All-New Land Cruiser Prado(2024)

Following a long wait and delayed launch, the all-new Land Cruiser Prado has finally arrived, smashing record sales in June 2024 the first full month of recorder sales. 674 units sold and achieving 11^th place for top selling model in South Africa.

Continuing its reputation for strength, reliability, and ability to cope with the harshest conditions in all parts of the globe the new Prado stays with known technology to ensure this vehicle can take you anywhere and everywhere and get you back safe and sound.

Prado – (in Spanish is meadow or prairie) is Toyota’s choice as the principal SUV model for Europe. Designed as a practical and affordable off-road alternative to the larger Land Cruiser 300, the Prado now fits in with its big brother’s styling and compliments Toyota’s modern design. From the early 1950’s when the then Toyota BJ became the first vehicle to successfully climb the slopes of Mount Fuji, Toyota has had a mission to build tough reliable vehicles.

Staying with the body-on-frame architecture the GAF platform continues to provide increased rigidity and excellent response, ride, and handling on and off-road. Utilizing this tested design and not moving to air suspension, ensures repair or replacement to parts are easy to implement even in a very remote location.

Looking at the exterior the new Prado has a modern box shape with strong horizontal axis, a long bonnet, upright windscreen, short front overhang and distinctive trapezoidal wheel arches. Overall length is 4,925mm, width 1,9809mm and height 1,935mm. (Wheelbase 2,850mm). High-set headlights to help avoid damage in tough driving conditions and practical designed bumper corners that are easy to replace if damaged off-road.

Many design features have been implemented to maximise driver visibility, the bonnet shape with raised sides and lowered Centre section improves forward view and reduces the blind spot immediately in front of the vehicle. The A-Pillar is set at a more upright angle to improve the side view.

Spats have also been fitted to the front wheels reducing airflow striking the tyres and directing air to help cool the brake discs.

Inside, the cabin is more open increasing occupant’s outward view. Seven-seat interior with the front seats providing strong support when off-road driving. Thinner seatbacks, improving leg and knee room for rear passengers, and thicker urethane cushions to disperse pressure over a wider area of the passengers’ body.

The second-row seats are offered in a bench arrangement that divides 60:40 and on the 7- seat model the third row comprises two seats that can be folded flat manually or with power control.

3 USB-C ports and a wireless charger, heated seats, and wireless Android Auto/CarPlay compatible.

The power train is a re-engineered 2.8-litre 4-cylinder GD6 turbodiesel engine with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Although producing less power than before, 155kW/500Nm compared to 165kW/550Nm Toyota claims those outputs suit the vehicles attributes better, allowing for smoother acceleration.