Toyota has shown the first images of the facelifted 2018 LandCruiser Prado, which has been revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Its design is clearly following in the footsteps of the big, handsome 200-Series LandCruiser. Where the Prado used to have more swooping, angular designs with curvaceous panels, the 2018 Prado will go back to a more square overall look.
Seeing as the driveline was recently updated to the 2.8 diesel and 6-speed automatic and manual transmissions, underneath the skin will stay the same.
Probably the biggest change is the front end, with new, squarer headlights and a bonnet that is very reminiscent of the bigger brother. The rear end is updated as well, with new light clusters and number plate surround.
The interior is also getting a nice update. Although not innovative or incredibly tasteful, the Prado has always been a comfortable and functional place to be. And but the looks of things, that status quo will remain unchanged.
There is going to be a new spate of safety technology in the Prado, with specs usually reserved for the VX dribbling down into the big-volume GX and GXL models. Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, adaptive cruise control and many other features will be available on varying specs.
Toyota is dropping the 4.0-litre petrol V6 option, citing the overwhelming preference for diesel as the main reason. Incredibly, only 0.02% of Prado buyers opted for the petrol variant.
Extra specifics about the 2018 LandCruiser Prado trim levels and prices are yet to be confirmed, but you can expect the updated Prado to become available in November this year.
No doubt, this update will allow the Prado to continue selling in incredibly high numbers. It outstrips any competition by orders of magnitude, including the Ford Everest, Land Rover Discovery and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
26 comments
Have the Toyota engineers upgraded the towing capacity to be more than 2.5 tonnes as not to do so is limiting their appeal.
If you want to happily and safely tow more than 2.5T, Toyota engineers give you the LC200.
Toyota should come clean on why the towing capacity of the Prado has been downgraded, because Australia is the only country that has a 2.5 tonnes towing limit, every other country including our closest neighbour New Zealand is 3 tonnes.
I’ve been told by a Toyota dealer the reason for the downgrade is because Toyota wants to sell more Landcruisers.
Very disappointing Toyota.
Price point and market share dictates tow ratings for prado. Don’t kid yourselves.
Toyota have announced a 3 tonne towing capacity for the atimatic
Dropping the V6 petrol may be a bad move for Toyota with all the diesels having the dreadful DPF filters now. Interesting to see if Toyota drop the V8 petrol in the Land Cruiser as well.
As Toyota are deleting 4liter petrol in new Prado will now not be getting a new one!!
When will Toyota upgrade to 3 tonne
Disappointing Toyota – still flogging a 2.5 Tonne towing capacity. Have a look around, even the Chinese are doing better in the towing capacity.
Toyota lagging in all its features & price point
I only replace my 2012 Prado if they increase the tow to ,3 ton If they don’t I will buy something else .I have owned 7 Toyota’s
I don’t see how this outstrips the competition? Specs don;t come close to a Disco.
I have had 3 Toyota prado,s first one petrol / gas, towed a boat. Second one bought after first write off because flood 2007, towed a boat. Third diesel towed caravan 20′ and boat. Had to buy Mazda Bt50 to tow bigger van 23′, Land cruiser too expensive and the GVM was less. Question here is why is Toyota prado not 3.5 litre I would be sitting in one now but the mob in Japan are so stuck in their ways. Oh prior to Prado,s I had 2 Hilux,s.
How boring. After all these years it still looks the same
Absolutely ridiculous that they are still only 2.5 tonne towing and why would you drop the engine capacity instead of increasing the power and torque from a larger engine with better fuel economy like the Amorok V6
Why would there not be a 5 seat option to increase the boot space and the fuel tank size.
the Prado is one of the best off road 4wds and Toyota are more concerned about the soccer mums.
I have done over 500k in mine so I have some idea about what they can do.
Having owned two previous 120 Prados, which I loved, I chose not to purchase the 150 model because of the ugly shape and other disadvantages over the older 120. Have now dropped the V6 from the 2018 range, the best motor Toyota ever made, means that my Prado days are over. Very sad, as they had an excellent product with the powerful V6 over the asthmatic small diesel. They were a very capable off-road vehicle.
My 2011 Prado 3 door short wheel base is rated at 3 tonne towing. I was looking to see if the 3 door models still exist
Pig ugly as always has been!
New front end looks like a jeep Cherokee . I would still buy one over anything else though
That grill is still so ugly!
I’m absolutely confused as to Toyota will not increase the tow rating of the Prado to 3000kg , yet they off a much smaller vehicle in the Fortuna to tow larger loads. How safe is that?
After having a Land cruiser for 17 years and went to replace it i could not justify the cost of $90,000 dollars, So I looked at the Prado but with the small towing capability of 2.5 tons i had to look else where, I looked at the Forturner , Everest, and a few others. Then the Jeep Grand Cherokee which has 3.5 ton towing 3.0L V6 turbo Diesel which had more power than all the others i drove , If Jeep can do this why cant Toyota put a bigger engine in the Prado and up grade the towing. Now that i brought ill have to get a bigger Boat.
I’m absolutely confused as to why Toyota will not increase the tow rating of the Prado to 3000kg , yet they off a much smaller vehicle in the Fortuna to tow larger loads. How safe is that?
Still just a prado not really a landcruiser, what do you guys expect.
In the past had 3 Toyota prados, had to go to a holden Colorado because of the towing capacity at 2500kg, very disappointed in Toyota, would still have one if this had been addressed, sadly have a look at all the vans being towed around Australia maybe one prado in a 100 if u are lucky. How many dollars have u missed out on because of this ????.
My days of driving Prado’s are well and truely over after having a late model 120 with D4D that gave me grief with the engine from 10,000 k and then it took another 50,000k for Toyota to fix the problem?. All good until 170,000k when it failed with a hole in one of the pistons, I thought that this was a one off due to the reaction from Toyota and one eyed owners but talking to engine machine shop owners this was not an unusual problem at all. When they fit a decent engine with a competitive power and torque output, and upgraded towing capacity I could maybe look again.