USED Toyota LandCruiser Prado (J120) - What goes wrong? 

I love the shade thrown on smokers, it part of what makes these videos so great. Don’t change what works

As an experienced 120 owner, I must say your research is spot on. Nice work.

I had my piston crack in my 120 with a 1kd. It had 290,000km. I’m not even mad because I was absolutely pushing it up a long hill while towing a caravan on a 40 degree day… and I had a tune on it. (all the conditions for cracking a piston). The rest of the car is so bulletproof I chose to pay $10k to rebuild the motor with stronger pistons over getting a different car.

Drove my v6 across the Simpson desert earlier this year. It felt like the perfect vehicle for the trip. The huge tank meant I had better fuel range than any of the modern diesels in the convoy. It was comfy and sure footed on the long outback dirt roads and didn’t have a single mechanical problem over the 5000km of dirt roads. Honestly can’t think of a better 4x4 for the money, at least for me.

I've had my 2006 KZJ120 3L Deisel GXL 5 speed manual since new and this has been a great vehicle. I taught my 3 daughters to drive in her to the stage the girls always say, if you ever sell it, they are interested. Extensive touring once a year during holidays and just clicked over 230,000km. Oil and filter every 5000km, diffs, gearbox and transfer every year before holidays. I have it setup for touring, i.e. draws, lithium battery with a roof top tent and it's on a 50mm lift with all terrain tyres. When this was new and close to stock other than AT types, bull bar and snorkel, I could get around the 10.5L/100km and 12.5L/100km towing the 5.1m aluminum boat on the highway, as it actually towed better than the vehicle it replaced which was an 80 series GLX. As it is setup now, we drove 7500km last Christmas holidays, including Fraser Island, and we averaged 15.5L/100km. Still very respectable for a constant 4wd with all the gear, and 150L tanks get you a long way between refills. Looking at replacing her with the new 2024 Prado if it every arrives but will be keep the 120 series for a couple of years to keep the new Prado new for longer. The biggest disappointment was the dash cracking when it was 7 years old. I could have had Toyota replace it under there warranty, which was parts only, but decided to replace it myself for about $700, as it was not difficult. The key point you made was a well serviced vehicle.

These are everywhere here in Kenya with very many still on the road. Been waiting for this video for a while!

4WD's are a complete different beast compared to 'regular' cars they are much more complex from tip to tail. It's hard for non-4WD's owners to understand how much more they cost to maintain and repair. Any 'regular' car owner who buys their first 4WD no matter which brand, will be shocked no matter how reliable the brand.

The 120 has a 180 litre tank, 8 seats, an amazing 4x4 system that's always in 4x4 and can be in low range on hard surfaces, a read door spare wheel. I don't think there is any car that's comparable.

We bought a V6 2006 VX that had 130,000 KM on it and we couldn't be happier with it! We had a Captiva before that (we learned from our mistakes don't worry) and this car has given us 0 troubles. We went on a road trip across two countries, a good 3,000 KM for the entire trip, and we could have never asked for any better. It does lack the driving experience of more premium alternatives and can look a bit dull at times, but the cost of maintenance and repairs as well as the availability of aftermarket accessories definitely makes up for that. Cannot recommend it enough, however do make sure to have a pre-purchase inspection as there are abused examples out there (especially ones that actually do what they were designed for which is going off road).

Our V6 just hit 300k. Plenty of beach work and general touring. Average 15L/100. Far worse with the roof cage on and towing. Typical Toyota, reliable but boring.

These have been nicknamed the inheritance car

I still see so many 120s on the road as I travel around Australia. I think that reflects how good they have been for cars now around 20 years old.

Love this channel. Always seemed straight up, no BS and interesting. I can now baseline your reviews as the first new car I bought was a 2008 gxl (option pack 1) diesel. Fantastic 4x4. Not the best at anything but pretty good at everything. It did the CSR, Gibb River et al and had a generally tough life in the Pilbara. While I never had any issues with mine over 184k ownership (always over serviced) so much of what was in the review was spot on. I'll add that the tailgate handle can get dusted and fail to open (not great in the bush and with a cargo barrier) and also remind people that on a slope or with a wind (unless locked in place - and that can be hard due to dust build up) that thing will close so hard it'll buckle a little human in a very serious way. I have since had a 150 series and then a new Sahara. Apart from the overtaking ease of the 'real' Land Cruiser I still miss the 120 in many ways - the 180ltr tank for example. 10/10 for you guys on the honest reviews. Well done!

