Toyota Land Cruiser Prado of the new generation is already on sale

The debut of the new Prado is an event that acquires rarity and significance, since the previous model of the J150 series served on the production line for fourteen years. Now we have a new generation of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, designated as J250.

In many regions of the world, it will be known simply as the Toyota Land Cruiser, devoid of any additional epithets. This is especially true, for example, for North America and Western Europe, where other Kruzak variants are not offered.

Design: between past and future

Fresh Prado suddenly transformed into a real brutal among its automotive ancestors. But, frankly, we were not deceived by this unexpected metamorphosis. The guys from the design team, apparently, decided to joke, and exchanged bodywork with the Lexus GX. From here it went: Prado picked up the daring style of his “comrade”, daring at sharp corners and flat surfaces, as if in a rush unfolding an affair with geometry.

Now the windshield, like a partition in a spaceship, has found its new calling and is closer to the vertical. They say that if you look at it in the dim light of incendiary headlights, you can see the reflection of the brutal laughter of Toyota employees, who cheerfully believe that such a cheeky appearance will give Prado confidence in its own unpredictability.

It seems that even in the world of automotive design, jokes can be the new course of action. So, the new Prado is a shake for the eyes, because now it is more than ever ready for the world of sharp corners and masculine forms!

Looking at Toyota's new look, you'd think the designers took inspiration from modern all-terrain vehicles like the Land Rover Defender and Ford Bronco. But, as far as we know, they did not miss the chance to look into the past, or rather, at the rich history of their own Land Cruiser. Approaching the task with a sly eye, they were clearly inspired by the design of the Land Cruiser 60, because who can forget the magnificent 80s and 90s? Now this spirit is embodied in the design of the front and rear of the new Prado.

Lifting the veil of anticipation, Toyota even surprised us with two design options. Apparently, they have prepared a special treat for true connoisseurs: rectangular headlights for those who respect a straightforward approach to life, and nostalgic round headlights to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of past decades. Like at a party where two different tunes are played so that everyone can find their own rhythm. The second “face”, with round headlights, will not only be a decoration of the expensive First Edition series, but also a welcoming gesture for those who yearn to meet the basic retro version of the 1958 Land Cruiser.

So, the new Prado is like a time machine that will take us to the era of the classics, combining the present and the past in one amazing story.

Body

Of course, the new Prado J250 certainly retains its distinctive frame design, but this time it is based on the same wonderful GA-F platform that the older model, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, uses. Even the wheelbase is pleasantly pleasing and remains the same - 2850 mm ( when the outgoing Prado barely reached 2790 mm). It is interesting, as if the designers took a ruler and decided to make sure that even the internal measures meet the exacting standards.

This break with the past is not limited to paper only. The new frame that comes with this iteration is 50% stiffer than its predecessor, which certainly further highlights the attention to detail on the part of the engineers. The overall rigidity of the entire structure, including the body, has risen by an impressive 30%, which, oddly enough, can lead to improved on-road and off-road performance. And yes, the replacement of body panels will no longer resemble a mission on a spaceship, but will be easier and less time consuming.

After going through a magical transformation of the platform, the new SUV has received additional space. Compared to the previous version, it is 100mm longer (up to 4925mm), 95mm wider (up to 1980mm) and even 20mm taller (reaching 1870mm). Well, how can you do without small touches, such as the now power-lifting fifth door, while retaining the ability to separately open the rear window. The new Prado seems to be closer to the 300 family, but they can always share secrets on how to make cars grow.

Wrapping up this brief tour of the larger scale, it's worth noting that wheel diameters can now be 18 or 20 inches, which is probably the new Prado's way of showing that it can handle even big life changes and still be stylish.

The Prado also boasts two or three rows of seats, offering an increased level of comfort for five or even seven passengers. The old analog gauges have given way to the modern virtual world, allowing the driver to delve into information with screens ranging in size from 8.0 to 12.3 inches. However, the front panel appeared as if it retained the analogue taste, in the best traditions: ladders, decorated with keys and switches, as well as olive branches in the form of a traditional gearbox selector.

