Compared with the 300 Series ‘Cruiser, the Prado feels more nimble and sporty. It’s also smoother in the ride, with better cornering grip. Photos: Supplied.
The Toyota Prado is certainly hot property. There has been a waiting list for more than a year and, despite some sniffles from some people about the engine and the boot, the all-new Prado has received a rousing welcome in Australia.
The extensive Prado range is priced from $72,500 for the GX and the most popular GLX is in showrooms from $79,990. The fitout is good and even the GX comes with dual digital dash displays, 10-speaker sound, push-button start, a 360-degree camera for parking, LED headlights and 18-inch alloys.
If you want to go all the way up to the Kakadu model, and have $99,990 before on-roads, you get everything including a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated second-row outboard seats. But it’s the basics that have always made the Prado so popular, because it’s a ‘’mini-me’’ LandCruiser that can tow and climb and run and run and run.
The new-look 250 Series Prado looks very new and sportier – in a pushy Jeep-ish way. It’s chunkier than the flagship 300 Series LandCruiser, but their shared DNA is obvious everywhere around the body and in the cabin. It even has a separate lift-up glass panel in the back door.
The new Prado is claimed as a hybrid, but it’s a hybrid with a small h because it’s only a mild system with a start-generator and a tiny – think 0.1 litres – improvement to economy.
The new-look 250 Series Prado has a sportier design. It’s chunkier than the flagship 300 Series LandCruiser, but their shared DNA is obvious everywhere.
The engine is old school, a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, but has a new eight-speed automatic to go with its four-wheel-drive system. Outputs are 150 kilowatts and 500 Newton-metres, the source of some complaints by shoppers. They say it needs more grunt, while others have complained the ‘’tall’’ gearing for economy means it will not sit comfortably in eighth except on a perfectly flat road.
Inside, there is plenty of space, a modern look, and typical Toyota comfort and brilliant air conditioning. The question of the rear luggage space in the seven-seater, which can be a bit messy and requiring a Tetris approach to loading, is more likely to be a personal preference than an outright deal-breaker. Still, it’s worth a look before committing to a purchase.
The Prado will easily accommodate an average Aussie family’s holiday gear.
The rest of the Prado package is exactly as you would expect. It feels unbreakable on the road, cruises easily and comfortably, and will swallow the holiday ”stuff’’ for an average Aussie family. It will obviously tow and climb giant sand dunes without any fuss or bother.
Compared with the 300 Series ‘Cruiser, the Prado feels more nimble and sporty. It’s also smoother in the ride with better cornering grip, where the full-sized LandCruiser can feel bulky and ponderous on narrow country roads. It’s hard to say anything bad about the new Prado. It says what it does and does what it says.
Toyota Prado
- Position: Heavyweight four-wheel drive
- Price: From $72,500
- Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel
- Power: 150kW/500Nm
- Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
- Plus: It’s a LandCruiser
- Minus: Rear luggage space
GRADE: A.
Original Article published by Paul Gover on PS News.
