Overview
MAJOR enhancements within the suspension and chassis have radically lifted the consolation and dynamics of the newest LandCruiser Prado from its earlier purchasing trolley and faculty drop-off queen persona.
In its 2024 overhaul, which introduces the fifth technology of the Prado lineage, the ‘correct’ 4WD takes a quantum leap in dealing with and edges into the territory of a top quality SUV, with exact steering complementing a well-sprung front-end that’s streets forward of the predecessor’s imprecise and spongy really feel.
With it, the wagon is extra energetic, simpler to regulate and above all, safer. Cornering at freeway speeds may be taken with confidence with none guesswork or heart-in-mouth moments. For a dad or mum who has chosen a LandCruiser Prado, this new technology is much better suited to transporting the household.
The brand new gen’ introduces the Altitude, a nameplate beforehand used for restricted or special-edition fashions, which this time sits on the high of the brand new Prado’s off-road centered tree with a $92,700 (plus on-road price) value.
The Altitude is the one for these inclined to enterprise off the highway and for individuals who need all of the fruit however much less off-road focus, the Kakadu ($99,900 plus prices) stays the nameplate’s flagship.
Prado additionally comes as a GX, GXL and VX, priced from $72,500 plus on-road prices. Step again a yr and the most affordable Prado was $58,400 +ORCs.
What’s new? Begin with the Prado’s chassis and work up. The styling is boxy, trending Defender and Santa Fe however clearly family-related to the HiAce. There’s a lift-up tail, changing the break up gate or side-hinged door, and the spare wheel strikes beneath the chassis rails.
It’s on a brand new chassis with an extended wheelbase of 2850mm (up 60mm), entrance and rear tracks are broader at 1664mm and 1668mm (up 79mm and 83mm respectively), whereas the automobile size is 4990mm and width is 1980mm (up 95mm). The physique size is 165mm longer than its predecessor however general size is simply 5mm, due to the removing of the spare tyre.
Floor clearance improves, now 221mm for the Altitude, an increase from the Kakadu (earlier mannequin equal) at 219mm.
The additional automobile size means the turning circle grows to 12.0m from 11.6m and, ostensibly, cabin room is best (it’s) however whereas baggage house is up, it’s marginal. The boot dimension is 906 litres (third row flat) in contrast with the previous mannequin at 742 litres, however with the 2 rows retracted, out there house is 1833 litres, up barely on the previous mannequin at 1829 litres.
It additionally now tows as much as 3500kg (braked), up from 3000kg.
The two.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is mainly the identical (and sounds it) at 150kW/500Nm however now it has 48-volt electrical motor help and drives via an eight-speed auto to a full-time 4WD system.
The steering is electric-assisted and feels it by being lighter. The firmness of the previous mannequin, particularly at cruising velocity, is more likely to be missed by many though is outweighed by the advantages of the lighter electrical system in shut confines.
However the previous guide park brake, a boon for any off-roader, has gone, changed by an electrical system with a console-mounted button.
Altitude has a bundle of excellent stuff (see beneath) however retains it dust sincere with 18-inch wheels and tyres (Toyo Open Nation) which provide a superior aftermarket rubber alternative and provides higher cushioning and trip compliance than the 20-inch items on the opposite variants.
The Altitude additionally retains the outward look of the 2 different dirt-spec variations, the GX and GXL, with black bumpers and wheel arch mouldings.
Inside it will get the same characteristic checklist because the VX, balancing off-road skill with city-life comfort and luxurious.
Drive impressions
I learn my notes on the earlier Prado technology and was shortly conscious that I wasn’t terribly impressed and that the issues I didn’t like have, in the principle, been rectified.
Sadly, Toyota spent a wheelbarrow full of cash on making this a significantly better go-anywhere wagon and I simply know I’m nonetheless going to see the nameplate lined up exterior each college in my district and out of doors each purchasing centre throughout the nation.
I’m hoping that some make it into the bush. There, their house owners will uncover a Goldilocks SUV that does every thing just about spot on. The Altitude is snug, right-sized, can tow, can cross streams and sand hills, matches the youngsters (throughout 5 seats), performs music superbly (by way of a formidable 14-speaker JBL audio) — and is as secure as homes whereas being enjoyable to drive.
‘Enjoyable to drive’ is a brand new one for Prado. In 2020, whereas testing the earlier gen’s GXL, I stated of its trip that: “For trip high quality, it’s definitely a snug machine however its dealing with dynamics on bitumen have a tendency in the direction of wallowing via corners and maintaining the driving force on the ball with off-centre steering vagueness”.
“Pitch this right into a nook and it’ll want some steering to comply with an ideal arc and will likely be upset by highway irregularities. Take the identical bend in a Kluger and it’s a extra assured manoeuvre requiring much less driver enter, so much less occupant uncertainty.”
I’m glad you learn that as a result of now you possibly can overlook it. The most recent Prado shrugs off phrases like ‘wallow’ and ‘imprecise’, ‘upset’ and ‘uncertainty’.
The suspension and chassis modifications additionally deliver higher bump absorption and larger resistance to mid-corner highway irregularities, a extra compliant and progressive spring motion that advantages occupant consolation, and a stiffer chassis to nail down any unintended flex.
Lots of the improved driver really feel is straight away appreciated on the highway the place the Prado will flip in additional precisely and the electrical steering giving a lighter contact to the manoeuvre.
Highway bumps, notably the place the bitumen has been rippled by the results of bigger autos, are nearly ignored on this mannequin.
However it’s on corrugated dust roads and uneven limestone tracks the place the Prado actually shines. It was all the time a automobile that could possibly be pushed laborious alongside unforgiving roads however now it does all that plus reduces suggestions to the cabin.
