Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado at a glance

The Prado is a body-on-frame SUV with a longitudinal front engine, independent front suspension and a coil-sprung rigid rear axle. It sits below the full-size Land Cruiser in Toyota's range. More Toyota models are listed in our Toyota catalogue, and its bigger brother is reviewed in our Toyota Land Cruiser article.

Land Cruiser Prado generations

The J90's rounded styling was not universally liked by traditional buyers. The J120 became a common sight in many countries, and the J150 was facelifted in 2013, again in September 2017, when Toyota Safety Sense became standard, and in August 2020, when the diesel was uprated and a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto arrived.

J150 after the updates

Exterior

The J150 looks good from every angle and became more masculine, stylish and modern with each update. It does not rely on chrome or decoration — its sheer size gives it presence. The updated headlights required a new front bumper and wings. The bonnet now sits parallel to the road and has two strip-like ridges running from the windscreen to the grille, which was enlarged but kept its nearly rectangular shape. Depending on version, the headlights use xenon or LED technology. The bumper carries integrated fog lights, a central intake and plenty of stepped, aggressive surfaces.

The side has large rectangular windows with thin chrome surrounds and gloss-black pillars, gently sculpted doors and slightly flared wheel arches with 17- or 18-inch multi-spoke wheels. Chrome side steps help shorter passengers get in, roof rails are fitted, and the chrome mirrors have integrated indicators. Ground clearance is 215 mm. The rear changed less: the side-hinged tailgate starts with a prominent spoiler with brake-light repeaters, followed by a large window, chrome trim and a number-plate recess, with large LED tail lights at the corners. The bumper acts mainly as a step, and the exhaust, towing eyes and spare wheel are under the body.

Interior

The updated J150 has a more modern infotainment system and improved, hard-wearing materials, and it seats five or seven. Toyota kept many analogue elements, but leather, decorative trim and polished aluminium are available. The driver faces a comfortable four-spoke multifunction steering wheel and an instrument cluster with two analogue dials and a 4.2-inch trip-computer display; everything is easy to read, and visibility is good. The uncluttered centre console has air vents at the top, an 8- or 9-inch touchscreen, the controls for comfort systems and two cupholders in an unusual central position, flowing into a tunnel with the gear lever and parking brake. A large armrest doubles as the lid of a cooled compartment.

The front seats are very comfortable, with widely spaced side bolsters, soft padding and a wide adjustment range, and buttons near the gear lever select the drive modes when adaptive dampers are fitted. Second- and third-row passengers can have built-in video screens, their own climate settings and easy access to storage and charging ports, and the well-shaped rear bench has a comfortable backrest angle. Luggage space in the five-seat version is 621 litres, rising to 1,934 litres with the second row folded, according to published figures. The side-hinged tailgate has an opening window for small items.

Engines and transmissions (J150)

The 2.7 has multi-point injection and variable valve timing; the 4.0 V6 has 24 valves and variable timing on both intake and exhaust. Some markets received a 3.5-litre V6 with 206 kW (280 PS) from 2015. The 2.8 diesel, which replaced the 3.0 in June 2015, has a variable-geometry turbocharger, common-rail injection and an intercooler. According to published figures, the V6 uses 10.8–11.7 l/100 km and the diesel about 7.4 l/100 km; 0–100 km/h takes 9.7–12.7 seconds and top speed is 160–175 km/h.

All versions have full-time four-wheel drive with an asymmetric Torsen centre differential that can be locked, a low-range transfer case and H4F, H4L and L4L positions. According to published figures, torque is split 40/60 between the axles by default and can vary from 28/72 to 58/42. Approach, ramp-over and departure angles are 31, 22 and 25 degrees, and the Prado can wade through 700 mm of water without preparation.

Chassis

The Prado is built on a steel ladder frame, with double-wishbone independent front suspension and a coil-sprung rigid rear axle. Richer versions add adaptive dampers, rear air suspension and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which disconnects the anti-roll bars off-road for more wheel travel and stiffens them on the road to reduce body roll and nose-dive under braking. Despite its size, the Prado is easy to drive. All four brakes are ventilated discs, with ABS and EBD. The Multi-Terrain Select system adjusts traction control to the surface, and drive modes — Normal, Eco, Sport, Sport S and Sport S+ — alter the gearbox, steering and, where fitted, the adaptive suspension.

Safety and equipment

Safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a four-camera surround view, ABS with EBD, active front head restraints, ISOFIX anchors and up to ten airbags, with Toyota Safety Sense standard from 2017. Base versions have a manual gearbox, four airbags, hill-start assist, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, cloth seats, 17-inch steel wheels, a limited-slip differential, halogen headlights, fog lights and LED tail lights. Higher trims add a third row, the 4.0 V6, LED headlights with washers, a sunroof, leather, power seats, heated front and second-row seats, ventilated front seats, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, a JBL audio system, four cameras, all the off-road functions and adaptive suspension.

Key specifications (J150, five-door)

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners praise the Prado's off-road ability, high ground clearance, spacious cabin and robust construction — it is a true full-time four-wheel-drive body-on-frame vehicle that still handles well. Drawbacks include a high price, high fuel consumption, expensive servicing, some dated equipment and sparse base versions. Rivals include the Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder, Land Rover Discovery, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Volkswagen Touareg.