Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2024) First Drive Review

We recently travelled north of the border to drive one of the most important SUVs of 2024, the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado!

Sean Nurse

12 Jul 2024 · 12:00Automotive News5 min read

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Toyota launched the fifth generation of its Land Cruiser Prado in the South African market, and in its first month, nearly 700 units were sold! I headed to Mozambique to attend the national media launch and see what the fuss is about!

Related: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2024) specs compared

We like

-Exceptionally capable off-road

-Practical, stylish and robust interior

-More usable on-road dynamics

We dislike

-Infotainment systems could be better

-Long waiting list

Drivetrain

Those familiar with the current Fortuner and Hilux will know the 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine powering the new Prado; however, the 8-speed Aisin automatic gearbox is new! Power and torque are sent to all four wheels.

Grade walk

All new Prado models feature heated/ventilated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, a centre-locking differential, 9 airbags, a multi-function steering wheel, Toyota's suite of semi-autonomous driving aids, seven seats, three driving modes, keyless entry/start, LED headlights, fog lamps, and front and rear PDCs with a reverse camera.

The two high-spec models, namely the VX-R and VX-R First Edition, with the latter no longer available new. They feature near identical specifications but with some key differences. Let's start with the First edition, which gets more off-road-ready Toyo tyres, heritage-style rounded headlights, model-specific sand brown exterior colour, paddle shifters on the steering wheel, a dark brown leather seat option and a two-tone exterior option. The regular VX-R, which is available going forward, gets a rear locking differential, a 10-speaker sound system, a 12.3-inch infotainment and digital instrument cluster, a heated leather steering wheel, a moonroof (not on First Edition), the brand's Multi-Terrain Monitor, a front stabiliser bar disconnect mechanism, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, electrically adjustable second and third-row seats, a rear-view mirror with an integrated camera, adaptive LED headlights, a refrigerated centre console storage area and a surround-view camera.

Key figures

	Land Cruiser Prado TX	Land Cruiser Prado VX-R
Fuel consumption (claimed)	7.9 L/100km	7.9 L/100km
Fuel capacity	110-litres	110-litres
Range (claimed)	1 392km	1 392km
Kerb weight	2 490kg	2 520kg
Braked towing capacity	3 500kg	3 500kg
Approach angle	30-degrees	30-degrees
Breakover angle	25-degrees	25-degrees
Departure angle	17-degrees	17-degrees
Ground clearance	206mm	216mm
Diff lock	Centre	Centre & rear
Seats	7	7
Airbags	9	9
Boot space	120-620-1833-litres	120-620-1833-litres

Driving impression

Since the launch took place in southern Mozambique, I was anticipating a couple of days negotiating sand driving; however, upon arrival at Maputo airport, I realised there is now a freeway from the airport to the Kosi Bay border post, a big change from when I was there many years back. This meant roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes of road driving, followed by some light off-roading to get to our overnight stay near Ponta Malongane. I grabbed the entry-level TX variant of the Prado and covered the roughly 120km journey.

Despite the claimed 7.9 L/100km, I found a realistic combined fuel consumption figure for the newcomer to be closer to 9.0 L/100km, nearly 1.0 L/100km lighter than the car it replaces, and entirely reasonable for a car of this type. Having covered the specification differences between the TX and VX-R above, let's say that the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and 8.0-inch infotainment systems in the TX are by far the weakest attribute of the most attainable model, looking too small and featuring poor resolution, despite wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The on-road performance of the newcomer is much improved versus its predecessor, with the new electronic power steering replacing the old hydraulic set-up, endowing the car with more precise and confidence-inspiring steering, while the ride quality itself is more supple, less fidgety than the previous car.

The infotainment system on the TX

The following day, we could properly flex the Prado's off-road muscles with mud and deep sand excursions. Luckily, I found myself in the First Edition variant, which is mechanically identical to the VX-R but has more off-road-ready Toyo tyres. The improvements are noticeable when looking inside the VX-R/First Edition, with the larger infotainment and digital clusters looking and operating better than in the TX, while the ability to set the car up for various terrain is more confidence-inspiring. Despite the larger and more impressive screens, it has to be said that Toyota is still not near the top of the pile for infotainment, with other products in this price range being superior; however, if you're buying a Prado for its infotainment prowess, perhaps you've missed the point of the car.

The infotainment system on the VX-R

We headed to some thick sand and tackled tight turns and steep climbs. I activated Sand Mode in the Muti-Terrain system, used some momentum, and allowed the car to do its thing. With its two additional gears, it sailed up the climbs with the new gearbox, allowing the diesel motor to remain within its sweet sport more frequently than the old 6-speed unit. We then headed to a muddy section, perhaps an area that was too rutted for a large convoy to get through; however, being near the front of the queue, I managed to power my way through some seriously muddy terrain while a few of my colleagues in the back of the convoy managed to get stuck, and while this could be a poor reflection on the vehicles, in my opinion, the vast majority of standard off-road vehicles would have found themselves stuck in the same scenario.

Rivals

With the aggressive pricing structure, Toyota has gone for with the model, its two key rivals, namely the Land Rover Defender and Ineos Grenadier, are far more costly, which may lead some to compare the Prado with the flagship Ford Everest Platinum; however, with a fresh-faced Fortuner on the way, this comparison may be incorrect. Either way, the pricing for Prado is very well considered by Toyota, as is reflected in a massive demand for the new model.

Verdict

The latest Land Cruiser Prado most certainly does not need my blessing to be a sales success, but for what it's worth, the newcomer manages the tricky balancing act of preserving the heritage associated with the Land Cruiser sub-brand, catering for the local market's very specific demands while also modernising the product for global audiences and regulations, all while undercutting key rivals in price. There are very few drawbacks if you have the means and the desire to; my advice would be to buy one or get your name on the waiting list.

Pricing*

Prado 2.8GD TX: R1 296 300

Prado 2.8GD VX-R: R1 448 900

Prado 2.8GD 1st Edition: R1 462 400

Prado 2.8GD 1st Edition Bi-Tone: R1 472 600

*Pricing includes a 9-services/90 000km service plan and 3-year/100 000km warranty.

Written by Sean Nurse

With a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.Read more

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