Complete set

For starters, the base version will offer cosiness with cloth seat upholstery and a rather modest feature set (although the heated steering wheel and front seats will still please). However, if you miss the luxurious feel of the leather interior, power and ventilation of the front seats, then all this can be found among the options. And don't forget about other surprises, such as three-zone climate control, a powerful JBL audio system with an army of fourteen speakers, a head-up display that seems to look into the future, a panoramic roof for you and the stars, and an interior mirror that has been transformed into the rear camera screen for those who love reverse driving. If you feel the call of adventure and want to play a little "World of Art", Prado will gladly respond to your whim.

Chassis

The chassis frame remained in its previous form: an independent double wishbone suspension was installed in front, and a continuous axle was installed in the rear. But the height of the vertical travel of the wheels again became the focus of attention. Prado has elevated its style by allowing the wheels to extend vertically for a greater distance. The suspension, fitted with coil springs and stock dampers, is old school, despite the fact that the Lexus GX sibling boasts an adaptive damping system. It seems that the KDSS system with active stabilizers has gone into oblivion, but instead of it, an openable front anti-roll bar has appeared, which will be appropriate first of all on off-road.

On the practical side, one cannot ignore the declared indicators: the ground clearance gave 220 mm, the entry angle is 30 or 31 degrees (depending on the configuration option), and the exit angle is 22 degrees.

Looking further, the Prado isn't shy about its off-road roots. It stays true to permanent all-wheel drive, a self-locking center differential and a reduction gear system. It delivers on its promises by offering you center locks and a rear cross-axle differential. One of the iconic elements - the Crawl Control off-road cruise control - has not left the Prado arsenal. In addition, the Multi-Terrain Select system pleases with a more extensive set of modes for different driving conditions, and interestingly, it works even in low gear. And, of course, on the crest of a technological wave, Prado replaced the hydraulic power steering with an electric one to enable the lane keep function.

Power unit

The choice of powertrains in the garage of the new Prado is like a real assortment store, where each region can choose its own unique set. However, manual transmissions and V6 engines are no longer in the catalog, they seem to have gone to the Lexus job. Now the stage is occupied by only four hot cylinders.

To begin with, the base model, which is mainly intended for Japan and Eastern Europe, is equipped with a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated 2TR-FE gasoline engine. It is not inferior in enthusiasm, delivering 163 horsepower and 246 Nm of torque. The pair for him is made up of a six-speed automatic, and such Prados feel great on Japanese and Eastern European roads.

In a wider circle, namely in Europe, Japan and the Middle East, the 2.8-liter turbodiesel 1GD-FTV remains the main player. This familiar hero, with a power of 204 hp. and an impressive torque of 500 Nm, skillfully interacts with automatic machines, which are offered in six or eight variations of gears, depending on the region. And the future for this diesel is also already marked: in 2025 it will acquire a 48-volt starter-alternator, turning into a "mild" hybrid for Western Europe and Australia. With these parameters, the diesel Prado can pull trailers weighing up to 3.5 tons.

Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East, have not gone into the shadows, where a variant with a turbocharged 2.4-liter T24A-FTS engine is offered. With a power of 281 hp. and a torque of 430 Nm, it dances in tandem with an eight-speed automatic, creating a spectacular performance on the road stage. But wait, that's not all! In North America and China, Prado meets the public in the form of a full hybrid i-Force Max, built on the basis of the same turbocharged engine. Here, the eight-speed box was enriched with a 49 hp electric motor. The total output of the system is 330 hp. and 630 Nm. However, the "mild hybrid" limits the traction battery to 1.87 kWh, so plug-in charging is not included in the package.

Prospects

On the American scene, the new Land Cruiser (without Prado in the name) will gladly take its place where the 200th and missing 300th variants used to stand. It's great that they promise that the starting price will start from only about 55 thousand dollars. Unfortunately, there are no other details or benchmarks yet, as the J250 will only be introduced to the global stage in the first half of 2024. The factories that will take on this project will be located in Japan, namely at the Toyota plant in Tahara and at the Hino factory.