All-purpose practicality
THE PRADO REMAINS AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR NEW 4X4 WAGON, AND ITS POPULARITY IS ON THE RISE.
JUST WHEN you thought the days of the 4x4 wagon were numbered due to the dual-cab onslaught, the Prado has fought back to take fourth place in the top 10 and move past Holden’s Colorado.
Prado year-on-year sales are up around 7.0 per cent off an increase last year and in spite of the popularity of dual-cab utes and more direct competition in the form of Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport, Isuzu’s MU-X, Ford’s Everest, Holden’s Trailblazer and Toyota’s own Fortuner. Looking at the broader picture, Toyota now sells more Prados than it did five years ago, despite a lack of direct competition back then beyond Jeep’s Grand Cherokee.
After a slow start in late 2015, the Prado’s then newly arrived 2.8-litre diesel has been accepted as a decent replacement for the previous 3.0-litre diesel. And while the 2.8 isn’t a particularly exciting engine, it’s certainly quieter, smoother and generally more refined than the previous 3.0-litre and is both torquey off idle and still happy to rev. It’s offered with a sixspeed manual (used with the 3.0-litre engine) and a six-speed gearbox, which has two overdrive ratios, whereas the previous five-speed had a single overdrive. If anything, sixth gear is too tall and it’s a shame Toyota didn’t see fit to lower the final drive gearing to bring the new sixth back to where the old fifth was and gain a performance benefit everywhere else.
Regardless of the new powertrain the Prado remains happy in town, on the open road and off-road, and it’s a do-it-all wagon that impresses with its refinement, day-to-day practicality and effortless long-distance touring ability. It also now offers a 3000kg towing capacity; a long-overdue upgrade.
The pick of the Prado range is the VX, with the brilliant KDSS suspension which improves the Prado both on- and off-road. Unfortunately, KDSS is not available as an option on the popular GXL, nor does Toyota now offer the sweet but unloved 4.0litre petrol V6.