The original Toyota Land Cruiser is nothing like the one we know today. Originally designed for the military, the first major civilian Land Cruiser generation is the FJ40, launched in 1960. Today, the FJ40 is a true cult SUV, and as well as skyrocketing values, there are quite a few companies making modernized tributes, much like Singer and the Porsche 911. Over the years, Toyota steadily evolved the Land Cruiser. They moved it upmarket, added more luxury features, made it bigger, and even spun off a Lexus version.

The peak of the Land Cruiser in North America arrived in 2008, with the 200 Series. It was bigger than ever, more comfortable, more luxurious and more capable. Unfortunately, Toyota decided to skip the 300 Series for North America, leaving the 200 Series as the final Land Cruiser offered on the continent. Combined with the increasing popularity of off-roaders, the 200 Series now has everyone talking.

2008-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser (200 Series)

7.40 / 10
Key Features
  • Legendary capability
  • Proven 5.7-liter V8
  • Luxury
Specifications
  • Engine/Motor: 5.7-liter V8
  • Horsepower: 381 hp
  • Torque: 401 lb-ft
  • Drivetrain: 4WD
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic/8-speed automatic
Pros
  • Looks great
  • Luxurious, but dependable and capable
  • Comfortable on the road
Cons
  • Getting expensive
  • Fuel economy
  • Size

Overview Of The 200 Series Land Cruiser

Front 3/4 view of a gold pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

The 200 Series Land Cruiser is the final generation of the iconic SUV that Toyota offered in North America. Toyota introduced it for the 2008 model year, and it brought along a bunch of improvements over the preceding 100 Series. The 200 features improved styling, overall larger dimensions, even more luxury and refinement, and a new powertrain. The pre-facelift models feature a large, chrome grille with sizable headlights, while the facelift received an even bigger grille with slats that integrate into the headlight assembly.

Rear 3/4 view of a gold pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

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The side profile is simple and boxy, with noticeably flared fender flares, and distinctive alloy wheel designs. The rear end is pretty simple, with an upright tailgate, and the Land Cruiser badging stamped on the chrome piece of trim in the center, which also houses the tailgate release. While foreign markets, notably the Middle East, offered a variety of powertrain and trim options, the Land Cruiser came only one way in North America. Its main competitor is the Range Rover, as well as the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GL and GLS, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Ford Expedition.

200 Series Land Cruiser Powertrain And Drivetrain

The front of a black facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

In foreign markets, the 200 Series came in many powertrain flavors, including the trusty 4.0-liter V6 and a turbodiesel V8. In North America, continuing on from the trim level, the Land Cruiser came with only one powertrain and drivetrain combo. Under the hood is the 3UR-FE 5.7-liter gasoline V8, developing 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. The pre-facelift models distribute power to the wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, whereas the facelift introduced an improved eight-speed auto.

The Land Cruiser's 5.7-liter V8 engine
Toyota

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Obviously, the Land Cruiser has permanent 4WD, as well as locking differentials. Combined with chunky tires, excellent ground clearance, and approach and departure angles, the 200 Series Land Cruiser is immensely capable off-road, even without any off-road-centric modifications. However, the 200 Series also made huge strides to improve on-road comfort. It really is the best of both worlds; a comfortable cruiser, but also an unstoppable all-terrain vehicle. Fuel economy is not great, so keep that in mind if you use the highway a lot.

200 Series Land Cruiser Comfort And Quality

The interior of the pre-facelift Land Cruiser, black leather
Toyota

There's a very interesting mix of components on the inside of the 200 Series Land Cruiser. There is a fair amount of luxury features, mod cons and materials, but there's a lot of old school as well. Later models feature a larger infotainment display, heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control, wireless device charging (on the last few model years) and so forth. The facelift also brought a revamped gauge cluster, as well as a new and improved steering wheel design. Later models also included a lot of advanced safety features, including lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

The interior of the facelift Land Cruiser, brown leather
Toyota

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In terms of reliability and quality, there's not much to say here. Perhaps one of the Land Cruiser's best-known features is its reliability. With regular maintenance and oil changes, the 5.7 V8 under the hood can easily top 600,000 miles, and same applies to the rest of the components. As long as you're regular with the maintenance, the Land Cruiser shouldn't give you much to worry about. The 200 Series Land Cruiser gets three-row seating as standard, with 16 cubic feet of cargo space when all three rows are up. With the third row out of the way (it folds up into the sides of the cargo area, not into the floor), you get an excellent 41 cubic feet.

200 Series Land Cruiser Prices

Front 3/4 view of a gray pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Toyota

Due to its popularity and the fact that Toyota canceled the Land Cruiser for North America, values for the 200 Series have shot up significantly. It's very difficult to find one with less than 100,000 miles, but if you do, expect to pay around $50,000 for a pre-2016 models, whereas the 2016 and onwards models, especially the final Heritage Edition, are approaching an eye watering $100,000. If you're willing to pay less for more digits on the odometer, expect to pay around $40,000 for an earlier model with around 150,000 miles.

Rear 3/4 view of a gray pre-facelift Land Cruiser
Via: Toyota

That's a lot of money for a Toyota SUV, but this is no ordinary Toyota SUV. Luxurious, capable, good-looking and reliable, with a historic badge to boot, the 200 Series Toyota Land Cruiser is becoming collectible for a reason.