Toyota Land Cruiser 2006 Off Road

Toyota Land Cruiser 2006 Off Road

In 2006 the power of the D-4D was increased to 170bhp. The cheapest example we saw was a 2007/07 with 126,000 miles and partial service history for £6500.

There's also a 4.0 petrol V6 with 245bhp, but it was short-lived and does 20mpg next to the diesel's 30mpg. We found a top-spec 2004 V6 LC5 with 128,000 miles for £5995.

The J120 featured a tough ladder-frame chassis at a time when rivals were moving to monocoques. Suspension is independent at the front with a rigid rear axle. Trims range from short-lived LC2 to popular LC5. All have four-wheel drive and Downhill Assist Control (DAC). Most have a locking rear diff to which the LC3 adds a centre diff. LC4 and LC5 autos dispense with the rear diff in favour of Toyota's Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) which uses the ABS to control wheelspin when pulling away on slippery slopes.

The LC5 has air suspension with optional height adjustment. Experts prefer the LC4, though, because its conventional suspension is simpler and because it has traditional heater controls where the LC5 has unnecessarily high-tech and potentially troublesome touchscreen ones. At the top of the tree sits the fully loaded Invincible of 2006.

Whichever version you choose, follow Castel's advice, do your checks and you might just bag a Cruiser worthy of its UN reputation.

An expert's view:

Trevor Castle, Freedom 4x4 Ltd: "My passion for the Land Cruiser began with a J70. I've since owned other J70s plus 80s and 120 series models. The 70s and 80s are easy to work on; 120s a little less so. All are strong with good winching-off capability when you get stuck. My daily driver is a J120 D-4D LC5 with an ARB winch bumper, snorkel and roof rack, plus a drawer system with a fridge. I drove it to Slovenia this summer and took it on the trails there."

Buyer beware

Engine: Diesels are rattly but check it's not knock caused by faulty fuel injector controls. With the engine in gear and your foot on the brake, check if the engine rocks more than an inch or so at idle, indicating the pneumatic engine mount bushes have failed. Timing belts should be changed at 100,000 miles.

Gearbox and drivetrain: The automatic is sealed for life but specialists recommend regular fluid changes. Check for coolant contamination – the panel between the coolant radiator and the gearbox oil cooler can rot, causing contamination and wrecking the 'box. Poorly lubed propshafts 'thump' when stopping.

Suspension: On top-spec LC5s check the variable-height rear suspension works in all three modes. Inspect the air bags for splits, that the sensors are working and that the car returns to normal height above 30mph. On all versions, check the rear upper control arm bushes, and steering rack bushes.

Brakes: Check for seized calipers and pistons.

Body and chassis: Check the body floor, inner sills, rear axle and rear chassis for corrosion. Look for salt corrosion from towing boats out of the water. Check overhangs for grounding damage.

Interior: On LC5s, check the touchscreen heating controls work – repairs are possible. Heater pipes for the middle-row seats can rot through under the vehicle, causing coolant loss.

Also worth knowing: In 2011 there was a recall for faulty injector gaskets covering models KDJ120 JTE BZ29J 00049705 to 00160767, and KDJ125 JTE 00019035 to 00050831, built from June '04 to October '07. Combustion gas could leak through the injection nozzle seat, turning the engine oil to sludge.

How much to spend

£3500-£4995: 2003-05 D-4Ds with over 170k miles.

£5000-£6450: More 03-04 D-4Ds, 120-140k miles.

£6500-£8495: Choice of 05 to 08 D-4Ds with 150k miles and good histories.

£8500-£9995: Range from an 04/54 D-4D with 86k miles and fsh for £8950, via an 08/57 with 143k and fsh for £8990 to £9995 for an 07 with 110k for £9995.

Toyota Land Cruiser 2006 Off Road

Source: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-cars-used-car-buying-guides/used-car-buying-guide-toyota-land-cruiser

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