Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series for sale in Kenya

The origin of the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 can be traced back to the Toyota Jeep BJ prototype that Toyota developed in January 1951. This prototype was produced following a directive by the Japanese government to develop military-type utility vehicles that could be used in combat situations. The Korean War brought out Japan’s need for such military-type utility vehicles. The Toyota Jeep BJ Prototype was built and designed much like the American Willys MB military utility vehicle but it was larger and more powerful, with a 3.4-litre six-cylinder petrol engine which generated 84 horsepower and 215 N⋅m (159 lb.-ft.) of torque. Following the original prototype, models likes the BJ-T, BJ-R, BJ-J, and FJ-J were produced. After the Korean War, Toyota changed the name of this vehicle to the Toyota Land Cruiser owing to claims of trademark violation by the Willys Company of America.

From the mid-1950s, Toyota has offered the Land Cruiser in two main orientations, i.e. off-road/utility-themed orientations and in comfort-themed orientations.

The off-road/utility-oriented Land Cruiser models were and are still being built in the same spirit of the Toyota BJ and FJ series models. They are hard-core, body-on-frame vehicles that can go virtually anywhere and that can carry a great deal of cargo. Over the years, they have been used for both domestic and commercial purposes. The off-road/utility-oriented Land Cruiser models include the J20 and J30 series models (1955-1960), the J40 models (1960-1984), and the J70 models (1984 – present).

The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 is the latest iteration of the comfort-themed Land Cruiser models. The models that came before it include:

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ50 models comprise mainly of the FJ55 station wagon models. These models also had a body-on-frame construction and a 2,700-mm wheelbase. They were driven by a 125-horsepower 3.9-liter 6-cylinder gasoline engine that paired with a 3-speed manual transmission generated. These models also had a 4WD system that came with a 2-speed transfer case. In Japan, this station wagon was classified as a commercial van.

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 offered more capability and more power on account of its more robust frame and its larger 4.2-liter ‘2F’ inline 6-cylinder petrol engine. It could also be had with a 4.0-liter inline 6-cylinder petrol engine or a 3.4-liter ‘3B’ 4-cylinder diesel engine. Unlike the FJ55’s front bend seating, the FJ60 featured separate front seats, and it could also be had with optional features like power steering, air conditioning, and fabric-trimmed seats. Towards the end of the ‘80s, the 4.0-liter petrol engine was upgraded and another 4.0-liter turbocharged I6 petrol engine was added to this station wagon’s engine lineup. Also worth noting is that while this large station wagon was classified as a domestic vehicle in other markets, it was classified as a commercial vehicle in Japan.

The Land Cruiser FJ80 was again an improvement on its prior generation. It is up to 5.7 inches longer than the FJ60 and its interior and driving dynamics have been upgraded to enable it to compete against other established large premium station wagons/SUVs. For example, instead of featuring a rigid leaf-spring rear suspension system like its predecessors, this generation features a coil-spring rear suspension system that delivers better ride quality. In the front, this generation features a solid axle front suspension. The FJ80 SUV models can also be had with either part-time or full-size 4WD system. Most of the high-grade models feature a full-time 4WD system with a center differential. Also, with the FJ80, the Land Cruiser’s maximum seating capacity increased to 8 passengers. In terms of premium features, the FJ80 can be had with leather seating surfaces, automatic climate control, keyless entry, power windows, and an audio system with a CD or cassette player. In terms of power, the Japanese station wagon models were initially equipped with a 4.0-liter inline 6-cylinder petrol engine while the van (commercial use) models were equipped with a naturally aspirated/turbocharged 4.1-liter 6-cylinder diesel engine. The Japanese models that were produced after August 1992 received a larger 4.5-liter inline 6-cylinder petrol engine. Production of the Land Cruiser FJ80 in Japan ended in 1997, but it went on in other countries until 2008.

Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser J100 in 1998. It is up to 4.3 inches longer than its prior generation, and it is also heftier and beefier. With the J100, Toyota sort to further establish the Land Cruiser’s prominence as a full-size luxury SUV. The J100 looks sleeker and more prestigious, with broad shoulders, sweeping lines and curves, large square headlights, and a prominent grille that features Toyota’s current logo design. The J100 also benefits from a new and more forgiving independent double wishbone front suspension that further improves the SUV’s ride quality. Its top-of-the-range model also comes equipped with a Skyhook TEMS (Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension) that automatically adjusts damping depending on prevailing driving or road conditions, and a self-leveling Active Height Control system that provides three height settings. This feature enables you to lower the SUV’s ride height when you want to drive more spiritedly, or raise the ride height when the SUV is hauling a lot of cargo. Also, the J100 is available in both utility van and premium station wagon/SUV options. The sparsely-equipped van models are driven by a turbocharged, direct injection 4.2-liter inline 6-cylinder diesel engine while the station wagon models come equipped with a 4.5-liter 1FZ-FE inline 6-cylinder petrol engine or a 4.7-liter 2UZ-FE V8 petrol engine. The J100 generation also received several minor facelifts throughout its production that mainly brought changes in the designs of the headlights, taillights, and front grille.

Yet again, Toyota increased the size of the Land Cruiser with the J200 generation. The J200 is 196.5 inches long (4 inches longer than the J100), and 78 inches wide (1.6 inches wider than the J100). The fully redesigned J200 also received a stronger yet more refined body-on-frame construction that yields improved durability, enhanced off-road capability, superior riding comfort, and even better crash safety. The J200 is also the first Land Cruiser to feature Toyota’s variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) engine technology. The Japanese J200 model also benefits from a large V8 petrol engine and an automatic transmission that enables you to shift the gears manually when you want to. The Land Cruiser J200 is also more luxurious than its prior generation, and it offers a wide range of advanced tech features for convenience, safety, infotainment, and capability.

