The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, a storied brand associated with toughness and adventure, is poised to reinvent itself through their latest 2024 model. The new Prado, crafted out of innovation and tradition, aims at elevating standards in SUV travel. With striking new looks, stunning off-road aptitude and unparallelled on-road refinement, the 2024 Prado is all-set to capture the hearts of urban adventurers and thrill-seekers alike.

The Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota introduced their first Prado in the year 1984 under the stage name ‘J70’. The word Prado, which originates from a mix of Spanish and Portuguese languages, denotes meadows or fields. This went on to become one of Toyota’s most iconic models, gaining immense popularity across the globe. The J70 was later followed by the J90, J120, J150, and finally the latest 5^th Generation J250 models, persistently conquering SUV markets worldwide.

The signature boxy shape on the Prado’s exterior greatly nurtures the heritage outlook of the legendary J70 series, a model still produced and highly received in the Middle Eastern market. However, in the American market, Prado was launched under the name of Land Cruiser.

Schema Value

Reliability is the ultimate word that defines the brand Toyota and this trait of theirs is duly testified in the J250’s design and capabilities. The 2024 Prado features a classic boxy stature, sharing faint resemblance to the bodyworks of Mercedes G Wagon and Land Rover Defender. This makes the Prado a popular choice among off-road enthusiasts. Earlier this year, Toyota has also registered this design for the Lexus GX 460, a luxury counterpart of Prado.

Prado’s leading-edge design beings with the iconic grille. Crafted out of high-quality plastic, it facilitates cross ventilation and decent airflow. This is complemented by its spectacular headlamps, which come in rectangular and rounded variants. The Prado also houses bold wheel arches with 18” 265/65R tires, wide enough to uniformly support off-road and on-road drives.

The A and D pillars gracefully resonate with the Prado’s boxy design, thereby tailgating towards the posterior with strong spoilers. The boot offers an impressive storage space which can be significantly improved with the 3^rd row folded, thanks to the vehicle’s 7-seat arrangement. As seen in the GX460, the Prado’s boot can be accessed through two different openings, one being the whole main boot while the other being the dedicated glass opening on the same.

The Interior

With no compromise on modernity, the interior of the 2024 Prado keenly keeps up to the J70’s retro standards. This is clearly evident from its cockpit and a functional joystick-type gearbox, which helps the driver conveniently switch between high and low terrain modes. Additionally, the Prado features a brand-new differential locking system at the vehicle’s center and rear sides, providing amplified driving comfort in tough terrains. A 12.6” screen, ventilated seats, and a head-up display are other notable features.

Engine Specifications

Toyota has globally introduced the J250 in five variants:

• 2.4 litre V6 Turbo Petrol: This churns out 276 hp of power and 430 Nm torque and comes with an 8-speed Direct Shift Technology.
• 2.4 litre V6 Hybrid Petrol: This churns out 326 hp of power and 630 Nm of torque and comes with an 8-speed Direct Shift Technology.
• 2.7 litre Inline-4 Petrol: This old school Prado engine churns out 165 hp of power and 246 Nm of torque and comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
• 2.8 litre Inline 4 Turbo Diesel: This produces 201 hp of power and 500Nm of torque and comes in both 6 and 8-speed automatic transmissions.
• 2.8 litre Inline-4 Hybrid Turbo Diesel Hybrid: This too produces 201 hp of power and 500Nm of torque and comes in both 6 and 8-speed automatic transmissions. However, taking the hybrid powertrain into account, the engine houses an additional 48V battery pack.

Safety: On and Off the Road

Toyota has a long-standing reputation in reliability and safety and the 2024 Prado gives complete justice to the same. The key standout here is the signature TSS (Toyota Safety Sense), a technology commonly seen in the previous models of Toyota. The J250 comes equipped with the TSS 3.0, which includes PCS (Pre-Collision System), Lane Departure Assist, Emergency Driving Stop System, RSA (Road sign assist), and AHB (Auto High Beam). These technological advancements reward both the driver and passengers with the right balance of comfort and safety.

A 3-D multi-terrain assist, a feature commonly seen in Land Rover cars, has also been introduced in the 2024 Prado. This greatly benefits the vehicle in seamlessly adapting to different terrains.

Our Take

After a test drive and meticulous inspection of the 2024 Prado, we came to the following conclusions:

Pros:

• Dominating Road Presence: The sheer size of the vehicle, clubbed with an elevated seating position and an optimal viewing angle that sits above the engine bay, rewards the Prado and its charioteer with a commanding presence on road. The sunroof is a cherry on top.
• Robust Suspension: The sophisticated suspensions adapt to different driving conditions, paving way for a dynamically versatile driving experience.

Cons:

• Feels Bulky: The size appears as a common factor in both pros as well as cons. In contrast to its predecessor J150, the J250 is slightly bigger and feels bulkier. This might come off as disappointing to those adapted to the comfort levels of J150.

Pricing and Dealer

The prices of the 2024 Prado in the UAE range between AED 199,900 and AED 350,000 depending on the preferred variant. Customers can get their hands on the latest Prado from Al Futtaim Motors, a recognized dealer in the Middle East with more than 90 years of expertise in sales and service.