This is BY FAR my favourite car review channel. And this here is the car I am looking at buying. Great to finally have this video! Thanks mate. (South Africa)

I have got a 2006 Prado 4.0 V6 GXL with 165000km on the dash, it just goes and never has major problem. You just need to have fluid change and basic service. It can last and last, believe or not, I think the J120 V6 4.0 1GRFE Prado is the best Prado ever made.

V6 2007 GX owner of 8yrs with 255,000km on it, fastidiously maintained by us and it's been great to own. No rattles or creaks, NVH is excellent, still feels relatively "tight" for a 17yr old car. Appreciate your review, Adam. You've nailed some of the issues we've experienced: - Fuel consumption is about right at 15L/100, but the engine is just so smooth and powerful and we're both enthusiastic drivers. I'll take the few extra litres/100 for the practicality, power and relatively carefree motoring the car gives us. - The charcoal grey paint is particularly poor (we've seen other examples around Newcastle with similar issues). The clear coat has gone on our bonnet, front third of the roof and along the windowsills. Quoted $10-15K to respray. No thanks. - No dash cracking up until about 6mths ago; 2 x 3-4cm splits next to the smaller vents above the AC outlets next to the windows. - We've had to replace the lower control arms at 210K kms, but I suspect this may be age-related. - Steering feels a little "loose" and I'm aware of steering racks going at around the 180-250K range. - The starter motor completely died recently out of nowhere. Across 8yrs of ownership I'm still very happy with it despite the above issues which I would generally expect for a car of this age. It is very much a "turn the key and go" car.

I think I’ve asked before. I have an i30N sedan with the dual clutch auto. I’m in the ACT and I’m happy to make my way. I do have some thoughts about the driving experience especially in the daily.

So imagine this scenario: You got to a classic shady used car yard on Parramatta Rd and slap down $8k on a 17 year old used car. No logbooks to be found so no idea of service history (if any). Four mismatched tyres that are barely legal on aftermarket wheels. Obvious recent patch up panel and paint work so it's probably had more hits than Elvis. And over 330,000km on the clock. But it's all good because it's a 120 Prado. Fast forward 3 years and my RZJ120 Prado has served me flawlessly. Also, as for that third row seating @ 13:10, I salvaged a tow bar from a wrecked 120 that looked like a truck had slammed up the back of it. I've never let my kids sit in the back after seeing the C pillars relocated to the back doors on that thing.

Devil wears Prado .. Lol

My late stepfather had this GXL in a 3 litre diesel and he LOVED it. Towing his caravan around Australia a number of times as well as using it for work as a builder. It ended up with about 300k on the clock when he passed away. I spent about 4 days detailing it to sell it and it looked amazing, the mechanic looked over it and replaced the belt, he said it was one of the best he’d ever seen. Stepfather never had any problems with it, I noticed it idled a bit rough but it improved after about 15 minutes. My brother also has one and he said the rough idle is normal.

11:45 "The Devil Wears Prado". LOL

My 2007 4.0L 120 used to get 11.8L/100km stock with 180 litres on board with E10. I'm about 15-16L now lifted and on 33" tyres and full bar work. No oil leaks from front to back with servicing with 350,000km. Great car if looked after.

This video could not have come at a better time. I just bought my first LC Prado 3 weeks ago. And I LOVE ITTTTTT!!!

Love to see a review of the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

I always like it when you criticize smoking. Such a repulsive habit.

