Toyota
strives to build vehicles to match customer interest and thus they are
typically built with popular options and option packages.
The updated
Toyota LandCruiser Prado – biggest-selling large SUV – has been given a swathe
of price cuts yet picked up way more safety equipment and some offroad-focused
tweaks to boot.
Bidding to
make the strong stronger, Toyota has also bumped the braked-trailer towing
capacity on all auto versions to 3000kg – sure to delight grey nomads, horse
trainers and mine-site fleet buyers at the same time – put a rear diff-lock on
the GLX auto and VX grades, and ditched the V6 petrol engine altogether.
There's also
a revised grille with vertical bars and cooling openings, new headlights
(Bi-LED on GXL, VX and Kakadu) with the main beams apparently positioned
inboard to avoid damage from obstacles when off-road driving. There are new
light clusters at the rear too, and two new exterior colours called Peacock
Black and Dusty Bronze.
Safety
features now standard on all LandCruiser Prado automatic models (a steep $3000
extra over the GX and GXL manuals) are autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian
detection, active cruise control, lane departure alert and auto high-beam. Want
this stuff on the manual models? Tough luck.
Still, most
of this tech was once the province of the range-toppers only.
Technology
Sophistication
with a Practical Purpose - Superior comfort and convenience for everyone
onboard is assured by a range of thoughtful amenities throughout the cabin. The
instrument panel combines a sophisticated design with ease of use. Materials
are strictly selected for their textural qualities while switches are grouped
and laid out within easy reach, achieving eminent practicality.
Reach the Unreachable
Follow your
thoughts as they wander over mountaintops, cross deserts, and swim across
rivers. Presenting the 2018 Land Cruiser Prado. Apart from a refreshing
facelift, it comes equipped with a host of advanced features such as Crawl
Control and Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).
The New 2018
Land Cruiser Prado. No destination is beyond reach.
Performance
A Robust and
Superior Ride - On road or off road, Land Cruiser Prado's advanced suspension
system and frame structure assure outstanding performance that will exceed your
expectations
Design
A Naturally
Dynamic Presence - With its 4DW heritage evident in every aspect of its
powerful and commanding exterior design. Prado's naturally dynamic presence
really shines in rough terrain .
Is there anything interesting about its
design?
The
facelifted version of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado undoubtedly takes the boxy
off-roader and makes it more appealing to the majority of consumers. It is,
dare I say it, good looking now.
That
certainly is the case for the exterior of the Kakadu model you see here, with
its brilliant LED headlights and DRLs, which look so much better than the old
dot-matrix numbers in the pre-facelift car. The new shape of the headlights
accentuates the width of the Prado, as does the new grille treatment.
And while
nothing has changed if you look at it from side-on (aside from different wheel
designs), the Prado somehow looks more muscular than it did. The tail-lights
have black surrounds which helps, and the rear door has been neatened up a
touch, too.
While you
get a rear spoiler on all Prado models, you have to spend up on the VX or
Kakadu to get side steps. And if you want a body kit, you’ll have to look up
eBay’s UAE sellers.
The interior
design has seen a big workover, with a new centre stack and media interface,
new steering wheels and other refinements. But the interior dimensions haven’t
changed, because the size hasn’t either: check out our interior images to get a
better idea.
This is a
facelift done right.
What are the key stats for the engine and
transmission?
Every variant
in the Prado range is powered by the same engine, with the same size - a
2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The entry-grade models (GX and
GXL) have the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed auto, while the top two
grades (VX and Kakadu) are auto only.
There are no
changes to specifications for power outputs of the diesel drivetrain, be it the
manual gearbox with retained power and torque outputs of 130kW/420Nm, or an
automatic transmission, which bumps the torque spec up to 450Nm.
Competitor
SUVs out there can be with more power and torque – even some that are smaller,
like the Holden Trailblazer (2.8-litre turbo-diesel, 147kW/500Nm).
Unlike a lot
of those other competitors, though, the Prado runs a permanent four-wheel drive
(4WD or 4x4) set-up with 4H and 4L modes – there’s no 4x2 mode. You need to get
an automatic to be able to get a rear diff lock, and even then, it’s not
available on the base model GX. So, manual gearbox enthusiasts need to think
twice.
Some buyers
may not be too impressed by the Prado’s comparatively low braked towing
capacity weight of 2500kg (750kg un-braked) for manual models – but the
automatic pushes that braked capacity to 3000kg, which is what you’ll likely
need for a big off-road caravan. Our test vehicles didn’t have a towbar, so
there’s no towing review here.
And there’s
no argument for petrol vs diesel, as the 4.0-litre V6 has been axed. And
there’s never been an LPG model here.
You might
want to check out our Prado problems page for any relevant information on
potential diesel engine problems or issues with injector performance, automatic
transmission or clutch / gearbox problems, suspension issues or cruise control
complaints.
Timing belt
or chain? The 2.8-litre engine has a chain.
Other New Features Include:
-
Satellite-navigation and Toyota Link app-ware on the GX.
- LED
headlights/DRLs on the GXL.
- A
360-degree camera and terrain monitor, blind-spot monitor and rear
cross-traffic alert, ventilated seats, and a cool box on the VX.
- A drive
mode select function and the VX's panoramic view monitor on the Kakadu.
There's no
notable change to the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine launched in mid-2015. The
130kW (at 3400rpm) unit makes 450Nm from 1600rpm with the six-speed auto mated,
or 420Nm from 1400rpm with the six-speed manual.
The previous
4.0-litre V6 petrol engine is being discontinued in Australia due to
overwhelming consumer preference for the turbo-diesel engine (98.8 per cent of
sales apparently).
The
LandCruiser Prado is covered by Toyota Service Advantage capped-price servicing
at $240 a pop.
Safety
Uncompromised
Safety Features - At the start of the range the GXR (three-door) and EXR
(five-door) models include multiple airbags to protect you in the event of a
collision. There is also a range of active safety features to help you avoid
any trouble, including traction control and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
Rear parking sensors aid you when backing the large vehicle in the tightest of
spaces and on higher specification models you will find a rear-view camera.
Experience
the unique Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for yourself by taking it for a test drive
at your nearest Al-Futtaim Motors dealership. Contact the team at your nearest
showroom online for details.
Exterior:
New Design
LED Fog Lamp
18"
Alloy Wheels
Side Step
with Illumination
Chrome Rear
Lamp Garnish.
Interior:
Ergonomic
Dashboard
Push Button
Start
8"
Display Audio
Cool Box
Dual Tone
Leather Seats - Black + Red Wood
Technical:
4.0 L V6
Dual VVT-i Engine with 271 HP
2.7 L VVT-i
Engine with 163 HP
3.0L Turbo
Diesel Engine with 161 HP
6 Speed A/T
& 5 Speed A/T.
Safety:
ABS
Parking
Sensors
Toyota
Safety sense
What we like
-Value in
low-spec auto models.
-Serious
off-road credentials.
-Lower
prices across the range.
What we don't
-Safety kit
isn't widespread enough
-Pricey in
high-spec models
-No Apple
CarPlay/Android Auto.
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