First appearing in August 2000,[1] the 1KD-FTV was the first iteration of this generation and was first used in the J90 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado starting in July 2000.

This engine uses Toyota's D-4D Common Rail fuel injection technology operating at ultra-high pressures of up to 1,350 bar (19,600 psi) which is about 8 times more than the pressure of conventional fuel injection systems within a "common rail" that feeds the injectors on all four cylinders.

Pilot injection is also utilized by the common rail fuel system to smooth engine operation.

Toyota Thailand & Japanese, has updated the turbo become variable nozzle turbocharger (VNT) with additional intercooler.

This fuel system provides ultra-high injection pressure up to 200 MPa (29,000 psi) in order to promote the clean diesel engine.

However, the pilot injection is repealed as the engine speed reaches 2200 rpm and above at low load conditions.

In some Central and South American countries, Toyota also offered this engine on the 2003–2006 4Runner in limited quantities.