Owned a 5L J120. Had 240,000km and it felt like it was barely broken in 😂 no rattles no noises just a cracked dashboard and lots of fun

Great review video with plenty sharing their 120 Prado experiences in the comments. I am aiming for 600,000km+ and I will keep mine in the family. 2008 1KD Grande w/ 315,000km - Currently at Toyota having the peeling paint resprayed under warranty - 10.5L/100km around town, 8.5-9.0L/100km highway (lift, bigger wheels, roof rack, steel bar, underbody armour) - Handles well, feels safe and provides great driver visibility

Your level of research, humor, structure of the information and just sheer entertainment is bar none - absolutely no other channel ticks all these boxes! ❤ And you guys even made me buy me a Honda CRV 2nd gen for helping with house renovating - what a golden nugget of a car! So keep it up, and don’t change too much! Cheers from Norway 🇳🇴

I have a 4.0 V6 PRADO that is 21 years and 220,000 km old. But it's the only one I haven't sold since I bought it, and is super reliable, to the point where I'd rather drive it than a new car in any adverse conditions. Fuel consumption is 15 city, 13 long distance, 80km/h is the most efficient speed. 21 years of use and the car still drives like it did back in the day, no rattles in the car even, so much better than the German car I bought new.

CMI Toyota in Adelaide has a customer that’s done over 1,000,000 km in theirs. Properly unbeatable.

Well done on the review. All the advice was spot on and I think you did a great job pointing out both the faults, and areas that shine of the 120 Prado. In the 12 years our vehicle has been in our family, we haven't had really any issues with it all, it's just a stout, reliable vehicle. The Petrol's have a bit of poke too which is nice, means you can keep up with traffic and overtake without worry. Lovely vehicles.

Great Video

Gold 280SE behind Jim? We need a Merc W126 video!

I had my 2004 120- with the 1KZ motor up until 250k km when I sold it. Not a single problem with it, and it went all over OZ and across the Simpson Desert with no problems. It was actually very easy in the Prado with its huge fuel tank. Only problems I had were the rust in the door seal as you mentioned, and the paint was just starting to fade a little on the flares. I convinced it would go on to do massive km no problem, if looked after. I can highly recommend a 120 Prado.

Thanks for your all great reviews. Yes, I agree. It's importent to use some money on a proper undercarriage treatment before we are driving with the brand new LC, and it's importent to follow up by an experienced specialist who know where to open and spray tight spaces and cavities with a really sticky oil. If we are following the plan from an honest advicer for a chech every 4 to 5 year, and also have normal other maintanance of them these LC models will last surprisingly longer that much people would expect. Best Regards from Arne in Norway.

Just drove mine 100k's from Geelong to Woodend near Gisbourne. Averaged 12.1 l per 100 kilometers, and I was being gentle on the throttle. Mine's the V6 with 190,000k on it. Solid cars if looked after but can be very thirsty around town.

I have a 2009 Prado Kakadu 150 series V6 with 180000k and it still drives like new, has only had regular servicing a set of brake pads and on the third set of tyres. I have replaced the battery every 5 years. I feels bullet proof to drive and will go virtually anywhere. Good vision from the drivers seat , great on long trips with a range of way over 1000km. None of the excessive bings and bongs of modern vehicles and I doubt I will ever sell it.

Been waiting for this. Last December bought a 2008 diesel with 310 thousand kays and a full service history. I know injector replacement is in the budget. But in the meantime it's been pretty good. The rear door is sagging a bit and needs the Kaon shim kit. The drivers seat foam is starting to go. But on the upside I did Brisbane to Canberra at Easter and saw consumption as low as 9.2 l/100km, so 1400km on a full tank is easily doable. I reckon with the correct maintenance this one is definitely a keeper.

2003 Grande V6 - great car. Rear door was fixed by Toyota. Airbags were a pain but useful. Drivers seat side bolster was a problem. Maintained and serviced it looked good and drove well. 3 row of seats easy to put in / out. Versatile and adaptable- golf, fishing, camping - it was so good.

I towed a 2.4T van for 6000km in the v6. Averaged 22L/1000km. I run a 2 inch lift and roof rack.

Hey mate, great video! I have the exact same car and you drove past my place opposite the diggers in the first clip 😂 My Prado has been nothing short of exceptional. The only thing that has gone wrong was the head gasket due to the previous owner most likely running it on LPG all the time as it has had a conversion for the sub tank. Everything else on the car in terms of running gear is still factory. Just has its 340K service. The silver paint over the top of the front flare panels is getting a bit of a fade but that’s it for the paint. The 4L V6 is so smooth and reliable plus the gearbox is incredible. I’ve fitted drawers in the back to level out the cargo space when folding the seats down to tuck in surfboards etc. when asking my mechanic whether I should upgrade to a newer car he said I’d be kidding myself as this thing will just go on and on with regular maintenance and care. I’m looking at upgrading the springs and shocks as they are starting to get a bit stiff being factory. It’s been an absolute joy!

