Land Cruiser Prado To Launch Soon

Toyota plans to reintroduce its iconic Land Cruiser Prado in India, discontinued in 2020 due to non-compliance with upcoming BS6 emissions norms. The new model will be introduced in the market in the second half of the year as a completely built unit (CBU). The SUV was spied on transport and images were taken of both the interior & exterior.

Design

The new Prado has a boxy, retro-inspired exterior reminiscent of the FJ Cruiser & the 40 Series Land Cruiser. The vehicle features vertical slats on the grille suggesting that it’s the VX variant. It also has square LED headlights, a 360-degree camera, 20-inch black alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers and side steps, along with a sunroof.

Interior

The latest iteration of the Prado is equipped with a host of modern convenience and comfort features including a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. It boasts an all-black theme complemented by a new sleek steering wheel featuring “TOYOTA” lettering and a digital instrument cluster.

Passengers in the second and third rows have dedicated AC vents, a moonroof, and heated & ventilated seats for added comfort.

Powertrain

In Europe and Japan, the Prado comes with a 2.8L turbo-diesel engine paired to a 48V mild-hybrid system and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is the same engine that is sold in the Fortuner. It’s likely that Toyota will offer the same powertrain combination in India as well. The car is also offered with a 2.4L petrol-hybrid powertrain shared with other Toyota and Lexus models in the North American & Middle Eastern markets.

Off-Roading & 4×4

Belonging to Toyota’s Land Cruiser family, the car is intended to be used as a hardcore off-roader & comes with a robust body-on-frame construction that’s abuse-friendly and reliable. In terms of new hardware, it comes with a Multi-Terrain Select System, Downhill Assist, Electronic Locking Rear Differential, Crawl Control, Front Stabilizer Bar Disconnect System, Multi-link Rear Suspension System and more. These new technologies should make the new Land Cruiser Prado even more capable than its already very competent predecessor when the road ends.

Rivals

The vehicle is expected to rival the Land Rover Defender, challenging it in the >1 Crore hardcore off-roader market.