Upgraded Prado smooth ride
We head high into the South Island hills in Toyota’s freshly facelifted Prado and we’re impressed. By Rob Maetzig.
Prado is a Portuguese word that translates to meadow or open grassy field. It’s easy to appreciate the use of that word as the name of a big Toyota SUV when you’re sitting in one, gazing out over spectacular tussock country at the top of the Omarama Saddle in central Otago.
We’re in the middle of a full day of off-road motoring in a freshly facelifted Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, which is among New Zealand’s most popular SUVs. It competes in a category officially known as medium-rugged, and now we’re reminded why – this drive from Omarama to St Bathans, through the Oteake Conservation Area, is a rugged assignment.
In recent days the place has obviously been hit by bursts of very heavy rain, because the steep track leading up from the base of Omarama Saddle is very badly scoured, leaving ruts 30-50cm deep. But the Prados, with their drivetrains in 4WD Low and making full use of their excellent suspension travel, pick their way through these obstacles. Only one Toyota falls into one of those ruts – and that is a Hilux ute support vehicle.
Finally our tour reaches the saddle’s 1260m summit. We creep down the other side and along the route of the western branch of the Manuherikia River, making numerous stream crossings while beginning to notice evidence of 19th century gold mining. Finally we reach a proper road – albeit an unsealed one – for the run down to the historic little settlement of St Bathans.
The track we’ve just traversed is a seasonal one, open from Labour Weekend to April 30 each year, and it is strictly for 4WD vehicles – probably the heavier-duty the better. But the effort required to complete the drive is rewarded with South Island high country views that are simply magnificent.
Toyota organised this media drive because the Prado, which is Toyota New Zealand’s biggestselling large SUV, has just been facelifted. It has received a significant exterior re-styling, there have been changes to specification, tow rating has been increased to 3000kg, and it now has the highest level of safety in its class.
But it can now only be purchased as a diesel. All three version of the the Prado – GX, VX and VX Limited – are powered by the same 2.8-litre turbodiesel that is under the bonnet of the Hilux ute, the result of TNZ dumping the 4.0-litre V6 petrol variant.
At the media event, general manager of sales Steve Prangnell said demand for the Prado V6 had tailed off to the extent it was no longer viable. Not only that, but Toyota was realigning its petrol models to lower the brand’s overall carbon footprint.
‘‘Prado is the biggest-selling large SUV in our range, so we don’t think the lack of petrol models is going to impact sales numbers,’’ he said, adding TNZ aims to have achieved 775 Prado sales by the end of this year, and plans to break through the 1000 sales mark next year.
The 2.8-litre turbo-diesel continues to offer 130kW or power and 450Nm of torque, and the SUV continues to be full-time 4WD with selectable Low ratio. The only major powertrain changes are exclusive to the top model, the VX Limited, which now has a rear Torsion limited slip differential which replaces the former electronically lockable rear diff. The Limited also now has the Drive Mode Select from some Lexus SUV models, which lets the driver choose five different settings – Normal, Eco, Comfort, Sport S and Sport S+ – which alter the powertrain, suspension, steering and air conditioning.
The Limited also continues to have adaptive variable suspension and Toyota’s kinetic dynamic suspension systems (KDSS), but it has been dropped from the VX model.
A significant change involving all models is introduction of a suite of safety technology bundled within what is called Toyota Safety Sense, and which includes a precrash system with autonomous emergency braking for both vehicles and pedestrians, lane departure alert with vehicle sway warning, automatic high beam, and dynamic radar cruise control. TNZ claims this makes the Prado the safety vehicle in its class.
While the Prado continues to obviously look like a Prado, the front of the vehicle has had a complete makeover to give it a more chiselled look and help make the side profile less nose-down than before. The rear has also undergone some change, including new tail-light clusters.
Interior has been made more upscale, featuring newly designed dashboard, instrument binnacle and switchgear. A revised centre console now has a lower profile at the top for a more sleek appearance.
The audio display screen for all models has been increased in size, and the GX gains a 4.2-inch colour multi information display. Meanwhile the VX and VX Limited get new viewing modes added to their multi-terrain monitor – underfloor, wide rear display, front rotating display, and panoramic view.
Standard features aboard the $79,490 GX include trailer sway control, three-zone climate control air conditioning, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, satellite navigation and smart key entry and start, while the $88,990 midrange VX adds leather-accented upholstery, power front seats, front and outer second-row seat heaters, 14-speaker JBL premium audio system, blind spot monitor and cross traffic alert.
The $99,990 VX Limited features memory functions for the driver’s seat and steering column settings, a power sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system, and CRAWL control which can adjust power and brakes to all four wheels to help cope with really difficult terrain.
It all adds up to the continuation of the Prado tradition of being a comfortable and very capable SUV – as the sortie through the South Island high country so vividly illustrated.
Prado has a history that goes right back to 1951 when Toyota developed the BJ Series. The Land Cruiser name began in 1955 for the 20 Series, and the medium-sized Prado version began production in 1990. Since then it hasn’t really looked back – to the extent it has a strong reputation for being heavyduty without being silly about it, versatile, and comfortable. This facelift will add to all of that.