Chassis Code Explained
| Segment | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| VZJ | Engine family | VZJ = 5VZ-FE V6; RZJ = 3RZ-FE; KDJ = 1KD-FTV; TRJ = 2TR-FE; GRJ = 1GR-FE |
| 121 | Body | 120 and 121 = long five-door (2,790 mm wheelbase); 125 = short three-door (2,455 mm) |
| W | Suffix | W suffix used on the Japanese Prado types in Toyota's catalogue |
Toyota's catalogue adds prefixes such as LA-, TA-, KN- and CBA- (for example TA-VZJ121W). Read from the types Toyota publishes for the generation.
Key Takeaways
- Engines by date: 3RZ-FE, 5VZ-FE and 1KD-FTV at launch, the 2TR-FE from August 2004 and the 1GR-FE on sale 5 August 2005.
- In Japan 120 and 121 are long five-door bodies and 125 is the short three-door; the 1GR-FE cars are GRJ.
- Every launch grade had a four-speed automatic; the 1GR-FE brought a five-speed.
- Full-time 4WD uses a Torsen centre differential with a 40:60 basic split.
- The G Selection is a petrol V6 grade, written TZ G Selection; rear air suspension is on upper long-body grades.
- The US Lexus GX470 also had rear air springs, so they do not identify a Japanese car.
Background
Codes and bodies
In the codes Toyota publishes, 120 and 121 are long five-door bodies on a 2,790 mm wheelbase and 125 is the short three-door on 2,455 mm: TA-VZJ121W-GKPGK and LA-RZJ120W-GKPEK are long, TA-VZJ125W-GJPGK is short. Toyota's catalogue index lists RZJ, VZJ, KDJ, TRJ and GRJ types; the 1GR-FE cars are GRJ120W and GRJ121W. Launch grades were RX and RZ (short) and TX and TZ (long), with the G Selection on the TZ with the 5VZ-FE. Representative launch weights: long V6 TZ 1,970 kg, long 2.7 TX 1,920 kg, short V6 RZ 1,830 kg. The long TX is 4,715 mm long (4,785 mm with the rear-mounted spare), the short RX 4,340 mm; both are 1,875 mm wide and 1,870 mm high.
Engines and gearboxes by date
Launch engines: the 2.7-litre 3RZ-FE four (110 kW/150 PS at 4,800 rpm; 235 Nm at 4,000 rpm), the 3.4-litre 5VZ-FE V6 (136 kW/185 PS at 4,800 rpm; 294 Nm at 3,600 rpm) and the 3.0-litre 1KD-FTV diesel (125 kW/170 PS at 3,400 rpm; 352 Nm from 1,400 to 3,400 rpm). Every launch grade used the electronically controlled four-speed automatic. Toyota's August 2004 RX catalogue lists the 2TR-FE (163 PS, 25.1 kgf m) in place of the 3RZ-FE. On 5 August 2005, announced 19 July, the 4.0-litre 1GR-FE replaced the 5VZ-FE: 183 kW (249 PS) at 5,200 rpm and 380 Nm at 3,800 rpm on premium petrol, with a five-speed automatic. Toyota's English heritage page calls both petrol units V6; its launch tables show the 2.7 is a four-cylinder.
Drivetrain and suspension
Full-time 4WD uses a Torsen centre differential with a 40:60 basic front/rear split. The front is independent double-wishbone; the rear keeps a four-link solid axle. Toyota gives turning radii of 5.7 m for the long body and 5.2 m for the short body, a 33-degree approach angle on all cars, and departure angles of 28 degrees for the long TX and 31 degrees for the short RX.
Upper long-body grades have rear electronically controlled air suspension with H∞-TEMS damping; a Japanese retrospective gives three ride heights, low 3 cm below normal and high 4 cm above. The air suspension is rear only. The US Lexus GX470 also had rear air springs.
Equipment and special editions
Side and curtain airbags were optional on all cars at launch. The TX Limited accompanied the August 2005 update, with upgraded trim, roof rails and a cold-weather specification. The TX Limited 60th Special Edition, on sale 7 August 2006, marked the 60th anniversary of the Toyota dealership channel, not of the Prado. Toyota's Japanese launch sales target was 2,500 a month, a target and not a production figure.
Importing a J120
US safety rules require 25 years from the individual vehicle's manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). Launch dates and catalogue periods do not prove that date. NHTSA describes alternative age documents when the manufacturer's label omits it. Canada uses 15 years by manufacture month and year.