Suspension modifications are primarily refinement – it nonetheless makes use of a four-link reside axle rear and wishbone entrance launched in 1996 – beneath the speculation that if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.
The Altitude examined right here comes with much more off-road centered gear – therefore the 18-inch rubber over the city-friendly 20-inch rubber of the opposite variants.
It contains disconnecting entrance anti-roll bars, managed from the driving force’s seat. The idea means the bars can’t do their job of tying down each ends of the suspension journey so the wheels are free to increase journey to most articulation.
I assume it really works in excessive conditions as a result of it did not make any distinction on this off-road testing. Nonetheless, good to have it in case you want it…
The Altitude additionally will get the centre Torsen diff and an electrically-lockable rear diff. It doesn’t get the adaptive variable suspension of the VX and Kakadu, and possibly doesn’t want it.
Additional enhancement of the off-road skill is the terrain choose program that offers entry to 5 modes for high-range driving (mud, snow, sand, dust, and auto), and 4 for low-range driving circumstances (mud, sand, rock and auto).
The packages primarily decide wheel spin – wanted typically to clear snow and dust, however not for rock and plenty of sand programs. The take a look at labored properly in sand and on agency surfaces and even higher along with crawl management in low vary via sand.
Many house owners might dismiss the electronics as pointless however the terrain choose features have roles in conditions unknown to the driving force, or for novice drivers preferring to let the automobile take management. Regardless, it’s a very good system and a welcome addition to the Altitude’s off-road arsenal.
The chassis is a TNGA-F design so is shared with the Lexus GX and Land Cruiser 300. However it’s extra exact than the 300, primarily as a result of it weighs much less and feels loads nimbler.
The engine stays just about equivalent to the earlier mill – and one additionally used within the Hilux and Fortuner – however now will get a 48-volt kick via a gentle hybrid system and an improved emission rating due to its SRC catalytic system that – for the primary time within the mannequin – makes use of Adblue (mainly ammonia) injection by way of a secondary tank.
Toyota says the 17.4-litre tank drinks at one litre per 500km, or 8700km between fills.
How does this really feel? Principally, it doesn’t. You possibly can’t decide the electrical motor doing something however Toyota says it smooths out the ability supply whereas including a little bit of energy.
A belt-driven motor system, nevertheless, is loads much less complicated than a flywheel-driven motor for idle-stop functions.
There was numerous hidden work inside, with a tweak of the turbocharger (smaller and extra environment friendly); bigger alternator; new consumption system; and new engine mounts.
The hybrid system makes use of a belt-driven motor-generator rated at 8.4kW/65.0Nm that may ship an additional little bit of energy to the engine when accelerating and activating the stop-start system. It additionally acts as a regenerative system to cost up the on-board lithium-ion battery.
However the elephant stamp goes to the brand new transmission for doing many of the heavy lifting in making this a significantly better Prado. The eight cogs unfold the load, tighten up acceleration by higher inserting the engine in its handiest torque band, saves a little bit of gasoline and lowers engine noise.
Toyota claims 7.6 litres per 100km (10.2L/100km on take a look at) which is down from 7.9L/100km of the earlier mannequin. Not a giant drop however there are different concerns, together with the load of the brand new mannequin which is up about 140kg.
Inside house is superb, with seating for 5 adults and liberal leg and head room. The Altitude is a five-seater variant (go to VX in order for you luxurious and 7 seats) with wonderful boot house and a spacious, gentle and ethereal cabin.
There’s numerous data for the driving force and many buttons with which to get acquainted. With the removing of the guide park brake, the centre console has opened up and now incorporates numerous buttons for features together with on and off-road driving modes, a multi-terrain rotary choose dial, rear differential lock, excessive/low switch case swap, and the anti-roll bar disconnect swap.
The Altitude will get satellite tv for pc navigation, heads-up show, 12.3-inch touchscreen, electrical steering-wheel adjustment, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and so forth. The features work properly though I used to be extra inclined to make use of guide buttons quite than fingers for navigation.
There may be additionally a sunroof, heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated steering wheel, JBL audio and electrical adjustment for the entrance seats.
All Prados get Toyota Linked Companies that enable prospects to entry a spread of distant automobile data and provide communication with emergency providers within the occasion of an accident.
Multimedia Join is a second service which incorporates sat-nav upgrades. Its complementary for the primary yr, and after that, Toyota Join+ prices $9.95 a month whereas Multimedia Join is $12.50 a month.
Importantly, the Prado additionally picks up a second-generation Security Sense pack that features autonomous emergency braking and detection of cyclists, motorcyclists, different autos and pedestrians day and evening at about twice the gap because the earlier technology system.
There’s additionally driver help programs for on and off-road environments together with automobile stability management with energetic traction management, downhill help management, crawl management (with velocity settings) activated for uphill and downhill manoeuvres, and trailer sway management.
The Altitude additionally has 4 cameras permitting the driving force to view objects near the underside, splendid for off-road work.
Guarantee and repair sees the Prado coated with Toyota’s now commonplace five-year / limitless distance guarantee.
Service intervals are for much longer than rivals at six months or 10,000km. That’s twice as many visits to the supplier’s workshop as most different rivals.
Except for the annoyance at visiting the supplier twice a yr, the capped-price service (CPS) price is inexpensive, though dearer than earlier than.
The CPS is for 5 years, so 10 providers, at $390 a go to, up from $240 a go to, to a most of six providers, beforehand.
There isn’t any free roadside help – once more, not like most rivals – however house owners pays an annual price to hitch the Toyota Help program.
Is it a greater Prado than the earlier gen?
Completely.
