The new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Quick Facts
- Price: From R 939,900
- Engine: 2.8-litre GD-6 turbo diesel & 4.0-litre petrol engine
- Power/Torque: 150kW / 500Nm
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic transmission
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has established itself as one of the most accomplished off-roaders on the South African market, owners have come to rely on the robust construction and go-anywhere capability that the Land Cruiser badge signifies.
The latest-generation 2.8-litre GD-6 turbo diesel engine which offers 150Kw/500nm, that is now mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission is at the heart of this beast. The engine that debuted in the updated Hilux has received a raft of upgrades including a new ball-bearing turbocharger with a larger turbine and impeller, and improved engine rigidity and cooling. Better fuel economy is realised through optimised pistons and piston rings, changes to the cylinder block and head, higher fuel-injection flow rate and the adoption of high-performance materials for the exhaust manifold and cylinder head gasket.
However, if you are not keen on diesel, There is a 4.0-litre petrol engine which offers 202Kw and 381Nm.
Standard Specification
As before a three-grade strategy is followed; TX, VX and VX-L. The TX variants come well equipped with automatic dual-zone climate control, 6-speaker touch audio system, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated entry, cruise control, park distance control, keyless entry, auto door lock, three power outlets, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, 3rd-row seating and reverse camera. Seat heating and ventilation are provided for front-row occupants while 2nd-row occupants also benefit from seat heating. The refrigerated centre console helps make light work of road trips or bushveld excursions.
VX models amplify the comfort and convenience specification with the addition of memory function for the driver’s seat, a 14-speaker premium audio system with woofer, multi-information display, power tilt-and-telescopic steering adjustment, rain-sensing wipers and power-fold-down functionality for the 3rd-row seats.
The flagship VX-L versions feature Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which encompasses Pre-Collision System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). In addition, the Automatic High Beam (AHB) function provides enhanced visibility via the LED headlamps when activated. A power-operated tilt-and-slide moonroof completes the VX-L package.
New for 2020 is the inclusion of ‘Drive Mode Select’ on 2.8 VX and VX-L variants (already standard on the V6), which offers five modes; Comfort, Sport, Sport +, Normal and Eco; to adapt vehicle dynamics according to driver preference.
Colour & Trim
A total of eight exterior colours are on offer, ranging from Glacier White to the sophisticated Blackish Ageha (a dark metallic teal). For 2020, Raven Black (solid black) and Attitude Black (metallic black) have been added to the palette.
Buyers have the choice of two interior colour schemes on the VX and VX-L; Black and ‘Neutral Beige’. A matte-finish Walnut wood trim is paired with the Black interior, whilst the Beige iteration is paired with matte Oak accents. TX models forego the wood trim for a classic black interior design.
New Infotainment
A new-generation multimedia system is fitted across the range, which now incorporates a larger 9-inch touchscreen display (previous 8-inch), enhanced voice recognition and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Customers are able to utilise mobile-phone-services such as Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, SoundCloud etc. to enhance their driving experience – while providing enhanced telephony and messaging interfaces ‘on-the-fly’. An embedded satellite navigation system complements the aforementioned smartphone functionality – particularly useful when out of signal range.
Pricing
Prado 2.8L Diesel TX – R 939,900
Prado 4.0L Petrol VX – R 1,029,000
Prado 2.8L Diesel VX – R 1,060,600
Prado 4.0L Petrol VX-L – R 1,072,600
Prado 2.8L Diesel VX-L – R 1,105,800
All Prado models are sold with a 9-services/90 000 km service plan – with 10 000 km service intervals. A 3-year/100 000 km warranty is also provided.