The Japanese Toyota Land Cruiser J200 is driven by a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter 2UZ-FE V8 petrol engine. Thanks to its higher compression ratio of 10.0:1 and its VVT-i technology, this engine delivers 280 horsepower, which is an improvement of 52 horsepower over that of the 2UZ-FE V8 petrol engine that powers the J100 SUVs. The J200’s V8 petrol engine achieves a fuel economy of up to 6.6 km per liter and it pairs with an electronically-controlled, 5-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift mode. The engine’s output is sent to a full-time 4WD system with a newly developed Torsen limited slip differential that is capable of adjusting the distribution of power and torque to the front and rear axles. In 2009, the Land Cruiser J200 got a facelift that included an engine update. It got a new 4.6-liter 1UR-FE V8 engine that delivers a higher output of 314 horsepower and 460 N⋅m (339 lb.-ft.) of torque. This engine achieves a better fuel economy of up to 7.1 km per liter. Also available after 2009 is a 4.5-liter 1VD-FTV turbocharged V8 diesel engine.

According to Toyota, the master designers and engineers at Toyota employed a design philosophy termed as “Vibrant Clarity” when designing the Toyota Land Cruiser J200. With this design language, the designers at Toyota sort to make the J200 exude reliability, advancement, and powerful capability. They gave the J200 is a familiar body shape but gave it bolder and more adventurous lines and curves that have made it even more appealing than its prior generations. The master designers at Toyota also gave the J200 increased vertical thickness with thicker headlights, a larger grille, larger fog lights, and a beefier frame; this gives the J200 a more powerful and authoritative stance. On the inside, the Toyota Land Cruiser J200 features a beefy center cluster and a large, expansive dashboard that also emphasizes the power and capability of the SUV. However, the interior of this SUV also incorporates premium materials that include wood-grain-style trim on the doors, dashboard, and steering wheel, leather seating surfaces, and well-placed metallic accents.

The Toyota Land Cruiser J200 got a major facelift in 2015 that made it look bolder and more contemporary. On the outside, this SUV got a double-bulge hood, a larger, more prominent grille, all-LED front and rear lighting with sleeker headlight/taillight designs, smaller foglights, and an updated front bumper design. On the inside, the post-facelift J200 features a sleeker dashboard with fine trim and a larger center-cluster touchscreen display. The controls and buttons have also been grouped together by function on the center cluster.

The Toyota Land Cruiser J200 also offers an inspiring selection of tech features. One of them is a Smart entry system that senses your key fob as you approach and enables you to unlock the doors or rear liftgate without having to reach for your keys. This system also includes a push-button start feature that enables you to start the engine by just pushing a button. Many models of the J200 also come equipped with a four-zone automatic climate control system that provides four separate temperature zones in the cabin. A large, centrally positioned infotainment touchscreen display is also standard in this SUV. A rearview camera that projects its images onto the central touchscreen display is also featured in most models. The J200 can also be had with an optional 30 GB high-capacity HDD navigation system that can be accessed on the central touchscreen display. It also comes equipped with a Bluetooth-compatible hands-free telephone system and an AM/FM audio system with 9 speakers and an in-dash, 6-disc DVD/CD changer.

In 2013, more tech features were added to the J200, some of which include a power moonroof, automatic rain sensing windshield wipers, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and front and rear parking sensors. Also optional are features like heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats. The 2015 facelift came with a larger central touchscreen display.

The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 J200 also offers many safety features. In collision impacts, its body is designed to absorb crash energy and diffuse it throughout its body structure; this reduces the degree of injury that the cabin occupants may experience in such impacts. It also features active headrests for the driver and front passenger that automatically adjust themselves to help prevent whiplash injuries during rear-end collisions. All its models feature dual-stage airbags for both the driver and the front passenger, knee airbags for both the driver and front passenger, side airbags for the front and outboard second-row seats, and side-curtain airbags that stretch over all three rows. This SUV also comes equipped with a vehicle stability control system (VSC) that automatically applies brakes while reducing engine output when the SUV is skidding or losing control on slippery roads.

Also, all the Japanese J200 post-facelift models (2015-present) also come equipped with a suite of active driver-assistive systems called Toyota Safety Sense P. This safety suite comes with the following safety systems:

a) Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection

This Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection uses a front-facing intelligent camera and millimeter-wave radar to determine the SUV’s proximity to pedestrians, objects, or vehicles. When this system senses a potential collision with any of the above, it activates audible and visible alerts to cause you to apply brakes quickly. If you fail to respond quickly, this system may apply the brakes for you.

b) Lane Departure Alert (LDA)

The Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system also uses an advanced camera to detect lane markings on the road. When it senses that the SUV is drifting out of its lane without any activated turning signals, it activates audible and visible alerts to cause you to steer the SUV back into its lane.

c) Radar Cruise Control (with brake control)

This Radar Cruise Control system (with brake control) is an advanced cruise control system that uses a front-facing intelligent camera and millimeter-wave radar to determine the speed of the vehicle that is ahead of you as well as the distance between you and that vehicle. Using this data, this system automatically adjusts the SUV’s cruising speed to maintain a safe following distance between you and that vehicle. When that vehicle moves away, the system restores the initial cruising speed.

d) Automatic High Beam (AHB) 

This automatic high beams system also uses a front-facing intelligent camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles at night. When it detects oncoming vehicles, it automatically switches the SUV’s headlights to low beams until the traffic passes. When the traffic passes, it restores the high beams.