A Land Cruiser Prado is not a small car. It's not even a mid-size SUV. It is a behemoth, a beast, a colossal off-roading fiend. But can it climb dunes with the texture of kinetic sand? Some were skeptical. But would Toyota give us cars that wouldn't be able to handle the weekend's quicksand surface? Probably not!
Related: Road test: The Esteemed Land Cruiser 3.0 VX-L
What is the Atlantis 4x4 fun day?
Every year, the Western Cape Four-wheel Drive Club hosts this Toyota-sponsored event in the dunes of Atlantis near Melkbosstrand, where proud owners of 4x4s can show off their driving skills on what is arguably one of the most deceptive surfaces to pilot a vehicle on. Having competed in the gruelling Rust de Winter 4x4 Jamboree in Limpopo earlier this year, also sponsored by Toyota, we jumped at the chance to go playing in the dunes.
The Atlantis 4x4 Fun Day's focus is mainly on spending quality time with your family, but being a friendly competition and the like, there are also prizes to be won for the most points per vehicle. Points are deducted for touching flags or driving over them, not staying on the course, completing a course too fast or too slowly, and in some cases, for stopping and reversing. This is where the strength of many marriages (as well as children's spines and tooth-fillings) are put to the ultimate test, as your co-driver has her (or his) own set of tasks to perform, all while being thrown about like like a rag doll tied to a lamp-post in a hurricane. Ever since entering the world of off-roading competitions with Toyota, my long-suffering fiancé has become quite the expert at plaiting ropes, unscrambling puzzles and completing quizzes while bouncing around in every different direction.
Making tracks
At the gates of the Atlantis Dunes, a bevvy of Land Cruisers in all shapes of sizes, Hiluxes, Land Rover Discoveries, a few Mitsubishi Tritons and even a Suzuki Jimny or two were having their tyres deflated to as low as 0.7 bar. At first, we deflated the Prado's rubber down to about 0.85, but just before the first obstacle, we were advised to go a little lower. With no handheld tyre pressure gauge available, we used the Prado's on-screen tyre pressure monitor in the instrument binnacle to ensure our tyres weren't too stiff, and quite quickly we found ourselves in front of the queue, seat belts on, raring to go! As the marshall counted down, I gave full throttle, and it rained sand as we crested the first dune. A few obstacle courses later I was literally feeling on top of the world. Of all the Land Cruiser Prados, we managed to get the furthest up the highest dune of the day. The Prado's terrain management system (Multi-Terrain Select) was working like a charm, and having it locked in Low Range and set to the Sand/Mud driving mode, there was nowhere it wouldn't go!
Related: Toyota's Prado gets a stylish makeover (2017)
The flying Prado
Maybe I was a little over-confident after my previous personal victory (at one challenging track we were the quickest of the day so far, and word had spread quickly that "the lady in the Prado" was the one to beat), so at the next speed driving/precision course, I truly gave it horns, flying over the dunes as Giniel de Villiers might. Onlookers and media members reported seeing our metallic silver Prado soaring, defying the laws of gravity, thundering over the dune like a monster-wave surfer in Hawaii's legendary Waimea Bay. The children were hysterical (mostly with laughter), the marshals took cover, a few flags perished, but we made good time. It was a pity we lost some points for temporarily leaving the track, but boy, did we make a grand re-entrance.
Better luck next year!
It was our first Atlantis 4x4 fun day and with all ten obstacle courses behind us, we, unfortunately, did not make the top 20. Or the top 40...due to being disqualified at one track where the front left tyre 'peeled off' the rim. This is a common issue if your tyres are under-inflated and you turn a corner too quickly in deep sand. The marshals were on hand to help and recovery was quick, as the accessories issued with the Prado are of excellent quality. Yet again, it was my trusty co-driver who had to dig away the sand and jack up the Prado to quickly change the tyre, and soon we were off again to end off the day with the final challenge.
In the end, we may have lost quite a few points, but what we did gain is a wealth of new sand-driving knowledge, such as where high range would have been better than low range, manual mode better than auto, where too much throttle is detrimental but where too little can be even worse, and when that rear differential should really just stay disengaged. But most of all, we were reminded just how capable the Prado is, despite its 2435 kg kerb weight. Next year we'll be back, probably not in a Prado, but definitely in a Toyota!
Interested in taking part?
If you find that your comfort zone gets too cushy and the kids are just a little too addicted to their phones, then this adrenaline-filled family day is just what the doctor ordered - plus the kids will worship you for taking them on an adventure of this stature. Visit the Western Cape Four Wheel Drive Club website here for the latest updates and exciting off-road events, and to enter next year's Atlantis 4x4 Fun Day.
The numbers
Tested: The flagship Land Cruiser Prado 3.0 VX-L (visit the Toyota Prado microsite here)
Price: R 1 031 50 (Prices start from R875 000 for the 3.0-litre TX model)
Engine size: 3.0-litre turbodiesel
Gearbox: 5-speed automatic
Output: 120kW with 400 Nm
Kerb weight: 2435 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 150 litres (total)
Gross weight (with people and luggage): 2990 kg
Ground clearance: 220 mm
Load volume: 104-974 litres
Differential locks: centre and rear
Standard features include: Bluetooth, voice control, air suspension, climate control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitor, Satnav, adaptive cruise control, keyless start, privacy glass, heated and retractable exterior mirrors, sunroof, electric driver's seat, heated front seats, cornering headlights, high-beam assist, surround view cameras, Multi-terrain Select, roof rails.
