People will tell you that pedigree is important. In the case of a racehorse, for instance, its lineage determines how people expect it to act, perform and carry itself. The same can be said of a vehicle really; if it comes from a reputable stable, builds on a proven reputation and represents a culmination of a chequered history, it should be a winner. The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is a case in point, and we had the opportunity to put it through its paces in Mozambique. As with its predecessors, it oozes strength, reliability and capability and will effortlessly get you where you want to go.
The Cruiser evolution
Over the years, the Land Cruiser family has evolved into three parallel series:
- Luxury SUV – represented by the current 300 series.
- Utility focused – in the form of the famous 70 series.
- Versatility – including the all-new Prado.
The first Prado (Spanish for meadow or prairie) joined the global Land Cruiser range in 1985 and since then, its evolution has seen it become more luxurious and larger. However, with the new model there was a conscious decision to bring it back to its origins, focusing on its fundamental quality as a practical and affordable vehicle. The result is a vehicle that offers authentic off-road performance, underpinned by its new GA-F platform and frame; excellent functionality for carrying passengers and cargo; enhanced visibility for the driver; and simplicity, with parts designed to be easy to repair or replace with customised items.
The “back to origins” quality is also evident in the vehicle design, which fuses Land Cruiser heritage with modernity. The robust styling projects reliability, a timeless look and the kind of functionality associated with solid quality.
Looking the part
At first glance, the Prado’s lineage is unmistakable and identifies it as a fully-fledged off-roader. It’s a design that will age well and perfectly blends heritage and modernity. Sure, it resembles early Land Cruiser models (the 40, 60 and 70 series), but it’s contemporary in every possible way.
It features a strong horizontal axis, a long bonnet, upright windscreen, a short front overhang, distinctive trapezoidal wheel arches, and a box-shaped cabin. At the front, it’s classic Land Cruiser, with the functional parts grouped together towards the centre. The standard headlight options are a slim oblong triple-eye arrangement of LEDs, or a classic round-eye projector bi-LED alongside vertically arranged turn indicator and daytime running lights.
The bodywork displays contrasting sharp hard and glossy curved surfaces for a simple, modern look with a sense of tension and high precision. At the rear, the lights are tightly grouped in vertically stacked combi-units.
Spats are fitted ahead of the front wheels, reducing the airflow striking the tyres and directing air to help cool the brake discs. These are deformable, so can withstand rough road driving.
It’s a design that certainly catches the eye, as we discovered on the launch route from Maputo to Ponta Mamoli.
Practical yet comfortable
The interior layout of the Prado is all about off-road driving, durability and quality, but it’s comfortable enough to make even the most arduous journey enjoyable.
The instrument panel and upper door mouldings have strong horizontal lines that make it easy to grasp the vehicle’s orientation in challenging conditions and make for an open cabin environment with excellent outward view for everyone on board. The panel’s cross-section is lowered in front of the front passenger, enhancing the open feel. The driver’s instrument combimeter and multimedia display are set high for easy visibility and there is a wide console area – a Land Cruiser characteristic – that keeps driving controls close at hand for quick and intuitive operation.
The multimedia system is accessed via high-definition touchscreen (eight or 12.3-inch). What really impressed me, however, were the toggle or push controls for certain functions, making them easy to operate and does not require scrolling through menus to get to the setting you want. In fact, professional rally drivers were consulted on the design of the combination of dial selector and push switches used for vehicle system functions such as the Multi-Terrain Select.
The front seats have a new design to provide strong support when driving off-road. In addition, they also have thinner seatbacks, improving leg and knee room for rear seat passengers. Thicker urethane cushions disperse pressure over a wider area of the occupant’s body and are shaped to promote the optimum pelvis angle, reducing the load on the waist and muscles.
The second-row seats are offered in a bench arrangement that divides 60:40, and the third row comprises two seats that can be folded flat manually or with power control.
Although a seven-seater, there is adequate cargo space in the rear, while the new top-hanged rear door improves accessibility.
An advanced powertrain
The Prado is being introduced with a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine that has been re-engineered for improved driveability and a stronger balance of fuel efficiency and performance. This 2 755cc in-line four-cylinder DOHC direct injection multivalve unit produces a maximum 150kW at 3 000r/min and is matched to a new eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. With maximum torque of 500Nm generated between 1 600 and 2 800r/min, it can tow loads of up to 3 500kg.
The new eight-speed automatic transmission was designed to enhance driving performance and fuel economy and offering quiet performance. And quiet it is! With closer gear ratios, a new, compact torque converter and optimised components, it delivers precise lock-up control, almost seamless shifting and a smooth acceleration feel.
