Comparison: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 and 150

Used car prices are becoming affordable: The Land Cruiser 120 Prado

Speaking of Toyota’s Land Cruiser Prado 120, it is best known as the model that spurred the middle-class SUV’s upscale route. It changed the Land Cruiser’s focus from the previous Land Cruiser 90 Prado, which was more cross-country oriented, towards a more upscale interior and quiet ride comparable to the luxury cars of its time. Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, also launched a model called LX470 based on the Land Cruiser Prado 120, making it a model that was very successful not only in Japan but also overseas.

The engine lineup and body types were abundant, and two types of bodies were available: long (5-door) and short (3-door). There were three types of engines to choose from: 1KD-FTV with a 3000cc common rail direct injection turbo, 5VZ-FE with a V6 3400cc gasoline engine, and 3RZ-FE with a 2700cc inline 4 gasoline engine. (In some overseas markets, the V6 4000cc 1GR-FE and the V8 4700cc 2UZ-FE are also installed.) The model lineup meets a variety of needs, with European styling, interior texture, and quiet performance; it is an attractive SUV with a large number of available used vehicles today. It’s already been 10 years since the end of production, (as of 2018), but the price of the 120 Prado, which is still in use, has stabilized, and it is gradually gaining popularity at Flex Land Cruiser dealers. We are getting more and more questions from our customers, “What is the difference between the Land Cruiser Prado 150 and the Land Cruiser Prado 150?”

Choose between the 120 Prado long (5 doors) and the short (3 doors)

The interior of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 has a more rounded design than the Land Cruiser Prado 150

Although the Land Cruiser Prado 150 did not offer the short (3-door) body, the Land Cruiser Prado 70 and Land Cruiser Prado 120 did, where it was a big hit.

The overall width is the same as the long body, but the 3-door short is 375mm/14.76 inches shorter than the 5-door long, and the minimum turning radius is 0.6m/24 inches shorter, making it an extremely easy-to-handle body size.

It goes without saying that it is easy to maneuver around town and in parking lots, but the short body also works well in off-road scenes. It is good at slipping through thick trees, but the short body has a deeper ramp breakover angle (the angle from the bottom edge of the front and rear tires to the bottom center of the body), so it is easier to run under because of the probability of hitting is reduced.

Regarding the long (5-door) body, the overall length and width are smaller than the Land Cruiser Prado 150 making it a smaller and an easier to handle body size (the overall height of the Land Cruiser Prado 150 is lower).

Here is a body size table for comparison:

*Body size is a typical final model (excluding optional equipment, etc.)
*Vehicle weight does not include optional equipment

Difference between the 120 Prado and the 150 Prado interior

The interior of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 is luxurious with its genuine leather seats and beige interior

The interior of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 has a significantly improved texture compared to the Land Cruiser Prado 90 that lets the world know the 120 is more luxury-minded. The design is very similar to the interior of the Celsior, Toyota’s top-class sedan at the time. It has a curved dashboard with the instrument display embedded in the upper center, each part is colored, and the wood grain panels remind us of a luxury car interior. Genuine leather seats were an option with the beige interior.

At the time, SUVs had a somewhat unrefined image, so it was difficult to entice the luxury crowd. However, the deluxe interior design of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 appealed to users who wanted a luxury car, which made it able to capture a larger user base.

The interior of the Land Cruiser Prado 150 is characterized by a design that uses many straight lines and large dials, giving it a stylish impression rather than elegant. It goes without saying that the interior of the Land Cruiser Prado 150 is sophisticated, but the interior of the 120 Prado still feels well-appointed enough even after 10 years.

By the way, the interior of the 120 Prado, which is taller than the Land Cruiser Prado 150, has a slightly higher interior height, so you can feel the roominess of the cabin.

Please refer to the following table for the interior size of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 and the interior size of the Land Cruiser Prado 150.

The 120 Prado boasts high performance comparable to the latest model 150 Prado

Drive systems of both vehicles with active TRC and Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) generate powerful traction

The Land Cruiser Prado 120 and Land Cruiser Prado 150 incorporate various technologies to improve off-road performance. First, let me explain the equipment on both cars. The center differential uses a Torsen type LSD with little idling and is also equipped with a center differential lock. The premium model Land Cruiser Prado 120 adopted an electronically controlled air suspension for the rear, as well as active TRC and +VSC. In addition, the 120 Prado is equipped with a 2-speed sub-transfer in all models, and the body is lighter than the Land Cruiser Prado 150, so it may exceed the Land Cruiser Prado 150 in climbing performance at extremely low speeds and rough road performance.

The drivetrain of the Land Cruiser Prado 150 is a mass of electronic control technology inherited from the Land Cruiser 200. KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) is a function that maintains the optimum vehicle posture by controlling the effectiveness of the front and rear stabilizers according to the road surface conditions. Crawl Control is a system that automatically controls engine output and braking effectiveness to optimize traction (the force with which the tires grip the road surface) when driving at low speeds.

Multi-Terrain Select is a function that automatically switches between 5 modes according to the road surface conditions and automatically changes to the optimum driving condition. Comparing these features, the Land Cruiser Prado 120 equipped with a sub-transfer will tend to run at low speeds, while the Land Cruiser Prado 150 will have better performance on rough roads at high speeds. It can be stated that both Prados have more functions than are necessary for use in Japan.

The timeless appeal of the 120 Prado vs. the technological fortress of the 150 Prado

Both the affordable Land Cruiser Prado 120 and the current Land Cruiser Prado 150 are built to last

So far, we have compared the Land Cruiser Prado 120 and the Land Cruiser Prado 150, but I think you can see that both are cars that attract different drivers. The driving performance and equipment for comfort are almost the same, so which one you choose may be a matter of your styling preference. Land Cruisers can be a little pricy, but they hold their value better than passenger cars.

You don’t really feel the difference in performance between the two cars as you drive, so while the Land Cruiser Prado 120 has been discontinued for 10 years, the price is very affordable. Even if you compare the highest model Land Cruiser Prado 120 and Land Cruiser Prado 150, there may be a difference of about 1 million yen/$7,167.43 to 3 million yen/$21,502.29, so choose which fits your budget.