Toyota Prado gets stylish makeover

By Farzana Chaumoo

Toyota SA gathered local motoring media in KZN to launch a midlife update of its Land Cruiser Prado.

The current generation Prado, as it’s more commonly called, receives its second major update. For the 2018 model year, the Prado received a reworked exterior design, an updated interior and additional safety tech. The Prado that many have grown to love still offers exceptional off-road capabilities, if not better than before, just in a more modern package.

What’s new in the Prado?

Design

In production since 1984, the Prado has made its way into more than 190 countries worldwide. Not only is it one of the most trustworthy SUV’s, but it carries with it Toyota’s renowned reliability, along with some luxury.

On the visual end, the reworked five-slot grille is immediately noticeable. The vertical bars have been kept due to Toyota’s heritage and it stands more upright. In the way of lighting - there’s automatic LED high beam headlights and new distinct taillights. The new angular fog lamps compliment the front bumper very nicely which further enhance the revised front bumper. The rear bumper and boot have also been reworked.

Interior

Inside the cabin, the major change appears on the dashboard. The center console has been lowered by 25mm. This has been done to improve forward visibility and will be very handy when off-roading. A new eight-inch, full-colour multimedia screen sits at the top of the console. Personally, I found the touchscreen infotainment interface annoying to operate, but once you get the hang of it, it probably would be simple to use because of its tablet-like design. Below the screen is automatic dual-zone climate control and beneath that is the drivetrain-related instrument cluster - all very neatly set up.

For the driver specifically, the instrument panel has been redesigned. It has a four-gauge layout with precision Optitron (high-definition back-lit) meters. The VX and VX-L models have a 4.2-inch TFT colour multi-information display that will give comprehensive vehicle and infotainment data. For that extra chic touch, the instrument panel, centre console and door-mounted switches are all amplified by new white illumination.

With the facelift also comes new seat upholstery options. There are two new interior colour scheme options which include Black and a ‘Neutral Beige’. The black scheme is paired off with a matte-finish walnut wood trim while the beige scheme is paired with a matte “blonde wood” accent.

Engines

The Land Cruiser Prado keeps it 3.0 D-4D engine and is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Gear ratios have been optimized for low-speed tractability and off-road use. This engine puts out 120 kW and 400 Nm available between 1,600-2,800 rpm.

Then there’s the 4.0-litre petrol engine which has been paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Power produced is 202 kW at 5,600rpm and peak torque of 381 Nm delivered at 4,400rpm.

Safety tech 

New safety technologies have been added to the Prado. They consist of adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitor, automatic emergency braking, and collision warning.

For off-roading, a new Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system is available on the VX and VX-L models. The system will adjust the power, suspension, traction control, and transmission characteristics according to the selected mode. There are five modes: mud & sand, loose rock, mogul, rock+dirt and rock.

In addition, the Prado features Toyota’s Active Traction Control system (A-TRAC) which governs wheel-slip.

Model specifics

Roof rails now appear on all models. In addition, seat ventilation for driver and front passenger, along with heated seats for front and second row seating, will also be standard in all models. Other standard features of the Land Cruiser Prado include an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated entry, a six-speaker touch audio system, automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth + USB connectivity, three power outlets, third-row seating, and a reverse camera. Furthermore, there is also cruise control, park distance control, and keyless entry as standard.

For convenience, the TX model comes with a ‘cooler box’ in the centre console. The top of the range models VX and VX-L have Satellite Navigation and an enhanced surround-view Multi Terrain Monitor camera system. This monitor system gives you a Panoramic and overhead view of your vehicle.

What’s it like?

On our journey from Umhlanga to the Sani Pass, we did quite a bit of highway driving with the Prado. It drove perfectly fine but it scored less when needing to overtake. It’s hefty and you feel its size when you need to bypass another driver. Off-road I needn’t even say what a champ it is.

Once we arrived on the Sani Pass, we put the Prado in low range and tested out the Multi-Terrain Select in ‘loose rock’ and ‘mogul’ mode for climbing the steep pass. We then took it even higher up the mountains, to where the highest pub in Africa can be found.

During our descent we made use of the ‘Crawl’ control function whereby the vehicle brakes entirely on its own depending on the terrain. You will immediately feel the difference in power supply and suspension when switching between these modes off-road.

Verdict

We drove the 3.0D VX-L which had electrically adjustable seats and all the bells and whistles the Prado can offer. The seats are comfortable for long distances and the cabin is very spacious. The centre console has a very neat setup with everything in good reach.

The heated seats are definitely one of the nicest features, especially in a 4x4, although it’s nothing new. If you own the Prado, its likely to take you to all sorts of places, which means all sorts of weather conditions. Boy, was it windy and cold on our adventure on the Sani Pass! After every stop, putting your cold body into a nicely-heated seat feels fantastic. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is definitely an SUV you can live with everyday, and still have a jol with on the weekend.     

Model line-up and pricing

 

Land Cruiser Prado 3.0D TX              R 821 700

 

Land Cruiser Prado 4.0 V6 VX           R 930 000

 

Land Cruiser Prado 3.0D VX              R 932 400

 

Land Cruiser Prado 4.0 V6 VX-L        R 967 200

 

Land Cruiser Prado 3.0D VX-L           R 969 600

 

All Land Cruiser Prado models include a 5-year/90 000 kilometre service plan and a 3-year/100 000 kilometre warranty.