When you’re on a good thing…well, Toyota is much too smart to upset the applecart with mid-life facelifts so the new Prado large SUV has been tweaked and improved rather than overhauled. Still starting at $55,990 (GX 5 manual), and despite the improvements, across the rest of the 11-variant lineup, prices have only risen in the range of $236 to $1,455 (that’s an average of just 1.2 per-cent).
The slow-selling three-door model is no more but with fresh looks, extra refinement and better handling, the latest Toyota Prado range looks set to continue its rein in the large SUV market. First launched in 1996, the Prado accounts for around 25 per-cent of SUV sales for Toyota vehicles wearing the ‘LandCruiser’ nameplate and Australia is actually the world’s number three Prado market (behind China and Russia).
“Audiences are shopping for luxury SUVs but the Prado wears the ‘Landcruiser’ name so it meets the needs of those who tackle rugged terrain too,” explained Toyota Australia chief Tony Cramb.
Moreover, with a towing capacity of 2,500kgs and most models equipped with seven seats, the Prado meets the needs of families, ‘grey nomads’, equestrian fans, boating enthusiasts and rural folk with ease.
Toyota Prado Overview
The lineup looks like this:
Turbo-Diesel
GX 5 manual $55,990 (unchanged)
GX 5 automatic $58,690 (+$436)
GX 7 manual $58,490 (+$236)
GX 7 automatic $61,190 (+$1,013)
GXL manual $61,490 (+$355)
GXL automatic $64,190 (+$555)
VX automatic $78,990 (+$1,355)
Kakadu automatic $92,590 (+$1,455)
Petrol
GXL automatic $63,190 (+$555)
VX automatic $77,990 (+$1,355)
Kakadu automatic $91,590 (+$1,455)
And unlike some German importers, Toyota’s capped-price servicing is just that – capped-price servicing. So the first six scheduled services for Toyota Prado will cost you $210 each (not a ‘range’ of prices!).
Toyota Prado Engine
No changes under the bonnet for Prado’s mid-life upgrade. And that’s good news for many Prado buyers who point especially to the four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the best all-rounder in this league for towing power, off-road agility, relaxed highway cruising and optimal fuel consumption.
Toyota’s 1KD-FTV 3.0-litre turbo-diesel delivers 127kW of power at 3400rpm and peak torque of 410Nm between 1600-2800rpm. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 8.5l/100kms (auto) or 8.8l/100kms (manual).
The venerable 1GR-FE 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine is enjoying a long tour of duty with the Toyota family…and deservedly so, as it’s a smooth operator. Maximum power is 202kW at 5600, peak torque of 381Nm is delivered at 4400rpm and combined cycle fuel consumption scores 11.5l/100kms.
GX and GXL turbo-diesel models offer five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions but GXL petrol and up-scale VX and Kakadu variants only come with the five-speed automatic.
All are constant all-wheel-drive with a two-speed transfer case and lockable centre Torsen limited-slip differential.
Included in the technical aspects of the Toyotas Prado update is the addition of trailer sway control. Integrated in the Prado’s electronic stability control system and anyone who has ever towed a significant sized trailer in crosswinds, this is a definite boon to extra safety.
Toyota Prado The Interior
There are numerous updates inside the updated Toyota Prado and the cumulative result is a substantially more refined look/feel. First-up you notice the new-design, thicker four-spoke steering wheel and new instrumentation/switchgear. In fact the dashboard has been comprehensively re-designed with a horizontal look offset by a large, vertical upper centre console with a seven inch screen for audio, reversing camera and satellite navigation.
Range-topping VX and Kakadu models go further with new Optitron instruments with a 3D look, 4.2-inch TFT screen and new colour graphics including pitch/roll information (we saw 30-degrees on the 4WD test track).
There’s new cloth, new double-stitch leather, new piano black highlights and new woodgrain for the Kakadu model.
Moving rearwards, there’s extra folding for the second row seats to ease access to the third row. Second-row passengers in the Kakadu mode score a new roof-mounted nine-inch Blueray entertainment screen and three wireless headphones.
Toyota Prado Exterior & Styling
If you read the blogs of those quick to form a negative opinion, the looks of the updated Toyota Prado aren’t unanimously approved. Here’s the news people: we’ve seen and driven the Prado and it looks great – a tougher on-road presence than the outgoing model.
Headlining the changes is a new, larger version of Prado’s five-bar front grille. This is accented by new headlights (LED for VX and Kakadu) plus new DRLs.
Dimensions are unchanged and the rear gets a new look with re-designed tail-lights including aero fins.
Toyota Prado On The Road
Developer Sir Leslie Thiess secured the Australian franchise for Toyota after seeing the original LandCruiser in action while developing the Snowy Mountains Scheme - so Toyota took us back to the NSW Alpine area to put the latest Prado through its paces.
Conditions were tough with late snow on the ground in mid-November!
A few hundred kilometres in both petrol and diesel versions confirmed the slick work of Toyota’s suspension and steering upgrades. We do a lot of driving in a now-superseded Prado so we can unhesitatingly say the upgraded version is a significant improvement.
Gone is the front-end pitching over bumps, the steering is much better especially when you encountering variable road surfaces while going straight and there is much less roll when turning-in.
We did get a sense for the improved refinement too with all Prados we drove noticeably quieter in terms of road noise from the tyres.
A run over the newly-developed 4WD test track of the Wodonga Logic Campus proved the Prado has actually improved its off-road prowess with that clever rotary dial Crawl Control speed adjustment making life much easier for tricky ascents and descents.
Toyota Prado Challenges
A minor quibble admittedly, but heading into 2014, a vehicle with a sticker north of $55K lacking auto indicators (three flashes for lane changing) isn’t great.
Of more concern is the five-speed automatic. Good as the petrol and diesel engines are when cruising, an extra ratio (or more) would make a considerable difference.
Toyota Prado Verdict
No doubt about it, the Toyota Prado remains a CarShowroom.com.au favourite large SUV. It has no weaknesses – on-road dynamics, off-road ability, available seats for seven and that 2.5-tonne towing capacity delivering an astonishingly good all-round package.
Diesel or petrol? Tough question.
Obviously there’s a considerable gap in fuel consumption (11.5l/100kms for the petrol to 8.5l/100kms for the diesel) – a ‘biggie’ for ‘grey nomads’ and others who tow (as is the 29Nm extra torque). Against that, despite the diesel’s abundant refinement, Toyota’s 4.0-litre is a sweet V6 so we’re a little surprised the petrol powerplant accounts for a mere 5.0 per-cent of Prado’s total sales.
For what it’s worth, we’d go the diesel for the extra torque.
Toyota Prado The Competition
Jeep Grand Cherokee is also a CarShowroom.com.au favourite in this league and has been selling-up a storm for some time. And no wonder with prices ranging from $46,000 to $71,000, turbo-diesel and six-cylinder and V8 petrol engines, Grand Cherokee certainly lays-down a value-for-money challenge for all rivals.
Likewise the Ford Territory – unquestionably one of the best SUVs you’ll ever buy. Ford has taken a short cut and simply if you want a turbo-diesel it’s only available in all-wheel-drive (priced from $48,240 to $62,740).
Isuzu’s all-new MU-X (and the similar Holden Colorado 7) would definitely be on our shopping list. We prefer the looks of the Isuzu and while neither is in the Prado list for luxury, there’s no doubt about off-road ability and towing capacity.
Thumbs-up: Ride/handling/steering package much improved; tougher looks; even more capable
Thumbs-down: Five-speed transmissions; interior no a style trend-setter