Drove to Brisvegas on Friday night through some absolutely pelting rain. The wipertech wipers performance was exemplary. Perfect wipes, not a single streak or drop left. I'll be recommending them to everyone.

My 2007 1KD diesel has towed a 2 tonne caravan tens of thousands of km in all kinds of weather (in 4th, not 5th). A trans oil cooler is fitted. Injectors have been done every 140,000km and now at 307,000 the original gearbox and engine are still flawless. No oil needs to be added between services. If you do the oil every 10k, the injectors every 150k and keep the transmission cool, the life should be long and happy. I replaced the radiator at 14 years old because the plastic top and bottom tanks get old and brittle - no point waiting for them to fail - same goes for the tiny (cheap) MAPP filter as mentioned in the video.

Got a bone stock Grande Prado, averaging 17L/100 mainly city driving. Definitely my biggest complaint of this car

All your comments are spot on, compare any other car of similar age and km’s, no contest. These are rock solid, not much comes close in reliability, Land Rover, haha!

Now do a 90 series please

Had 4 prado’s, 3 V6’s. Bullet proof. I would have bought another one but they stopped the V6 so no more Prado for me.

My 120 is an Aussie import into NZ, so this is the GXL with the long range tank. The best it has achieved is 1400kms from a single fill and that involved plenty of hill work. In NZ we pay a bit more for petrol and it would be more sensible to treat this car as a weekend tow vehicle while using a small Corolla for beating around during the week. The best part is how little depreciation it has suffered over the last six years.

Funnily enough instead of the Pajero and the Prado we ended up buying an R51 Pathfinder which was actually one that didn't end up shitting itself like so many other R51 Pathfinders do. Great car, loved it until the day it was written off. But probably wouldn't buy another one unless it was an absolute minter of a Ti 550.

I have a Toyota Prado FJ120 2009 1kzte and it is the best car in the world I took it to the mechanich and have it fixe all transmisión, alternator belts, motor belts, time belt, valve cover, air conditioner evaporators changed, new suspentions and new wheels and tires and it feels so good like new, eventhough paint and rhe front and back bumper have a little misinperfection due to a small hit, rhe entire care is exceleent

love it. I have the 2004 v6 and it's a weapon. She is thirsty but worth it. So smooth to drive.

As an experienced 120 Prado owner i swear by them and would only own the Quad cam V6 4.0 1GRFE of which i have had two - a white 2004 GXL 5sp man and now a black 2007 GXL 5sp auto and of course 2 x 90ltr fuel tanks are standard from factory My current black one has been totally transformed as follows- Harrop-E rear diff locker/upgraded suspension /17" x 8" D slot black steel minespec rims/shorttie headers with custom s/steel exhaust piping with hi-flow s/steel muffler Headlights swapped out for black high powered LED Binnacle units with daylight driving LED's built in / bullbar indicators swapped out for multifunction LED units/ tail lights swapped out for LED replacement units / rear bumper reflectors swapped out for multifunction LED units/Front grille swapped out for aftermarket black sports grille / smoked wind defectors to all side windows/ exterior rearview mirrors swapped out for larger extendable towing mirrors/ high powered large LED spotlights / side awning to roofrack Red Ark ACDC dual battery system/ Red Ark electronic towing brake system/ RV Ecolite twin slide-out drawers in rear cargo bay/ wiring & plugs to run portable fridge & anderson plugs for solar blankets / dropdown shelf to rear cargo door/ Clarion touchscreen headunit swapped in with reversing camera & handsfree mic for iphone + many more custom interior upgrades. The exterior mods has totally transformed the look of the black 120 Prado into a more modern & tougher looking 4WD I have my own workshop with a hoist and do all my own servicing (an expensive scan tool is also essential) and these cars are a dream to work on and are very reliable when looked after/serviced correctly and very capable both on the highway & around town shopping duties as light steering & great turning circle and very capable off-road when the going gets tough As to tyre choice i have mutliple sets for around town only duties and swap over to more meaty set for trips away going off-road mainly doing sand tracks/beach work

This generation of Prado and the next is so common in UAE 😅

I have been waiting for this video for the J120 much appreciated, could you also do for the J 90?

