The Toyota V8 that powers trucks, SUVs and Lexus sedans

Toyota is highly regarded for its engines. Whether that be the 4.7-liter V8 2UV-FE engine or the 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V6, among countless others over the years. The first was an exceptional V8 engine that paved the way from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, delivering the excellent reliability they were well known for. By the mid-2000s, amid emissions challenges and increased competition from American rivals, it was time to come back fighting. An engine that would deliver the same formula, but even better. Toyota didn’t achieve this through turbocharging or reducing engine displacement. They created an epic 5.7-liter V8 engine known as the 3UR-FE, alongside its 1UR counterparts.

In many ways this felt like a final celebration of the completely over-engineered, fantastically robust and incredibly versatile flavor of V8 engines – a time in history just before the crucial point of downsizing to become king. An era where, to make a better engine, you would normally make a bigger engine. This was a mentality that worked flawlessly: this V8 was part of many heavy-duty trucks, especially durable SUVs, and the remarkably similar 1UR engine was used in prestige sedans.

A 5.7-liter V-8 that would amplify everything

Overbuilt machines made for every road ahead

The typical use case for this engine was in SUVs and pickups, due to its phenomenal torque figures and ability to tow heavy loads. One of the most rugged and well-known applications of this engine was in the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser, a vehicle known for its durability that an equally strong engine to match was essential.

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (5.7 liter V-8) specifications.

This first example of using the 3UR-FE is a version built for ultimate reliability. This engine could exceed the 381 hp mark, but for the Land Cruiser total service life was the absolute goal. This meant that even under heavy use, the Land Cruiser’s V8 would still be underpowered, given its reasonable maximum horsepower. Not all applications would follow the same approach; it was an engine designed to be tuned for more power and to handle it. The 381 horsepower for the Land Cruiser was ample and provided a basis for the powertrain due to its iconic bulletproof status.

The Lexus LX 570 had a powerful SUV application

The later models of the LexusLX 570 (2016-2021) are found to have the absolute highest torque and horsepower of any application of this engine, slightly surpassing the Land Cruiser. Lexus knew that their consumer base would give the engine a softer life than in an extreme off-roader, and concluded that the V8 would be cruising on the highway more often, rather than going up steep hills.

What Lexus did to optimize the LX 570’s engine

• Tuned for smoothness and comfort when towing heavy loads

• Silent operation

• Torque at lower speed

• A few more horsepower and a few pounds of torque

This made the engine feel more premium and quieter than in the Land Cruiser, which was optimized for different scenarios. The use of this powertrain and subtle tuning allowed them to easily compete with their luxury rivals. This was crucial not only in establishing Toyota’s presence in the growing luxury SUV landscape, but also in ensuring that the product could outlast the competition when it came to maintenance costs and longevity.

The smaller brother of the enormous V8 for sedans

Same bulletproof quality, smaller applications

There was an engine that captured the spirit of the 5.7-liter V8, aimed more at high-end sedans, and it was a bold choice. For an engine originally intended to tow heavy loads, it was a surprise that an engine so similar would find its way into anything but an SUV or truck. The car in question is the 2009-2018 Toyota Crown Majesta and came with the 1UR-FSE. In any case, an engine that is very similar to the 3UR, but one that was more intended for vehicles that required less pulling power.

Specifications Toyota Crown Majesta (1UR-FSE V8).

This iteration was slightly different from those used in SUVs and pickups. The way this engine was set up was the most interesting aspect of the engine. Take away the responsibilities that more utility vehicles face, and you have the chance to explore the limits of an engine with more confidence. This version of the engine was very similar in architecture and core design principles, but was created with the intention of ultimate peace and quiet riding. The 1UR-FSE used direct injection instead of port injection and had higher compression. It also had a smaller engine displacement which corresponded proportionally to the fact that it had less weight to lug around compared to an SUV or truck.

The demise of huge V8 engines in the Toyota range

Unfortunately, the 3UR-FE was never going to last forever, especially considering that its core principles don’t match the way engines are made today. Production of the engine slowed in the early 2020s and was completely discontinued in 2024. By modern standards it was a thirsty and polluting engine that simply didn’t fit into the modern landscape.

Instead, Toyota started using other methods to achieve impressive power and torque. The 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 was the most common engine used for similar duties. There was also a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 diesel, which produced 100 fewer horsepower but about 40 pounds of extra torque – useful for those interested in torque and pulling power at extremely low revs.

Farewell to the legendary 3UR-FE engine

Greatness cannot surpass progress

The death of this V8 meant the end of Toyota’s relationship with its preference for many cylinders and enormous displacement. Efficiency has come a long way since the 3UR-FE’s introduction, and in many ways the six-cylinder replacements are technically superior. More economical, even more torque than the 5.7-liter V8, and a lighter engine, making weight balance and dynamics easier to achieve. Not only that, but in terms of emissions, the V6 is far more future-proof and compatible than any V8. And despite early quality problems, Toyota’s reputation for reliability remains intact and is proving strong in the modern, smaller era of heavy-duty motoring.

As effective as smaller engines and turbochargers are, there’s no doubt there’s something insurmountable about a rumbling V8. Whether it’s the deep growl, the legacy that seems to ooze out of it, or the lack of turbo lag, it’s just a pure brute force approach. The turbocharged V6s also don’t have the same raw simplicity as the endlessly capable V8s. It’s for all these reasons that many people will keep their legendary 5.7-liter V8s on the road for years to come, because if they know the 3UR-FE, it will never stop working.

Sources: Lexus, Toyota, iSeeCars