The Land Cruiser Prado may be considered as the middle child in the Toyota seven-seater SUV hierarchy, right smack in between the Fortuner and the Land Cruiser 200. Yet the Japanese carmaker hasn’t forgotten its erstwhile offering, giving it a bolder look via a refresh.
Launched at this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show, the updated Land Cruiser Prado receives a new five-slot grille, sleeker headlights, hood, and bumper. While they all give the Prado a bolder look, Toyota says that these changes are actually functional as well. The hood, for instance, helps improve forward visibility, while the grille is designed to feed more air into the engine bay. As for the headlights, they can now avoid obstacles when going off the beaten path.
The rear end likewise gets tweaked with new taillights, garnish, and bumper design. The look is finished off with three available wheel designs, with sizes ranging from 17- to 19-inches.
Just like the exterior, the cabin likewise gets a makeover. Now with higher quality materials, the refresh is also designed in the name of better visibility and usability. The center console, for example, is now lower, while the controls are now flush for a more refined look and feel. Speaking of refinement, Silver Hairline accents line various interior pieces, as do ambient lighting and a new LED instrument cluster.
The Land Cruiser Prado is still powered by a trio of familiar Toyota engines. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder, which comes from the Fortuner, develops 163hp and 246Nm. It is mated to either a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Next up is the 4.0-liter V6 that puts out 248hp and 381Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic.
Those who prefer diesel power can opt for the 2.8-liter four-pot that is seen in the Fortuner, Hilux, and Innova. This one develops 177hp and 450Nm of twist, coursed to all four wheels via 6-speed auto gearbox.
It also gets torsen limited-slip differential with five driving modes—Normal, Eco, Comfort, Sport S, and Sport S+. Apart from this, safety has been upgraded with Toyota Safety Sensing P collision avoidance systems.
The updated Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will initially be sold in the Japanese and European markets.
