HE vs Standard LC

[James Lapp]

I am struggling with my next LC purchase and wondering if anyone has a strong case for the 2020 HE edition over a regular LC 2021. I don't want a 3rd row but willing to one for the right set-up. Anyone have strong opinions why is should get a HE? I don't plan to sell my next cruiser so not sure i care about resale.

 

[HighRanch]

If you don't care about resale, not sure you would care either way. The HE was primarily a trim change that excluded the coolbox, third row seating, running boards, and added gold BBS wheels, badges and blackened chrome accents.

 

[JohnPW]

I love my cool box and would miss it if I had a HE.

ON the other hand, if you don’t need the third row, the fold up seats take up a lot of storage space in the back. You could always remove them, but the OEM suspension assumes the weight of the third row.

 

[stonepa]

Cool box is a must for me. Everything else is just an appearance package for the HE. Never understood the big deal. It was a lower spec that cost more than the standard model. The third row seats are easy to remove and weigh very little. Matters nothing to the suspension. Buy the HE rear load mat and you are good to go.

 

[Supra Turbo]

You guys just don't get it.. the HE package is worth at least 10 street cred points. At least that is what Toyota wants you to think with their "special" editions as of late. Slap some TRD badging on floor mats and bam, you're better than your neighbor.

 

[Artie]

You can remove the 3rd row but then you gotta store the seats… plus 1 for the HE.

Almost all of the rest of the differences are aesthetics so that’s up to you.

The last thing is the cool box, yay or nay? We have one with and one without and I really don’t get the hype of the thing. We like the storage option in the HE, the cool box in the LX still can be used as storage but it’s not very roomy. The cruiser does have the extra storage on top of the center console lid so the lack of that does play into my dislike of the cool box on the LX.

Either way, you can’t go wrong.

 

[GrouchyTech]

You can remove the 3rd row but then you gotta store the seats… plus 1 for the HE.

Almost all of the rest of the differences are aesthetics so that’s up to you.

The last thing is the cool box, yay or nay? We have one with and one without and I really don’t get the hype of the thing. We like the storage option in the HE, the cool box in the LX still can be used as storage but it’s not very roomy. The cruiser does have the extra storage on top of the center console lid so the lack of that does play into my dislike of the cool box on the LX.

Either way, you can’t go wrong.

I know I’d surely pay THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DIFFERENCE over a standard Land Cruiser so I don’t have to store the 3rd row seats somewhere.

Maybe that’s a little hyperbolic…

 

[TeCKis300]

You guys just don't get it.. the HE package is worth at least 10 street cred points. At least that is what Toyota wants you to think with their "special" editions as of late. Slap some TRD badging on floor mats and bam, you're better than your neighbor.

But them TRD Pro bros are now flexing with Trailhunters and Overtrails. We're cooked.

 

[bloc]

One difference that could be substantive.. HE didn’t get the semi-aniline leather of the LX and 16+ base LC.. and at least a couple people that have owned both report that version of the leather being less durable than the 08-15/HE stuff over the long term.

 

[Artie]

I know I’d surely pay THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DIFFERENCE over a standard Land Cruiser so I don’t have to store the 3rd row seats somewhere.

Maybe that’s a little hyperbolic…

Haha. I saw a fellow mudder on here built a thing to be able to set those 3rd row seats up on to be able to use them, I thought that was a neat idea. The HE does have a much more refined look in the 3rd row area since it’s designed without those seats… no holes in panels and it has a cargo cover thing. So there are some benefits to it.

 

[GrouchyTech]

Haha. I saw a fellow mudder on here built a thing to be able to set those 3rd row seats up on to be able to use them, I thought that was a neat idea. The HE does have a much more refined look in the 3rd row area since it’s designed without those seats… no holes in panels and it has a cargo cover thing. So there are some benefits to it.

I saw that “couch!” That’s some classy garage furniture!

 

[Heckraiser]

No reason to seek out a HE unless you plan to coddle it long term and hope to sell for a premium one day. They are functionally identical. You can take out the 3rd row and put in a HE rubber cargo mat for $60. You can buy the BBS wheels if you really want them. IMO, I would get a regular LC with more features for less money. I'm sad I don't have a cool box

 

[40thAnnivCruiser]

If cool box is a deciding factor I guess thats cool. I have one in my Defender so wasnt a deciding factor in my decision for HE. I started looking at Base models but at the time I was looking the base models near me were beaten up with high miles and sketchy history. The market has shifted now and there are more lower mile bases models on the road, in fact theyre not moving as quickly now either. I personally prefer less wizardry on my vehicle so for me less is more with the HE.

