Built to take on the toughest terrain, yet designed on the inside with the most luxurious and comfortable interior is how Toyota describes the all-new Toyota Prado for 2021.
Greater power by way of a proven engine from Toyota's lineup as well as refinements in technology are the elements that steal the show as the Toyota Prado undergoes a substantial facelift.
Engine
Let's start with the engine. Toyota has decided to replace the engine in the Toyota Prado with that which resides in its Hilux Truck and the Toyota Forerunner.
This 2.8 Litre, Turbocharged diesel engine has added 20 kilowatts of power from 130 kW to 150, and more importantly, the 2021 Prado now boosts 500 Newton Meters of torque, up from 450 at 1600-2800rpm.
In some markets, Toyota also offers a 4 Liter V6 powered by gasoline, but the gasoline engine produces 271 horsepower but pales in torque, as the torque rating is only 281 foot pounds, as compared to 500 for the diesel.
Transmission
Accompanying the turbocharged diesel is an automatic, 6-speed transmission. Gone are the days when you could get a Toyota Prado with a manual transmission, which is becoming par for the course in these large vehicles.
Fuel Consumption
Despite the more powerful engine in the 2021 Toyota Prado, fuel economy has actually increased. The previous engine used about 8.0 Liters per 100 Kilometers, while with the more powerful engine, you use only 7.9 Liter per 100 Kilometers, so those clutching their wallet every time they fill up can breathe a little sigh of relief.
Not bad for a vehicle that weighs over 2300 Kilograms.
Interior
First, we'll cover seating as how many passengers you can pack into your vehicle makes a big difference for the SUV crowd.
With the cheapest model, the Toyota Prado GX you get a 5 passenger seating model, although there is the option to obtain rear seating for two in the fold-down rear seats. With the GXL, VX, and the top-of-the-line Kakadu model, they all come with 7 passenger seating standards.
The seating, to be honest, is not all leather, but rather leather-accented. You don't get leather accented seats on the GX model, and you have to pay to get in on the GXL.
Leather accented seats are standard in the VX and Kakadu models.
As far as heated and ventilated seats go, they are not available in the GX model and come optional in the GXL. The heating and ventilation system covers front seats and the outer 2nd level seats. It is standard with the VX and Kakadu.
With the discounted GX model you get a Urethane Steering wheel with audio and telephone controls. With the other three models you get a premium steering wheel, and with the Kakadu, you get a faux wood grain look, with paddle shifters and Multi-Information Display and telephone controls.
Infotainment
The Toyota Prado boasts a 9-inch color touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay,
and Android Auto. It also includes Bluetooth and Mp3 connectivity and Satellite Navigation.
The Kakadu model has a BlueRay entertainment system for the back seats.
Safety
As you might expect, there are quite a few safety features jam-packed in the Toyota Prado.
Included in safety are:
- 7 airbags
- Toyota SmartSense which includes
Lane Departure Alert, steering assist, pre-collision Safety, pedestrian detection - Anti-lock brakes
- Trailer Sway Control
- A Reversing Camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC)
And more.
The 2019 model of the Toyota Prado had a 5-star ANCAP safety rating and the vehicle is not only safe but solid.
Exterior
As Far as the exterior goes, the Toyota Prado hasn't changed much. If you buy the discount Gx model you get halogen headlamps, while the other three models offer both Bi-LED headlamps and fog lights.
You get 17-inch alloy wheels for the GX and GXL models, while with the more expensive model you get 18-inch alloy wheels. You also get cruise control and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Price
The Prado GX starts at $59,840, while the Kakadu prices out at around $87,030. The vast majority of customers opt for the GXL which offers plenty of luxury for around $66,540.
Conclusion
The 2021 Toyota Prado offers plenty to look at in a vehicle and if you haven't tried it with the new motor you really are missing a great vehicle at a decent price. Check out full and detailed Toyota Prado reviews at the Car Expert.
