Prado premiered, which is significantly unified with the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, but its design resonates with the J60 model from the 1980s.
Depending on the market, the Land Cruiser Prado is equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine or a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated unit, a 2.8-liter turbo diesel, and two "mild" hybrids — based on the 2.4-liter turbo gasoline engine and the 2.8-liter turbo diesel. The engines are paired with 6- or 8-speed automatic transmissions and permanent all-wheel drive. However, the new generation has lost the three-door version, which was a unique feature of the Prado family until the J250 body.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300
The Land Cruiser from the J300 family, presented in 2021, became the 11th generation of the iconic model. In terms of design, dimensions, and geometric parameters, the new model is close to its predecessor with the index 200 and inherited impressive off-road capabilities from it.
But due to the introduction of new engineering solutions, the vehicle has become more technologically advanced. Thus, the transition to the GA-F platform allowed for a reduction in the vehicle's weight while simultaneously increasing the body stiffness. An improved Multi-Terrain Select driving mode system, enhanced adaptive suspension, and upgraded E-KDSS active roll stabilization were implemented.
In the Land Cruiser 300, Toyota has abandoned V8 engines in favor of a 3.4-liter V6 gasoline engine with twin turbocharging, which is complemented in the SUV lineup by a 3.3-liter V6 turbo diesel and a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 borrowed from the Land Cruiser 200.
For the first time in the model's history, a "sporty" version, the GR Sport, has appeared, featuring special body and interior decor, as well as an upgraded suspension. The SUV is sold in almost all countries of the world, but regional modifications differ in units and equipment. The Land Cruiser was one of Toyota's bestsellers in Russia, and after the brand's departure from our market, fans of the "Cruiser" eagerly purchase the model through parallel import channels.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series
The story of the J70 model began in 1984 and continues... to this day! The vehicle is still produced and enjoys stable demand — the key market for the "seventies" remains Australia, where this simple and reliable SUV leads sales in the market.
The vehicle is offered in 3- and 5-door wagon variants, and pickups with single and double cab configurations, as well as chassis for creating various special modifications. The 70 Series generation replaced the Toyota Land Cruiser (J40) as a utilitarian successor, while the J50 family transformed into more comfortable SUVs.
Today, the "seventies" are produced in Japan, exclusively for export. The engine lineup includes gasoline and diesel units that are paired with manual and automatic transmissions, but the SUV features a strictly rigid all-wheel drive.
In addition to passenger variants and pickups, chassis are offered, on the basis of which third-party manufacturers build equipment for the mining industry, as well as military equipment, including light armored vehicles. The number of modifications and special versions of the Toyota Land Cruiser (J70) is likely beyond counting.
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