EPA separately requires at least 21 years by calendar-year subtraction and the original unmodified configuration. Engine equivalence means the same model and configuration as originally installed. EPA's published overview describes a restricted exception for equivalent or newer EPA-certified engines with their emission-control systems; confirm any replacement configuration with EPA before buying. Customs entry and state or provincial registration are separate.
Technical Specifications
Engines changed in 2004 and 2005, so each phase has its own row. Figures are Toyota's Japanese release and catalogue ratings.
Engine Options
-
RZJ120/125 3RZ-FE Oct 2002 – 2004
3RZ-FE- Displacement
- 2,693 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated four
- Power
- 110 kW (150 PS) @ 4,800 rpm
- Torque
- 235 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
- Transmission
- Four-speed automatic; full-time 4WD
Launch 2.7-litre; short RX and long TX
-
VZJ120/121/125 5VZ-FE V6 Oct 2002 – Aug 2005
5VZ-FE- Displacement
- 3,378 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated V6
- Power
- 136 kW (185 PS) @ 4,800 rpm
- Torque
- 294 Nm @ 3,600 rpm
- Transmission
- Four-speed automatic; full-time 4WD
Launch V6; the TZ G Selection used it; replaced by the 1GR-FE
-
KDJ120/121/125 1KD-FTV From Oct 2002
1KD-FTV- Displacement
- 2,982 cc
- Aspiration
- Intercooled turbo diesel
- Power
- 125 kW (170 PS) @ 3,400 rpm
- Torque
- 352 Nm (35.9 kgf m) @ 1,400–3,400 rpm
- Transmission
- Four-speed automatic; full-time 4WD
Torque plateau starts at 1,400 rpm in the J120 release
-
TRJ120/125 2TR-FE From Aug 2004
2TR-FE- Displacement
- 2,693 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated four
- Power
- 120 kW (163 PS) @ 5,200 rpm
- Torque
- 246 Nm (25.1 kgf m) @ 3,800 rpm
- Transmission
- Four-speed automatic (August 2005 table); full-time 4WD
Replaced the 3RZ-FE in August 2004.
-
GRJ120/121 1GR-FE V6 From 5 Aug 2005
1GR-FE- Displacement
- 3,955 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated V6
- Power
- 183 kW (249 PS) @ 5,200 rpm
- Torque
- 380 Nm @ 3,800 rpm
- Transmission
- Five-speed automatic; full-time 4WD
Premium unleaded; 87-litre tank; TZ G Selection CBA-GRJ121W, 2,030 kg
Transmission Options
| Type | Availability |
|---|---|
| 4-speed automatic (ECT-E, flexible lock-up) | Every launch grade; also 2TR-FE and 1KD-FTV in the August 2005 table |
| 5-speed automatic (Super ECT) | 1GR-FE long-body TX and TZ from 5 August 2005 |
Variants & Trims
Japanese grades are RX and RZ (short) and TX, TZ and TZ G Selection (long), plus the TX Limited editions. Export grade names such as GX or VX do not apply.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Should You Buy a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J120?
Why You'll Love It
- Full-time 4WD with a Torsen centre differential Toyota gives a 40:60 basic front/rear split and a 33-degree approach angle on all cars.
- A well-documented engine sequence Dated Toyota ratings exist for each engine: 150, 185, 170, 163 and 249 PS.
- Rear air suspension on upper grades Three ride heights on cars so equipped: normal, low 3 cm below and high 4 cm above.
Why You Might Not
- Automatic only in Japan Every Japanese launch grade used the four-speed automatic; Toyota's Japanese tables show no manual.
- Body codes need care In Toyota's Japanese specifications, 120 and 121 are long bodies and 125 is the short body. Match the listing to the chassis plate.
- Premium petrol for the 1GR-FE The Japanese J120 4.0-litre catalogue specifies unleaded premium.
- Equipment varies by grade Side and curtain airbags were optional, and rear air suspension is on upper long-body grades only.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Anyone who wants a Japanese-market manual: Toyota's tables show a four-speed automatic on every launch grade and a five-speed automatic with the 1GR-FE.
- Anyone relying on a 'TZ-G' listing: the Japanese name is TZ G Selection, and it is a petrol V6 grade.
- Anyone who buys on 'rear air suspension means Japanese spec': the US Lexus GX470 had it too.