Good luck in your search and decision. If you spot any in the NoVa area Id be happy to put some eye balls on them for ya

 

[Supra Turbo]

Having a coolbox was a big deciding factor for me, in fact I would likely go as far as say if the Land Cruiser did not have one, I would have likely bought a different vehicle. I use mine every time I drive my vehicle and keep a few extra bottles of water in there for the homeless in the 110F+ summers. And though I never use them, IMO having the side folding seats is as iconic to the LC as the clamshell rear tailgate

 

[MRego]

Haven't seen this above, so consider.

If you plan to do any kind of off-roading with it and you get a 2-row HE, you will have added ground clearance in the back of the truck. The HE 2-row uses different rated springs than the 3-rows and the butt sits higher. If you have any plans to lift the truck, you can just use the WD pre-collar kit or any other front-only lift (even the OEM spacer) and avoid having to replace the OEM suspension, which to me is dialed perfectly for the 200. That is what I did to my 2-row HE and the stance and ground clearance were great, and I still had the perfectly dialed OEM Suspension.

Other than that, I just find aesthetically the HE's unique grill, headlights and wheels less boring than the regular base. That is just a question of taste and others will/might disagree. Coolbox? Meah...I had it in my previous 2018 Base and used here and there. When I got the HE, did not reeeeally miss it.

 

[TeCKis300]

I can see the coolbox being neat but I don't have it in my LX and appreciate that space for more forward storage. Something that's at a premium in the 200-series. As an overlander, most of us will have a larger fridge as part of the loadout in the rear anyways.

 

[gasman4u]

HE owners get to look down their noses at all other 200 series owners. @Supra Turbo didn’t mention this point in his description.

Seriously though, the wheels are cool IMO but Toyota thought it’d be a good idea to only give you four of them and a regular LC wheel for your spare. nice “upgrade” there. The roof basket is stupid IMO and were it not for the random times I’ve used it for hauling stuff, I would remove it in favor of after market roof rack options. I don’t do this as I don’t trust them to not cause leaks with installation.

 

[dnh1]

Here you go. I paid $75k new for this truck. Then spent a little more for Heritage grill, wheels, removed door chrome.
I later added Heritage springs. And front spacer. And wheel spacers.

Love the cool box. My third row seats are in storage where I have plenty of room. And have a Heritage mat over them. I bought this truck in 2019 when it was impossible to get a Heritage as they just came out.

Love it to this day. The Heritage package was just that. Appearance. And had less plush leather and no coolbox, for more money.

Build Thread '"Heritage" creation build'

Dec 10, 2019

I wanted to wait until this was done to post. @Eric Sarjeant just created what I will call a Heritage Edition+ for me.

He took a regular LC base with black interior and did the following:

• Added Heritage grill
• Had headlights blackened like Heritage edition
• Took OEM FJ40 emblem (identical to Heritage but required a lot of work) and added to D pillar.
• Removed door chrome strips, filled holes, and painted.
• Powder coated Heritage wheels matte silver and painted Heritage center caps silver.

Here are some pics of the finished truck and the process.

...

• dnh1
• Replies: 126
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

• 

 

[Artie]

I had forgot that the grill is another difference between the two. The HE grill can be slightly modified to house a rigid light bar (see pic), so there is another + if you’re considering lights up front… this allows you to really illuminate the face of shame on those base model owners as you also look down your nose at them as @gasman4u mentioned.

 

[GrouchyTech]

HE owners get to look down their noses at all other 200 series owners. @Supra Turbo didn’t mention this point in his description.

Seriously though, the wheels are cool IMO but Toyota thought it’d be a good idea to only give you four of them and a regular LC wheel for your spare. nice “upgrade” there. The roof basket is stupid IMO and were it not for the random times I’ve used it for hauling stuff, I would remove it in favor of after market roof rack options. I don’t do this as I don’t trust them to not cause leaks with installation.

Would any HE owners like to gift me their stupid roof basket?