Was the J200 the Last “Real” Land Cruiser?

The Land Cruiser has probably done more to cement Toyota’s legacy of durability and reliability than any other vehicle in the famed Japanese automaker’s lineup. First appearing in 1951, the Land Cruiser has earned a strong worldwide following owing to its ability to go just about anywhere and to do so for years and years on end. In more recent decades, the vehicle had moved into the luxury space with a high-tech, quad-cam V8 under the hood, while not letting go of any its off-road bona fides. It also had built a stunning reputation for being a machine that could go hundreds of thousands of miles without missing a beat.

There have been some big changes with the Land Cruiser, particularly in the U.S. market. The traditional model was phased out on these shores after the 2021 model year and a new, smaller Land Cruiser showed up just this year. Early reports indicate it maintains its off-road capabilities, but in place of the big V8 is a hybrid powertrain based around a 2.4-liter, turbocharged inline-four. Toyota made the change partly because sales of the traditional model had dwindled to around 3,000 units per year for a while. Fortunately, it you crave that big, unmistakable vehicle, this V8-powered 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition is now available on Hemmings Auctions.

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, side view

J200 Models Were Well Equipped

Each generation of Land Cruiser is often referred to by its Toyota internal designation, like the J40 that put the vehicle on the map in the U.S. The J200 was sold from 2008 through 2021. Like its predecessors, the J200 featured a traditional body-on-frame structure that could withstand just about any terrain. With the tall body mounted on the frame, ground clearance and approach angles exceeded that of virtually any crossover in the same price point as the well-equipped Land Cruiser. Various skid plates were also part of the deal.

Call a J200 Land Cruiser well equipped misses the point that there were virtually no options beyond color on these luxury-grade SUVs. About the only think you would have found in the brochure in 2020 that was not standard on every Land Cruiser was the rear-seat DVD entertainment system. That was it. The list of standard equipment is far too much for this space, but let’s try a few items on it: heated and ventilated leather front seats; 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and integrated audio system playing through 14 JBL speakers; dynamic radar cruise control; a power-operated rear liftgate with key fob remote; and much more.

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, interior

V8 Power

Every J200 Land Cruiser featured Toyota’s proven 3UR-FE 5.7-liter DOHC, 32-valve V8 that was rated at 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. That engine delivered power to a full-time all-wheel-drive system with a Torsen limited-slip, locking center differential via an eight-speed automatic transmission. A two-speed transfer case made it ready for the rough stuff, as well. The J200 might have been a luxury SUV, but it was still rated at 8,100-pounds towing capacity.

Electronic driver assists included Multi-terrain Select, Crawl Control with Off-road Turn Assist, on and off-road antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, and more, along with the usual traction and stability control. Blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and an integrated backup camera worked with 10 airbags for driver and passenger safety. Toyota also engineered something it calls the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). Using electronic controls and hydraulic pistons, the sway bars can provide the stiffness you want on pavement, but the movement and articulation you want off road when they are essentially disconnected via KDSS.

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, 3UR-FE 5.7-liter DOHC, 32-valve V8

Heritage Edition for Two Model Years Only

With J200 production set to conclude in 2021, Toyota offered a limited-edition version of its flagship model. For 2020 and 2021, buyers could opt for the Heritage Edition, a $2,330 premium over the standard $89,110 price tag. The Heritage Edition, available only in Blizzard Pearl or Might Black Metallic, veered a bit from the standard luxury formula that had served the Land Cruiser in recent years, with a fresh take on the model’s famed ruggedness, and it did so without giving up too much in terms of luxury and creature comforts.

Exclusive Bronze BBS forged alloy wheels and some “dark chrome” surrounds on the front end offset the Heritage Edition. A Yakima MegaWarrior roof basket was also part of the package. The lack of running boards also added to its off-pavement vibe. The all-black leather interior did do away with the third-row seating and the running boards of the standard model, but the Heritage saves 100 pounds in the process and adds a bit more cargo room with it. Bronze-accented stitching on the leather seats, steering wheel and other interior trim complements the BBS wheels.

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, rear quarter

Of an estimated 3,146 Land Cruisers imported to the U.S. in 2020, this 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser is one of just 1,200 Heritage Edition models. According to the seller, he is just the second owner, with the first Toyota itself, which used the vehicle for marketing and promotional purposes before the seller purchased it in 2021. The odometer showed just 42,601 miles at the time of submission, which could be considered barely broken in for a vehicle that has been noted to regularly achieve several hundred thousand miles.

The only modifications listed are an upgraded infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration as well as an electronic trailer brake control module. The interior appears only lightly worn and the original wheels show no noticeable curb rash in the photos provided. The battery and Bridgestone Dueller tires are both indicated as “brand new” by the seller.

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, classic Land Cruiser script badge

The new 2024 Land Cruiser might sport some new tech compared to the last of the J200 models, but would you rather have a V8 or a hybrid with a turbo four-cylinder? Take a look at this 2020 J200 Heritage Edition on Hemmings Auctions and tell us what you think.

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