One of the most important facts about the outgoing Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is that it sold out one month before the new model was due to arrive in South Africa.
Such was the reputation of the Prado that customers had as much faith in the old model as they do in the new one.
Like any vehicle in the Toyota Land Cruiser range the Prado had, since its launch in 2002, become something of a benchmark SUV/family wagon as Toyota succeeded in positioning it as an aspirational vehicle.
But the people who bought Prados didn’t buy them for the strenuous pastime of mounting pavements; they bought them primarily as the vehicle that could ferry the kids to school/soccer/ballet and when school closed the Prado was expected to conquer any terrain without a fuss.
So the new model needed to stay true to its never-say-die off-road heritage, while offering even more comfort and ease of use. Tall order that.
The new Prado is a technical smorgasbord — it has a mind-boggling array of new technology that will have even the most fastidious bundu-basher scratching his head in amazement.
The technology (and maybe the exterior design) is perhaps something that could polarise opinion because, although the new Prado makes off-roading a cinch, it also takes some of the fun out of 4x4ing.
The older Prado was like an old-fashioned cook who would create masterful dishes by instinct — a smidgen of this, a pinch of that, a handful of something else and the dish that emerged would be perfect.
Now, however, you have a master chef who will use strict measurements and never deviate from the recipe in front of him and, while his dishes are no less spectacular they lack personality.
If that sounds harsh, it’s not meant to — it’s supposed to convey the different approaches the old and new models take, that’s all.
I’m not going to go into too much detail about the new technology because that would turn this review into a magnum opus, so we’ll touch on the highlights, but I strongly suggest you read through the technical specs if you’re interested in the Prado because there are many innovations.
Multi-terrain select is a system that gives even novice off-roaders the opportunity to negotiate rough terrain by selecting one of four modes: mud and sand, rock, loose rock and moguls (compacted snow or sand that results in an undulating driving surface). This system is engaged using controls on the steering wheel while the differential locks and high or low transmission are selected using dials in the centre console.
There’s also crawl control, which when activated will control the brake and throttle inputs to climb over rocky terrain.
Then there’s the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which controls the front and rear stabilisers to provide the most suitable suspension for the terrain being driven on.
And if all this isn’t enough there are four cameras, one on each side of the car, giving you a realtime view of exactly where the Prado is going.
The Prado also has seven airbags including curtain airbags that stretch all the way to the third row of seats. It also has multi-terrain ABS, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, vehicle stability control, hill-start assist control and more.
The interior is an uber-luxurious space with soft-touch materials and a great deal of functionality with every-thing easily at hand as well as cup-holders for all and tons of little storage spaces. The third row of seats is easily accessed and when not in use it folds away to increase the loading area.
The exterior design doesn’t work for me. Whereas many motoring manufacturers are opting for smooth-flowing lines, Toyota seems dead-set on a somewhat disproportionate approach with bulbous headlights and oversized wheel arches dominating the Prado’s overall design.
During the launch we had ample opportunities for off-roading and highway driving and the Prado felt perfectly at home on and off the beaten track. I suggest that if you buy a Prado, spend some time getting to know the car because it’s capable of some truly impressive off-roading, but you do need to know how to use the technology.
Ultimately, the Prado is like an idiot’s guide to off-roading — even if you’ve never sat in an SUV before, the Prado is clever enough to make you look like you know what you’re doing.
There are only two top-end models available for now — the 4,0-litre petrol V6 VX auto (R650 000) and the 3,0-litre diesel VX auto (R637 000).