Finally I got the 1kz VX model love it 16-100km😢 all the issues you said are true sooo maintain it like any car is a must. But hell of a machine for its age ❤❤❤

I had a 2007 GXL petrol. I agree with everything you said. I loved it, but the fuel consumption and ground clearance were the only downfall. And lack of lumber support.

Another great video. I was considering one of these, a Pajero or Touareg for camper towing and some moderate off-road adventures with the fam. I went with a 7P Touareg in the end for purchase price, comfort, fuel economy and power/torque superiority and haven't regretted a thing despite the much lamented issues. It's a total beast and I've had zero dramas. Prado is a great option but the Toyota tax and terrible power vs fuel economy poo pooed it.

Oh, that fuel consumption of that 4 ltr V6.

For the 2018 model with air suspension on the rear axel we could upgrade the towing capacity with a trailer hitch from Arctic Trucks from 3.000 kg up to 3.500 kg without reducing the loading capacity for the LC. The LC Prado went much more steadily with a heavy trailer than the pickups I have tried in the same towing. We have used an LC Prado as working vehicle in a ground investigation company because of a nech injury and the nice driving comfort with the LC. We only had occasionally needs for such towing capacity one to two times a year with careful driving on good roads, but for daily needs in a construction company I would ofcourse recommend a smaller truck not to ruin a nice and expencive LC which with the right maintanance and use nearly will last forever. Best Regards from Arne in Norway.

Loveeeeee this review. But it’s time…..it’s time for the 2020+ (150kw/500nm) review now 😂

As an ex owner, the v6 is a blast...great car...rear main seal is probably biggest problem with v6 auto...about 2k to fix...and im pretty sure they are part time 4wd...they have no centre diff lock. Like 80 100 or landrover.

as a workhorse, the 5l available in the prados (in many markets right through to 2024), is my choice. i'm guess the 5l in these prados didn't reach developed markts though

I see so many parents driving these at my job and almost all of them get used for what they're designed for. The head gaskets I've heard of before failing especially on ones that get flogged and rarely serviced so that doesn't surprise me. Kind of surprised that Hullsy's segment had the 2nd longest timestamp on this video which is unusual on a Toyota that's being reviewed. Overall good video guys and as always keep up the good work and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.

I’m not a smoker. And whilst I agree with the smoking is disgusting line… It’s just old, repetitive and at this point just annoying.

They don't sound as bulletproof as legend has it. Better than the new US Tacoma tho! They are full of issues. Hope new Prados can keep up the quality.

I’ve got an 03 auto petrol v6 with around 250k km and everything in this vid is spot on. Great value for money in terms of performance and off roading ability, and the petrol is super reliable (never had an issue in the 5 years I’ve owned it, other than break pads wearing quite quickly), but far out mine is thirsty. I’m seeing between 15-20L/100km around town and at best 13L on the highway but mine is heavily modified so it is to be expected but I think it’s worth it for the package and reliability. Unfortunately I’m not able to get out and explore as much as I used to be able to so im currently selling it, but I’m going to be really sad to see it go 😢

My 3.0 diesel was awesome off road in the swamps but with its 3" lift and 32" muds it was drinking 19 imperial mpg and ran on vegetable oil beautifuly. Ps it's a 4x4 not Suv.

Was waiting for this review and one for the 1st gen MU-X for a while. Ended up going for an MU-X as 3rd row seating is much more usable. Whilst the MU-X doesnt hold a candle to our old 2010 carnival platinum in terms of comfort and immense space, it gets us off road.

How cheap is fuel there in Aus because the maintenance cost for a diesel are still WAY cheaper than the fuel cost for a petrol here in South Africa😂 I’ve done the maths over and over and I just don’t get what everyone is on about. If I’m saving half the fuel bill on a trip to Namibia and back, that’s like 2 general services 😂 or a VERY Major service. I spent almost R12k doing an average of 9l per 100km and I’d probably double that on a petrol with the stuff we were doing (Lots of Sand and slow rock crawling) Make it make sense 😅 Also please don’t stop roasting Smokers 😂

Only 120,000 Kilometers on it? Didn't the owner take it out of their driveway? Maybe they only used it to check the mailbox.

