Buyer's guide
15 min read
Buyer's guide & specs
Quick answer
The Land Cruiser Prado is Toyota's lighter Land Cruiser wagon line, split from the Land Cruiser 70 in April 1990. Japan's catalogue shows four generations: J70 (1990 to 1996), J90 (1996 to 2002), J120 (2002 to 2009) and J150 (2009 to 2024). Engines, gearboxes and grades changed by date, so check each car against its own generation page.
Background
The Land Cruiser Prado is Toyota's lighter Land Cruiser wagon line, split from the Land Cruiser 70 in April 1990. Japan's catalogue shows four generations, from the J70 (April 1990 to May 1996) to the J150 (September 2009 to April 2024). Each generation page has its dated engines, grades and import rules.
The J70 is a part-time 4WD turbo-diesel wagon with the 2L-TE and then, from May 1993, the 1KZ-TE. The J90 changed to full-time 4WD, independent front suspension and a 3.4-litre V6, added a 2.7-litre petrol four in April 1997 and swapped the 1KZ-TE for the common-rail 1KD-FTV on 31 July 2000. The J120 added a Torsen centre differential and a four-speed automatic on every launch grade, with the 4.0-litre 1GR-FE on sale from 5 August 2005. The J150 launched petrol-only in Japan, gained the 1GD-FTV diesel on 17 June 2015 and was re-rated to 204 PS in August 2020.
Related: land cruiser prado J70 guide.
The US federal age exemption applies to a vehicle 25 or more years old, counted from the individual car's date of manufacture (49 CFR 591.5(i)), so there is no single cut-off year for a generation. Canada's threshold is 15 years, counted by manufacture month and year. EPA is separate: its age exemption counts at least 21 years from the calendar year of manufacture to the year of importation and requires the original unmodified configuration, with engine equivalence meaning the same model and configuration as the original. EPA's published overview also describes a restricted exception for equivalent or newer EPA-certified engines with their emission-control systems, so confirm the actual replacement configuration with EPA before you buy. Customs entry and state or provincial registration are separate.
Related: land cruiser prado J90 guide.
Quick read
Constants
Chassis history
Toyota's Japanese catalogue lists four Prado generations. Each page below covers one in detail, with dated engines, grades and import ages.
Identification
Generation names are broad families. The factory chassis codes below identify the variants represented in JDMBUYSELL's current Toyota Land Cruiser Prado guide data.
Confirm the complete code on the vehicle's frame or VIN plate; drivetrain, body, and market variants can use different prefixes within one generation family.
Market
Each generation page sets out the Japanese-market details and what differs on cars sold elsewhere; start with the land cruiser prado J70 guide.
Specs
Engine ratings are Toyota's Japanese catalogue and release figures, listed by generation and date. Ratings differ by update, so do not copy one row across years.
3,945 × 1,690 × 1,885 mm, 2,310 mm wheelbase, 1,720 kg (catalogue, automatic)
Electronic distributor-type injection, 96 × 103 mm, 21.2:1; 4,585 × 1,690 × 1,890 mm, 2,730 mm wheelbase, 8 seats, 1,910 kg
Short RZ 1,740 kg; long V6 TZ 1,890 kg (representative launch models)
Carried over from the previous generation with an intercooler added; diesel TZ 1,960 kg (representative launch model)
Emissions reduced and output raised by 5 PS and 1.0 kgf m in the June 1999 update; swirl-chamber combustion
Added in April 1997, after the May 1996 launch
Common-rail direct injection, four-valve DOHC; replaced the 1KZ-TE
Launch 2.7-litre; short RX and long TX
Launch V6; the TZ G Selection used it; replaced by the 1GR-FE
Torque plateau starts at 1,400 rpm in the J120 release
Replaced the 3RZ-FE in August 2004.
Premium unleaded; 87-litre tank; TZ G Selection CBA-GRJ121W, 2,030 kg
TX five or seven seats, TX L Package seven seats at launch
Regular petrol; TX 2,050 kg (five seats), 2,090 kg (seven)
Regular unleaded, 87-litre tank, 10.4:1; TZ-G (CBA-GRJ151W) 2,180 kg; not in the June 2015 grade table
Urea SCR (AdBlue); first Japanese J150 diesel
TZ-G 2,330 kg; TX L Package 2,230 kg (seven seats); WLTC catalogue 11.2 km/L
Lineup
Grades differ by generation: LX, SX and EX Wide on the J70; RS to TZ on the J90; RX to TZ G Selection on the J120; TX, TX L Package, TZ and TZ-G on the J150.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | EX5 and SX5, long body (launch) | 2L-TE | Q-LJ78G-MGT (EX5, 1,900 kg) and Q-LJ78G-MET (SX5, 1,850 kg) in Toyota's heritage table; 4,585 mm long |
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | SX5, short body (launch) | 2L-TE | Q-LJ71G-MET, 1,700 kg in the heritage table; catalogue SX5 automatic is 3,945 × 1,690 × 1,885 mm, 2,310 mm wheelbase, 1,720 kg |
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | LX and SX (1992 range) | 2L-TE (to May 1993) | Offered on short and long bodies; EX Wide added on the long body only |
