Toyota's common-rail diesel engine technology is moving up from the Avensis and Corolla to the rugged Land Cruiser Colorado off-roader.
The Colorado will be available with a new 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which Toyota says delivers more power but with lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
The Colorado has also had a price cut. The GX five-door manual at 26,490 undercuts the Land Rover Discovery at 27,115, the Mitsubishi Shogun at 26,815 and the Mercedes ML270 at 27,810.
The new engine allows the Colorado diesel to outgun most of the opposition with only the Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-D offering a slightly higher power and torque figure from its 200cc larger engine.
The diesel is available in all three trim levels FX, GX and VX with the GX available in both three and five-door body styles. Prices start at 23,795 and rise to 31,695.
Toyota will introduce further models with the technology in 2001.
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