What’s the most Toyota car in the back catalogue?

Land Cruiser J100 - 1998–2007

Toyota has many faces – like the nerdy side that loves to make things in the quickest, easiest and most high-tech way possible, pioneering just in time production and encouraging even the tiniest of improvements that will bring exponential benefits. Or the global carmaker that sells more widely around the world than anyone else, that treats the car like the family fridge. It’s always there, it’s always ready and it always works.

You’ve got the sportier side, that likes the challenge of competition or to create pure driving experiences on the road. Then you’ve got the engineering minds that want to build an ultimate all-rounder that could literally go anywhere on the planet – those are the ones that came up with the Land Cruiser.

It’s the most famous of Toyota’s long list of cars, the one you’re most likely to see when you watch the news. It began life in the same way that many manufacturers’ off-roaders did, as a 4x4 built to the US army’s Willys specifications in the early Fifties. There have been 10 generations of the car, and it has kept admirably faithful to its mission since the second generation 20 Series was launched in 1955 – still an off-roader, but with a mote of comfort intended to broaden the car’s appeal to civilians.

It was the 50 Series version in 1967 that cemented the current template of a go-anywhere off-roader for families. It had more of an estate profile than the Jeep-esque silhouette of the previous models, and its two tone paintjob wins it retro points now.

We particularly like the 100 Series Land Cruiser that was launched in 1998, though. It was revealed the previous October at the Tokyo show and immediately presented a sleeker, more sophisticated look while still retaining the practicality of earlier generations.

The heated electrically adjustable seats and sunroof were clearly for soft city dwellers, likewise the more ‘comfortable’ independent front suspension. Hardcore off-road enthusiasts did not approve of the change at the time, but they might have changed their tune if they’d known that this would be the last Land Cruiser to offer a locking rear differential.

Engine options were limited to a 228bhp 4.7-litre V8 petrol or 201bhp straight six diesel, either enough to make you feel lightheaded these days. Perhaps instead of driving into the unreachable wilderness sir would prefer to park a supermini several miles away and walk? No?

A new Land Cruiser has always been a car you buy because you have to, but the venerable off-roader has built up a cult following over the years. Still, it sits in an uneasy gap between the likes of the Land Rover Defender, Merc G-Class and Range Rover. Each offers a distinct take, but arguably since the Defender went all fancy the Land Cruiser is the most complete all-rounder.