A confident off-road performer
As we discovered on the launch, the new Prado will be able to take you just about anywhere and its off-road credentials are beyond reproach. In taking the model back to its origins, Toyota has ensured that the vehicle has the fundamental, built-in strength to deliver on this promise, rather than relying on sophisticated technologies.
At the same time, easy manoeuvrability was a key consideration: beyond its off-road strengths, this is a vehicle that is simple in concept and composed and comfortable to drive for everyone in everyday use. Visibility is good, switchgear is simple to understand and intuitive to use and vehicle responses are prompt and faithful to the driver’s intentions.
The Prado’s authentic off-road character is reflected in its retention of a body-on-frame construction, but its capability is a step up from the model it replaces. The foundation for its performance is the new GA-F platform and frame, as also featured in the new Land Cruiser 300. Overall, the torsional rigidity of the frame has increased by 50%, while that of the frame and body combined has risen by 30%. The result is a vehicle that responds and moves just as the driver intends.
Incidentally, the new Prado is the first Land Cruiser model to be fitted with an electric power steering system (EPS). Compared to a hydraulic system, this reduces the amount of kickback that can occur when driving over rough surfaces and provides smoother, more direct steering and easier manoeuvrability at all speeds. This we experienced first-hand while playing in the soft, white sand of Moz!
The new Prado is also the first Toyota to use a Stabiliser Disconnect Mechanism (SDM), which has the dual benefits of enhancing off-road performance and a more comfortable ride on standard roads. Using a switch on the centre console, the driver can unlock the front anti-roll bar (stabiliser), increasing suspension travel. Travelling at low speeds on rough, rocky surfaces the extended wheel articulation helps keep all four wheels in contact with the ground, making the vehicle easier to manoeuvre over rough terrain. When vehicle speed increases, the anti-roll bar will automatically be re-locked.
The Land Cruiser’s Crawl Control is definitely worth a mention. It operates in theL4 transfer mode and controls the engine torque and brake pressure, avoiding wheelspin and wheel-locking and allowing the driver to focus on the steering.
There are five different speed settings appropriate for a wide range of different driving surfaces and inclines.
The front suspension features a new independent double wishbone system with extended stroke to gain high road-holding performance and off-road capability. It’s constructed from high-strength, lightweight components for durable, reliable performance.
A stable drive is supported by an increased caster trail while stability under braking is enhanced by a reduction in the kingpin offset angle and increase in the anti-dive angle.
At the rear the four-link rigid axle benefits from detailed revisions to achieve smoother, more linear performance while saving weight and enhancing reliability.
The anti-roll bar is made from a new material that is both lighter and more rigid, while further weight is saved with a thinner axle cross-section and optimised bracket wall thickness – a design that also strengthens reliability. An increase in the anti-lift angle helps prevent rear-wheel lift. The entire geometry has been optimised so that the movement of each link is smooth and linear, helping secure a comfortable ride.
The marvel that is Multi-Terrain Select
The Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) of the Prado adjusts the vehicle’s steering, drive force and hydraulic brake control to meet the demands of different off-road driving scenarios. It also provides an additional Auto mode, so the driver doesn’t have to alter the setting as conditions change. It is simple to engage, using the powertrain control switch and multi-function dial selector on the centre console.
The model derivatives
The first derivative in the line-up is the Prado TX. It is generously equipped with a wide scale of standard innovations and conveniences such as seat heater and ventilation (driver and passenger), Android Auto & Apple CarPlay (wired), Auto Headlamp Levelling and a six-speaker sound system.
The VX-R adds an array of features, including a digital rear-view mirror, a larger infotainment screen (12.3 inches), a five-mode Drive selector (versus three-mode in the TX), a Stabiliser Disconnecting Mechanism, power folding seats, heads-up display (HUD), wireless charger, a refrigerated box in the centre console, heated steering wheel, a ten-speaker sound system and wireless Apple CarPlay. The front lighting elements are upgraded to individual LED items, the second-row seats are heated and ventilated and a power moonroof rounds off the package.
The First Edition is the pinnacle of the Prado line-up, available only in limited numbers and for a limited period. While it shares similar specification with the VX-R, it is easily distinguishable from the other variants courtesy of the classic round headlamps versus the regular rectangular shape.
A final word
If you, like us, have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of the new Prado and the opportunity to put it through its paces, let me assure you that it most definitely lives up to all the hype.
It certainly looks the part of a true off-roader, but it’s not a case of all-hat-and-no-cattle. It’s very comfortable but also highly capable. What’s in a name? The Toyota badge tells you everything you need to know. This is a thoroughbred in every sense of the word.
Model line-up and 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
*All Land Cruiser Prado models come standard with 9-services/90 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty. Customers can additionally purchase service/maintenance/warranty extensions via the Toyota dealer network.