Honest advice, go for the 1GR-FE engine (4L). The 2TR-FE engine(2.7L) is 100Km/17L on average, and its just not as good on highway.

Nice review. Can you do a review of the Mitsubishi PB challenger XLS?

Don’t let the smokers stop you… it’s an absolutely filthy habit, especially when people do it around other people. It’s just selfish and stinks!

I'd own this with the V6 but diesels, hell no.

Our 2003 GX470 (same platform but with a 4.7 V8) had over 245k miles before we gave it out to someone who needed a car but couldn't afford one. We already had bought a GX460 (J150), so we didn't need the extra car. Take car of your car and it will take care of you.

Great video guys! Do you want to make a vudeo about Mitsubishi challenger ? Seems again pretty well same as Prado, despite to be a bit newer, but in the same price range now.

I own a 2003 3.4 V6 here in Kenya, just past 214K, the car drives like an A380 and is as relible as the Sun-best car i have ever owned

As a 2008 3L TD owner if you are using using it as a weekend car go the V6 - its cheaper to own and service. Injector replacement alone on the 3L TD is around 3-4K and needs to be done every 150-200K !! I do think that the pajeros are better value for money proposition as you are not paying toyota tax (on purchase and parts)

The advice on these videos is always to buy a perfect example. The problem is, the perfect ones command a huge premium on the used market and almost negate any value in buying a used car.

Dont worry about smokers having a tantrum. They run out of breath pretty quickly.

i like them with the v6 petrol engine

In my entire life I have never, not once, put anything in a door pocket. I think they're ridiculous. They just caused noise when you open the door and they tend to drop things out of Reach

Anyone with 4.0 LPG adaption? how long does that last if well serviced?

You show the number plate in driving shots but then cover in up in the standing shots?

Hubby owns a 120 and I own a 2011 Nissan Xtrail. The Xtrail is lightyears ahead on storage. It's very easy to misplace stuff in the Xtrail, yet I struggle to find somewhere to sit my phone in the 120. It doesn't even have a place for life's filth in the bloody door handle! Love the 120 but not it's storage. And serious lack of decent cup holders!

9:52 Can those cup holders fit real coffee? Asking on behalf of a potential buyer of locally used unit here in Kenya. ☕

The RZJ120 has a four port head with coil on plug. So if you need a new head it’s going to be difficult one,it’s not shared with the Hilux or previous 90 series.

550 thou klm on my 2009 grande d4d, 10.6 litre/100. Dead now and sent to scrap to be rebuilt and reborn the engine to live on for someone else.

Hey there, would absolutely love to know what you think of a Proton Jumbuck.... they are a great size ute and still cheap but i can't find much online about reliability??

We have both Prados and Pajeros at my workplace as company vehicles. Brand new the Prados are a bit better than Pajeros. At 400,000+ kilometres the Prados are significantly better than the Pajeros. We got rid of the Pajeros around 450,000kms. Prados are more like 550,000kms.

Go for a diesel 2014 or 2015 150 model (next model on from the one in the video). Last of the really good engines before the DPF came in with the 2.8L in 2016.

Could you please review more BMWs or Mercedes? Not because I'd like to buy one but just to get some Schadenfreude from the 'what goes wrong with it' segment 😂

Hi mate, I was just wondering what car would you recommend for a budget of around $10,000 . As I'm looking at buying my son he's first car . Your advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Dan .

120s have the dame suspension as the 150 prados

please review the first gen gx470 thank you

Please, if you're going to buy one of these, "Keep Left Unless Overtaking" signs apply to you. And the indicator switch is on the steering column.

2015 Ford Territory barra 4L.. 10.2 average. Best on trip 8.4. No contest on tarmac

Casioak Adam.😎👍🏼

Have a 1kz diesel that I got for 4 grand from the auctions with an overheated head. Put a new one on it for under a grand, and I’ve got a bargain fourby. Has all the fruit, lift kit, bullbar, lights, snorkel, drawers etc that the last owner must have spent a fortune on.

please do a older kia/hyundai hybrid car review. Looking at the new Santa Fe Hybrid, curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks