Land Cruiser 100 vs 200: Thorough comparison of fuel efficiency and equipment

The Premium 4WD Vehicles began with the Land Cruiser 100

Of Toyota’s Land Cruiser lineup, the Land Cruiser 100 and Land Cruiser 200 are the flagships of the fleet. Toyota equipped the 100 and the 200 with the finest luxury components and the most powerful engine in the Land Cruiser series under the hood of a rugged and spacious cabin built to take on the roughest terrain while maintaining Toyota’s performance excellence.

The Land Cruiser was introduced in 1951, but it was not until 1980 with the introduction of the Land Cruiser 60 that Toyota recognized they were building a vehicle that was both tough and luxurious. With the Land Cruiser 60, Toyota was reaching for the North American market, and what started as a general station wagon style vehicle, quickly turned into a high-end station wagon by the end of the second half of the year. It was then that Toyota realized their Land Cruiser was a flagship vehicle. As the global market grew, so did its popularity.

By the time Toyota released the Land Cruiser 80 in 1989, the Land Cruiser had evolved significantly from the 60 model. The focus was now on luxury, as well as the vehicle’s 4X4 capabilities. However, the Land Cruiser 80 was only the beginning. From there, the Land Cruiser 100 embraced all of the qualities and style of a 4WD and a luxury SUV to become Toyota’s global leader.

The Land Cruiser 100 is the Premium Equivalent to the Lexus

When Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser 200 in 2007 as a successor to the Land Cruiser 100, the upgrades were primarily to the safety equipment and driver-assist technologies, but it lacked the premium features of the Land Cruiser 100. The primary difference is due to the Land Cruiser 200 being developed outside of the Lexus platform.

Lexus began developing the LX450 while the Land Cruiser 80 was already in production, so they borrowed many of the same specifications from the 80 and incorporated them into the LX450. The only difference was the Lexus had more interior features.

On the other hand, since its inception, the Land Cruiser 100 was developed in parallel to the Lexus LX470 (released in Japan as the Land Cruiser Cygnus), so the 100 was better equipped when it came to luxury components.

Although the engine and chassis are the same between these two vehicles, there is a difference in the interior and the front end. The LX470 was designed to have a more high-class feel about it, as well as quality features unavailable in previous Land Cruiser models. While the Land Cruiser 100 and the Lexus LX470 are different in that respect, it is hard to determine if one is more luxurious than the other.

There is a slight difference in the price between the Land Cruiser 100 and the Cygnus (approximately 600,000 yen/$4,143.27 USD), which is not a lot of money, so compared to the Land Cruiser 80, it can be said that there is no great increase in the premium feel between the vehicles.

The Land Cruiser 200 is Different than the Lexus

There are more differences between the Land Cruiser 200 and the LX570 than there are between the Land Cruiser 100 and the Cygnus

As previously mentioned, the Land Cruiser 200 seems to have less in the way of premium quality and fewer luxury features than the Land Cruiser 100.

For example, the design and construction of the Land Cruiser 200’s instrument panel is more rugged and the textures of the plastics are more pronounced. The door trims between the two vehicles are similar with sturdy resin door handles that emphasize the vehicle’s toughness. The engine and transmission have been refined, but due to trends at the time, this is a natural progression of change more than any other reason for the change. There was a similar trend during the model change from the Land Cruiser Prado 120 to the Land Cruiser Prado 150. However, the appearance of the Land Cruiser 200 is a clear deviation from its Lexus counterpart, the LX570.

Unlike the Land Cruiser 100 era, the Lexus division is currently being deployed in Japan, and the LX570 is a Japanese release.

The Land Cruiser 200 and the Lexus LX570 share the same V8 gasoline-powered engine, but with different displacements. The Land Cruiser 200 is a 4.6-liter engine, and the Lexus LX570 is a 5.7-liter engine as its name suggests.

Between the two vehicles, the instrument panels are different, as are the seats in both design and the genuine leather used during construction. As far as premium quality goes, the LX570 surpasses the Land Cruiser 200, but the Land Cruiser 200 is a much sturdier vehicle.

There is a wide price gap between the two vehicles, as well. The price of the top trim line Land Cruiser 200 is 6.8 million yen (approximately $47,062.80 USD) and the Lexus LX570 is 11 million yen (approximately $76,151.35 USD.)

Although there was a difference between the Land Cruiser 100 and the Lexus LX470, they both had comparable premium features.

The Land Cruiser 200 was designed to return to its roots as a land cruiser rather than a luxury vehicle, while the Lexus LX570 was designed as a high-end SUV to compete in the global markets.

By splitting away from the Lexus, Toyota was able to develop the Land Cruiser 200 into a more powerful vehicle than the Land Cruiser 100. When the Land Cruiser 200 was introduced, it shared the same 4.7-liter gas V8 engine paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission in the Land Cruiser 100, but after a year and a half, Toyota introduced the high-end ZX trim level. For the ZX, Toyota upgraded the engine to a 4.6-liter gas-powered V8 paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Land Cruiser 200 was designed with a double-wishbone front suspension with coil springs rather than the original torsion bar spring suspension, which improved the vehicle’s ability to navigate tough terrain both on and off the road.

Drivers can use the 4-Wheel Active Height Control Suspension (4-Wheel AHC) and the Adaptive Variable Suspension System (AVS) to make adjustments as needed. It is also equipped with the Multi-Terrain Select and Multi-Terrain Monitor, as well as CRAWL control.

The Multi-Terrain Select system enhances its 4WD capabilities by combining traction with braking for a better grip on the road. There are five modes to choose from by using the center console selector switch: ROCK/ROCK&DIRT/MOGUL/LOOSE ROCK/MUD&SAND.