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | SX, long body (KZJ78G) | 1KZ-TE | Eight seats, 4,585 × 1,690 × 1,890 mm, 2,730 mm wheelbase, 215/80R16 tyres, 90-litre tank, 1,910 kg (five-speed manual) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | SX Wide, short body (KZJ71W) | 1KZ-TE | Five seats, 3,975 × 1,790 × 1,880 mm, 2,310 mm wheelbase, 265/70R15 tyres, 1,800 kg (automatic) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J70 (Japan, 1990–1996) | EX Wide, long body (KZJ78W) | 1KZ-TE | Eight seats, 4,615 × 1,790 × 1,900 mm, 2,730 mm wheelbase, 265/70R15 tyres, 90-litre tank, ventilated discs front and rear, 1,980 kg (five-speed manual) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | RS (short, standard width) | 1KZ-TE | Three-door, five seats, automatic (June 1999 table) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | RX (short, wide) | 3RZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Three-door, five seats; 1KZ-TE with five-speed manual or automatic (June 1999 table) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | RZ (short, wide) | 5VZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Three-door, five seats, manual or automatic by engine; representative launch model E-VZJ90W-GJMGK is 4,240 mm long on a 2,370 mm wheelbase, 1,740 kg |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | TS (long, standard width) | 1KZ-TE | Five-door, eight seats (June 1999 table) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | TX (long, wide) | 3RZ-FE, 5VZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Five or eight seats depending on engine and gearbox (June 1999 table) |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | TZ (long, wide) | 5VZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Representative launch models are 4,675 × 1,820 × 1,880 mm on a 2,675 mm wheelbase, 1,890 kg (V6) and 1,960 kg (diesel); 5VZ-FE with automatic, 1KZ-TE with manual or automatic in 1999 |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | TX Limited (special edition) | 3RZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Long wide body, eight seats, automatic; wood-grain panels; announced with the June 1999 minor change |
| Land Cruiser Prado J90 (Japan, 1996–2002) | Active Vacation (camper) | June 1999: TX with 3RZ-FE, 5VZ-FE or 1KZ-TE; TZ with 5VZ-FE or 1KZ-TE | Specially equipped camping vehicle on a category-8 Japanese registration, offered on TX and TZ |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | RX and RZ (short, 125) | At launch: 3RZ-FE or 1KD-FTV (RX), 5VZ-FE or 1KD-FTV (RZ); 2TR-FE RX from August 2004 | Three-door, five seats, four-speed automatic; launch RX is 4,340 × 1,875 × 1,870 mm on a 2,455 mm wheelbase, RZ V6 1,830 kg |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | TX (long, 120/121) | 3RZ-FE, 5VZ-FE or 1KD-FTV at launch; 2TR-FE from 2004; 1GR-FE from 5 August 2005 | Five-door; five or eight seats by engine; launch size 4,715 × 1,875 × 1,870 mm on a 2,790 mm wheelbase (4,785 mm with rear spare); 2.7-litre 1,920 kg |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | TZ (long) | 5VZ-FE or 1KD-FTV; 1GR-FE from 2005 | Eight seats at launch; V6 launch weight 1,970 kg; rear electronically controlled air suspension and H∞-TEMS on upper grades |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | TZ G Selection (long) | 5VZ-FE at launch; 1GR-FE (CBA-GRJ121W) from Aug 2005 | Eight seats; 2005 catalogue 4,715 × 1,875 × 1,855 mm, 2,790 mm wheelbase, 2,030 kg; premium petrol |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | TX Limited (special edition) | Petrol and diesel | Introduced with the August 2005 update: upgraded trim, roof rails, cold-weather specification; eight seats, long body |
| Land Cruiser Prado J120 (Japan, 2002–2009) | TX Limited 60th Special Edition | 2TR-FE, 1GR-FE or 1KD-FTV (August 2006) | On sale 7 August 2006; marks the 60th anniversary of the Toyota dealership channel, not of the Prado |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX and TX L Package (launch, Sep 2009) | 2TR-FE (TX five or seven seats, TX L Package seven seats); 1GR-FE TX seven seats | Petrol only; four-speed (2.7) or five-speed (4.0) automatic |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TZ (launch, Sep 2009) | 1GR-FE | Seven seats; five-speed automatic |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TZ-G (launch, CBA-GRJ151W) | 1GR-FE | Seven seats; 4,760 × 1,885 × 1,835 mm, 2,180 kg; coil front, rear air springs with KDSS; 265/60R18 tyres |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX, TX L Package and TZ-G (June 2015) | Petrol 2TR-FE (TX, TX L Package); diesel 1GD-FTV (TX, TX L Package, TZ-G) | Petrol TX and TX L Package five or seven seats; diesel TX five seats, diesel TX L Package and TZ-G seven; LED headlamps standard on the diesel TZ-G and TX L Package |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX, TX L Package and TZ-G (September 2017 on) | 2TR-FE petrol: TX and TX L Package; 1GD-FTV diesel: TX, TX L Package and TZ-G | Diesel TX adds seven seats and diesel TX L Package five seats; TZ-G stays seven-seat; Toyota Safety Sense P standard; TZ-G rear Torsen differential and Drive Mode Select |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX L Package Black Edition (Aug 2020) | Petrol and diesel | Dark exterior detailing and black 18-inch wheels |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX L Package 70th Anniversary Limited (1 Jun 2021) | Petrol and diesel | Saddle-tan leather and black exterior details; marks the Land Cruiser's 70th anniversary |
| Land Cruiser Prado J150 (Japan, 2009–2024) | TX L Package Matt Black Edition (1 Aug 2022) | Petrol and diesel | Matte-black grille, headlamp garnish, fog-lamp bezels, 18-inch wheels and back-door garnish |
Gallery
Editorial
Pick the generation first, then read its page for the grades, engines and checks that apply. Start with the land cruiser prado J70 guide.
FAQ
Citations
Sources last verified: