WHAT IS IT?
I live in a fairly upmarket area and my son goes to a private school. Every morning I park my little red Vitara next to at least one white Prado or, more usually, I squeeze between two. Now I’ll be squeezing alongside new, squarer, more desirable and instantly recognisable Prados, for this is the car that in my area shows that you belong.
WHY THIS?
Since it was first unveiled internationally just under a year ago, it has been one of the most talked-about, desired vehicles in South Africa. This thing is going to sell in droves.
OUTSIDE
When the ‘new’ Land Rover Defender was launched moments before a pandemic shut down the world, it single-handedly brought the big old square retro 4x4 design into the 21st century. (That’s my claim and I’m sticking to it.) Since then, it has stood out on the roads and been waiting for a true rival. Well, Defender, wait no more… The 2024 Prado is square, rugged, handsome, and utilitarian in appearance.
Seen head-on is the Prado’s sweet spot, with a square grille, square headlights, straight lines and crisp edges, only a few curves softening things up. Measuring 4 920mm long, 1 988mm wide and 1 860mm tall, it is 95mm longer and wider and 10mm taller than before. The wheelbase now matches that of the big-daddy Land Cruiser 300 at 2 850mm, for one simple reason. Yes, the Prado (called the Land Cruiser 250 in some markets) shares its underpinnings with the 300.
INSIDE
The larger dimensions are immediately noticeable when you slip inside the Prado, while the design is clean, stylish, and functional, with dual digital screens for the instrument cluster and multimedia system, and an intuitive layout for the switches. Toyota has nailed it.
A full leather interior graces even the entry-level TX model, and all models are seven-seaters. There are even, and I checked twice, 14 cup holders scattered around to cater for the chronically dehydrated and dangerously under-caffeinated. Everything from safety to comfort is more than adequately catered for, and overall, the cabin is a massive jump up from the previous Prado.
THE DRIVE
The Prado remains at heart a Land Cruiser, so it comes standard with multi-terrain select (MTS), low-range, diff locks (rear on the TX, centre and rear on the VX-R), generous ground clearance and even a stabiliser disconnect mechanism on the VX-R (if you know, you know).
But more importantly, it is refined to drive anywhere, the 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine that has become the standard Toyota by far produces 150kW and 500Nm of torque, all the while using a claimed 7.9l/100km of diesel. It’s brilliant, especially when paired with the eight-speed automatic gearbox that is the only option.
FINAL WORD
Toyota has spent years building the Land Cruiser brand equity into something revered, desired and admired, and this new Prado is a wonderful representation of that work. It is an icon reimagined. It will do just about everything for just about everyone, although it doesn’t pretend to offer quite the same levels of finish as a German or British luxury vehicle, or of a Lexus, and it no longer comes in petrol.
GO GET IT
At R1 296 300 for the TX and R1 448 900 for the VX-R, it comes with a nine-year/90 000km service plan and a three-year/100 000km warranty. Visit www.toyota.co.za for more.
Gallery