CRAWL control allows for very slow driving over rough rocks, slippery surfaces and other hazardous driving without the need for driver input. It is designed to improve performance on these surfaces while giving the Land Cruiser 200 the ability to go anywhere, which is why Toyota reverted to its original intent for the Land Cruiser rather than making it a luxury vehicle. For more information on this feature, please refer to the related articles below.

Fuel Economy Comparison between the Land Cruiser 100 and the Land Cruiser 200

The gas engine in the Land Cruiser 200 is more fuel efficient than Land Cruiser 100.

Fuel economy is a concern when it comes to comparing the Land Cruiser 200 to the Land Cruiser 100. Since the two models shared the same 2UZ-FE type V8 engine when the 200 debuted, there was no difference between the two until 2012 when the Land Cruiser 200 was equipped with a 1UR-FE gas-powered V8.

With the 1UR-FE V8 DOHC 4608cc aluminum die-cast block with Dual VVT-i, the Land Cruiser 200 saw an increase in fuel efficiency and a reduction in emissions, thanks to friction reduction in this next-generation V8 engine. Even though the Land Cruiser 200 is a few pounds heavier than the Land Cruiser 100, the fuel efficiency has improved from 6.5km/L to 6.9km/L.

Here is a breakdown of the fuel consumption between the Land Cruiser 100 gasoline and diesel engine and the Land Cruiser 200 fuel cost for a year:

Average fuel consumption of Land Cruiser 100 and Land Cruiser 200 and fuel cost for one year

Land Cruiser 100 Premium Equipment

Many of the latest features from the Land Cruiser 100 have been adopted.

Over the nine years since the first Land Cruiser 100 was produced, it has been at the forefront of change with each model upgrade. The big change between the Land Cruiser 80 and the Land Cruiser 100 left many Land Cruiser enthusiasts surprised. Gone was the 4.6-liter inline-6 gas-powered engine, and in its place, there was a new 4.7-liter V8 for more power and performance.

The front suspension was redesigned with a rigid axle and an independent coil spring suspension for a more comfortable ride. With the introduction of the AHC + Skyhook TEMS, drivers could take full control over the hydraulic suspension system to ensure they got the desired ride comfort needed from the terrain.

Unlike the Land Cruiser 80, which went along the luxury route while keeping true to its off-road capabilities, the Land Cruiser 100 was transformed into a super 4WD with its off-road performance and its ultimate luxury car features.

Along with the engine and suspension system, the Land Cruiser 100 had other innovative advanced technologies like the Variable Gear Ratio Steering System (VGRS). The VGRS senses the speed of the vehicle and makes gear ratio adjustments to improve maneuverability and stability. While driving at low speeds, the gear ratio is increased to enable tight turns. When driving at higher speeds, the gear ratio is reduced, which increases stability during turns, even if the wheel is moved too quickly.

The introduction of the Night View System adds a safety factor to night driving. This system uses a near-infrared illuminator and a high-performance camera to project road images, even in the darkest conditions and worst weather, onto the inside of the windshield on the driver’s side. Night View is primarily found on high-end luxury vehicles.

While the Land Cruiser 100’s style has not changed over nine years, it is still a performance 4WD vehicle with premium features.

Should you buy a Land Cruiser 100 or a Land Cruiser 200?

A Land Cruiser 100 saves you more money.

There may be a few Land Cruiser fans wondering whether to buy a used Land Cruiser 100 or a used Land Cruiser 200 since there are differences between the two 4WD vehicles when it comes to luxury and performance.

There is a difference in the market price between the two, as well. A used Land Cruiser 100 (1998-2007) is around 700,000 (approximately $4,859.58 USD) to 4.5 million (approximately $31,245.55 USD) yen. The market price for the Land Cruiser 200 (2007- and later) is around 3.4 million (approximately $253,607.90 USD) to 7 million (approximately $48.604.50 USD) yen.

Even though the late model Land Cruiser 100 and the initial Land Cruiser 200s are similarly well-equipped, there is still a large difference in the price between the models. Land Cruiser 200 buyers feel that it makes more sense to buy a used vehicle than a new one, but they run into a supply problem. There are not many used Land Cruiser 200s available, so they have a hard time finding the color and features they like in a vehicle.

By comparison, there are a lot of used Land Cruiser 100s available. This means that you can easily get the performance you are looking for at a better price. The Land Cruiser 100 is an advanced and luxurious 4WD vehicle that delivers comfort and dependability at a lower price.

Cygnus’ premium feel and customizations are also attractive.

Toyota’s Land Cruiser 100 Cygnus model is the top-of-the-line in luxury and performance; it is harder to find in the used market, though. It has a market price of around 1.2 million (approximately $8,342.22 USD) to 4 million (approximately $27,807.40 USD) yen. The older models in good condition may bring prices even higher. The Cygnus model is almost the same as the Lexus LX470, so you can get a better deal than simply a Land Cruiser 100. It is also more luxurious than the Land Cruiser 200.

In addition, if you want to customize your Land Cruiser, the Land Cruiser 100 is a better vehicle for customization. The Land Cruiser 200 is more difficult to customize, so those looking for a custom Land Cruiser choose the 100 model.

Most people who customize their Land Cruiser 100 add a 2-inch lift and one-size large-diameter tires. For more style, a change of the front and rear bumpers to aero-type with over fenders gives the Land Cruiser 100 a respectable appearance.

Since the Land Cruiser 100 is considered the flagship of the Toyota Land Cruiser fleet, it is only fitting that it be customized with advanced equipment that will enhance the driving experience only found in this 4WD vehicle.

With so many custom cars to choose from, it is easy to find a Land Cruiser 100 that will make you a Land Cruiser 100 fan too.