Differences between JDM & USDM
This page covers the Japanese-market J120. The only US-market comparison supported here is that the 2003 Lexus GX470 also had rear air springs (MotorTrend's first test), so air suspension does not tell a Japanese car from a GX470; engines, grades and bodies are not compared. For import, the US federal safety exemption applies to vehicles 25 or more years old, counted from each car's own date of manufacture (49 CFR 591.5(i)), so the individual car's date of manufacture decides it (NHTSA describes alternative age documentation if the original manufacturer label does not give that date). Canada does not regulate vehicles older than 15 years at importation, counting the month and year of manufacture. 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.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Check the engine and body code against the chassis plate and dated Toyota catalogue.
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Generation History
Generation span (Japan catalogue) (2002–2009)
- Toyota's Japanese catalogue lists the third-generation Prado from October 2002 to September 2009
- A catalogue period is a model-availability interval, not a build-date range
J120 launch (7 October 2002)
- Short RX/RZ and long TX/TZ grades; 3RZ-FE, 5VZ-FE and 1KD-FTV; four-speed automatic on every grade
- Torsen full-time 4WD; rear air suspension on upper grades
- Japanese launch sales target of 2,500 a month (a target, not a production total)
2TR-FE replaces 3RZ-FE (August 2004)
- 163 PS, 25.1 kgf m; first listed on the RX in Toyota's August 2004 catalogue
1GR-FE and TX Limited (19 July 2005 announced; on sale 5 August 2005)
- 4.0-litre V6 with a five-speed automatic replaces the 5VZ-FE
- TX Limited introduced
TX Limited 60th Special Edition (7 August 2006)
- Marks the Toyota dealership channel's 60th anniversary
The Buyer's Read
Start with the plate and dated specification. Toyota put the 1GR-FE on sale on 5 August 2005; that does not establish a car's first manufacture date. Toyota's August 2004 RX catalogue lists the 2TR-FE in place of the 3RZ-FE, and the 1GR-FE replaced the 5VZ-FE in 2005. Codes 120 and 121 identify long bodies; 125 identifies the short body. TZ G Selection is the upper petrol V6 grade, rather than the only V6 grade.
Then check equipment instead of trusting the grade. Rear air suspension is on upper long-body cars (test the three heights), side and curtain airbags were optional, and the 1GR-FE runs on premium petrol. Japanese cars were automatic; do not expect a manual.
The sources used contain no failure data for the Japanese J120, so there is no common-faults list here. Ask for service records, and verify the individual car's manufacture date from its documents rather than the launch date.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does 120 mean long wheelbase and 125 short wheelbase?
- Yes in Japan. Toyota's representative codes show 120 and 121 as long five-door bodies on a 2,790 mm wheelbase, and 125 as the short three-door on 2,455 mm.
- Which engines did the Japanese J120 launch with?
- The 2.7-litre 3RZ-FE four (150 PS), the 3.4-litre 5VZ-FE V6 (185 PS) and the 3.0-litre 1KD-FTV diesel (170 PS), all with the four-speed automatic.
- When did Japan switch from 3RZ to 2TR and from 5VZ to 1GR?
- The 2TR-FE (163 PS) replaced the 3RZ-FE in August 2004. The 1GR-FE 4.0-litre V6 was announced on 19 July 2005, went on sale on 5 August 2005 and replaced the 5VZ-FE, with a five-speed automatic.
- Did Japan offer a manual J120?
- Not in Toyota's published tables. Every Japanese launch grade used the electronically controlled four-speed automatic, and the 1GR-FE brought a five-speed automatic.
- Is the top Japanese grade TZ-G or TZ G Selection?
- On this generation it is written TZ G Selection, and Toyota's tables set it on the TZ with the 5VZ-FE, later the 1GR-FE (CBA-GRJ121W, eight seats). 'TZ-G' is the spelling Toyota uses for the later generation.
- Which J120s have rear air suspension?
- Toyota's launch release lists rear electronically controlled air suspension with H∞-TEMS on upper grades, and a Japanese retrospective describes it on long TZ-series cars. Equipment varies, so confirm it on the car.
- How is a Japanese Prado different from a US Lexus GX470?
- The GX470 is a US-market comparison, not the same car: MotorTrend's 2003 test describes rear air springs, as on upper Japanese grades. Engines and grades differ; this page covers Japanese specifications only.
- When can I import a J120 into the US, and is it already age eligible in Canada?
- A car reaches 25 years on its own manufacture date; the launch date does not establish it. If the original manufacturer label does not give that date, NHTSA describes age documentation. Canada's threshold is 15 years, by manufacture month and year. EPA and registration are separate.
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