Stock #6523

The J95 Land Cruiser was designed as a light-duty SUV, but boy is this rig overbuilt. It rides on a sturdy, body-on-frame platform and is powered by a legendary intercooled turbodiesel.

Exterior Overview

The J95 Land Cruiser was designed as a light-duty SUV, but boy is this rig overbuilt. It rides on a sturdy, body-on-frame platform and is powered by a legendary intercooled turbodiesel. Set off by chrome mirror caps, an imposing OEM bash bar, OEM rainguards, and refinished 16″ BERG NR595 alloys, this Desert Dune Metallic over Gray (K03) 1997 is in good shape aside from some light dings, chips, and scuffs associated with normal use. Fresh off a recent service, this truck is offered with a mere 93k verified and documented miles on the clock. Boasting a spacious cabin, tons of electric amenities, and a bevy of safety features, this off-roader is also pleasant to drive over pavement. Ready to be daily driven comfortably or even turned into a dedicated overlander, this terrific Toyota sports a dual personality. Versatile, reliable, and easy to service this Japanese Classic might just be the perfect all-around SUV.

Interior Overview

The cabin is spacious, well-equipped, and in above-average condition. Compared to its 4Runner/Surf stablemate, there is a good deal more head, shoulder, and cargo room for all to enjoy. The dashboard houses dual SRS airbags and lacks any cracking or fading. The center stack is close by and within arm’s reach. A touchscreen Kenwood head unit fills the cabin with sound and includes American radio stations and Bluetooth hands-free integration. Below is the digital automatic dual-zone climate control system. It’s simple to use and can mix heat and cold A/C through the cabin when required. Atop that mounted on the dash, an OEM field monitor displays info about the outside conditions and pitch and roll to the driver. The pilot gains an adjustable steering column to find the ideal driving position and power-folding mirrors, electric locks, and power windows all work in typical Toyota fashion making daily use more enjoyable. The textured cloth upholstery is also in good nick and lacks any major rips, stains, or tears. The carpets are in good nick, too. The rear row can tumble forward to accommodate more cargo and the side-hinged rear door swings open creating a large area to load bulky items into the cargo hold. Aside from some light delamination on the door cards it’s really hard to critique this cabin at all!

Mechanical Overview

Under the skin, this body-on-frame beast can easily handle its own. The same can be said about the 1KZ-TE powering this rig. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.0L chugs to life care of a new 12v battery. We always spice up the powertrain and this four-banger benefits from a new engine air filter, new fuel filter, and new serpentine belts. One of our trained technicians also installed a new valve cover gasket and half-moon seal so that the oil level stays on full. The 1K produces a bit more power in this intercooled iteration and also runs lower EGTs. It creates an impressive low-end grunt and is linked to a stout automatic gearbox. Gear changes feel reassured and this rig sails up to highway speeds quickly. For off-road excursions, the FullTime 4WD comes in handy. This system includes a low-range gearset and center locking differential when you need some additional traction. If you need to slow down in a jiffy, ABS brakes are standard. To reduce stopping distances we replaced the front and rear brake pads and also installed new front brake lines. A fluid flush was then performed to improve the pedal feel. The suspension provides tons of clearance and is soft and comfortable. To pass VA state safety inspection, we replaced the rear upper and lower control arms. Additionally, we sourced new front sway bar links and bushings, too. The power steering is light and on point and road adhesion is improved by four new 31″ Falken tires. The new rolling stock not only reduces road noise but the new rubber will provide tens of thousands of miles of year-round grip for a long while to come.

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.