Toyota ups Prado safety spec

SAFETY first as Toyota upgrades its Prado with extra enhancements, some styling tweaks and solely minor worth rises for the second time in a yr.

Externally there’s not a lot distinction – the newly styled alloy wheels and a chrome grille for one grade – whereas consumers needs to be extra drawn to the energetic security expertise that’s now customary on entry-level variations.

All Prados now get the high-end security package beforehand reserved for the dearer grades, together with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as customary on GX and GXL.

These be part of the prevailing Toyota Security Sense options of high-speed energetic cruise management, lane-departure alert with steering help, and the pre-collision security system with day/evening pedestrian and daytime bicycle owner detection.

The entry-level GX grade has extra premium exterior appointments with a chrome-accented grille and puddle lamps.

Toyota’s upper-level VX and Kakadu variants now include bigger 19-inch alloy wheels with a brand new “Energetic” design for the VX and a “Status” design for the Kakadu.

For consumers that don’t want the bigger gas capability and like a tailgate with out the spare wheel, all variants besides the GX could be specified with the flat tailgate possibility pack.

This reduces the gas capability to 87 litres from 150 litres and strikes the full-size spare tyre from the tailgate to beneath the physique of the automobile. For folks wanting a rugged tow automobile, the Prado is rated at 3000kg.

The Prado upgrades observe a extra complete enlargement of the usual function checklist made in August final yr.

Costs have hitched up barely, with $990 added to the GX and GXL to make them $60,830 and $67,530 plus on-road prices respectively. The VX and Kakadu are each up $777, now $77,157 and $87,807 respectively, plus prices.

Toyota Australia vice chairman gross sales, advertising and franchise operations Sean Hanley mentioned the security of all Toyota clients was of utmost significance.

“We’re dedicated to making sure our clients profit from the peace of thoughts that comes with the most recent superior security options,” he mentioned.

“These security updates, together with the vary of visible enhancements, guarantee there has by no means been a greater time to discover Australia’s huge yard in a Prado.”

There aren’t any adjustments to the drivetrain, with all Prado grades retaining the 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel and mated to the one transmission provided, a six-speed computerized.

Toyota’s large-size 4WD wagon has been the most well-liked in its phase for the previous 11 of its 13-year historical past.

It’s odds-on to proceed that in 2021. Yr-to-date gross sales to June 30 present the Prado has offered 10,171 items within the six months, up 17.8 per cent on its 2020 outcomes.

It’s the clear gross sales winner in its phase, with the second-placed Subaru Outback reporting 4820 gross sales, lower than half that of the Prado.

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