April 16, 2013

Review: 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 4.0 V6

Photos by Ulysses Ang
The Toyota Land Cruiser, particularly, the Land Cruiser Prado has a special place in my heart. There’s something about its rugged styling coupled with its first-class interior and its storied nameplate. Without batting an eyelid, it’s always my first choice to spend my lotto winnings on. The P 2,900,000 price tag is certainly a big splurge by anyone’s book, but given how much chunk of metal you’re getting for the buck, it’s reasonably priced; plus it’s backed up by Toyota’s legendary levels of reliability and durability. However, given the chance to live with a Land Cruiser Prado in the garage for a week, will its luxurious promise hold or will this simply be the case where imagination ended up better than reality?

As the Land Cruiser Prado approached our garage, it’s immediately noticeable from a kilometer away. Though Toyota has taken the liberty to sprinkle its other SUVs with the same design cues found on the Prado of late, this is clearly the originator. It’s strong and masculine from just about any angle. It wears its macho styling on its shoulders with the angular lines and squared-off details. With the exception of the tires, you’ll actually be hard pressed to find anything curving on the Prado. The large, projector-type headlamps, two-tone tail lamps, and even the fender flares are all seemingly designed with a straight-line ruler as opposed to a protractor. In this day and age of sleek, rakish SUVs, the angular Prado is a breath of fresh air, even if it’s actually been around for a while. In fact, if you’re strict about it, the only thing betraying the Prado’s age is the side-swinging rear door. Though thankfully, Toyota has provided for a separate glass opening.



As it got nearer, another thing dawned on me: the girth. Although the length isn’t too much of a problem, measuring in at 4,760 mm (the Ford Explorer, for example, measures in at 5,002 mm), the Prado’s overall width at 1,885 mm may be a tight fit for some garages (including mine). Still, all that sheet metal does translate to a generously comfortable cabin with spacious room on all rows except the third. Getting into the Prado requires a huge step up, requiring the use of both the side step board and handle bar (it’s much more difficult for those entering and exiting the third row), but once inside, the accommodation is top notch. The seats are supportive and perfect for long drives. The third row seats aren’t kingly, except for children, but folding them down does do wonders for the Prado’s carrying capacity. Since the Prado accommodates its spare tire underneath (as opposed to a rear-mounted set-up), the loading bay isn’t flat but it’s big enough for almost anything from an airport run or a round of golf for five.

There may be a large ‘T’ on the steering wheel, but the Prado is dressed to impress—to levels almost befitting a Lexus (the Prado does form the basis for the GX after all). Besides having soft-touch plastics and supple beige leather, the Prado is kitted to the roof with power everything: seats for both the driver (including steering wheel adjustment and lumbar support) and front passenger, power folding third-row, tri-zone automatic climate control, USB and iPod interface with Bluetooth hands-free, front and rear proximity sensors with a back-up camera, and even a moon roof. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything missing in the Prado, except perhaps for better off-the-line acceleration.



Don’t get me wrong: with a 4.0-liter V6 under the hood, the Prado packs a punch at 275 horsepower and 385 Nm of torque. In fact, in most day-to-day driving scenarios, the Prado does feel adequately powered with good low-end pull and good gearing from its five-speed automatic. However, during sudden overtaking maneuvers or as the speeds build up, the engine reveals its less-than refined side with a boomy note above 4,000 rpm. In addition, it just feels taxed pulling the 2,370-kilogram body. Also, it must be said that the Prado’s heavy-duty ladder-on-frame construction also doesn’t do Mother Earth any justice emptying its 87-liter fuel tank to the tune of 5.7 km/L.

Employing an independent Double Wishbone and 4-Link coil spring suspension at the back, the Prado is no sports car. In fact, it doesn’t even remotely handle anywhere near the sporty spectrum within the SUV segment despite even its 265/60R18 tires and full-time all-wheel drive. Instead, it prefers to pardon the pun, cruise through road debris or imperfections. It soaks, wallows, and floats through any sort of pothole without jarring the cabin or its occupants. In terms of NVH isolation, it’s world apart from any other SUV in its price range and can even give those ultra-luxurious European ones a good run for their money. Despite the floaty ride, it’s comfortable for everyone on board and the driver will love the Prado’s planted and weighty steering wheel. Overall visibility is good even the Prado’s large size but the high seating position coupled with the long hood does obscure some front visibility. Nonetheless, thanks to front proximity sensors and even a steering wheel angle indicator on the instrument panel, the Prado is largely maneuverable through traffic. Plus, it feels planted and secure. Perhaps the only issue is with the brakes which could use better bite.



The Land Cruiser Prado also comes standard with Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System or KDSS. Though at first it sounds like some sort of active suspension system, KDSS simply optimizes the front and rear stabilizers (disengaging the stabilizer bars when necessary) based on a series of interconnected hydraulic cylinders. This fully-mechanical set-up is simpler and less complex than other systems, but requires no action from the driver. 99 percent of the time, KDSS remains disengaged and only activates when it detects that a wheel has dropped such as those during heavy off-road activity. Though I didn’t get the chance to try the KDSS (the Prado was driven purely in the city), I’m pretty sure this SUV can tackle any sort of terrain thrown at it.

After a week behind the wheel of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, all I can say is that it manages to lives up to all the hype. By all means, the Land Cruiser Prado isn’t the perfect drive, betrayed by being a veteran in the segment. Nonetheless, it remains timeless where it counts: its design and execution. It remains an unbeatable choice, especially for those wanting a much more traditional take on the luxury SUV. It must be said that given the chance to drive the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado already made me feel like a winner.




24 comments:

  1. Hopefully this can be compared with the Pajero gas version. =)
    --bxr monkey

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    1. If we can get our hands on one :-p last we heard, MMPC doesn't have a Pajero test drive unit anymore.

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    2. I am a former owner or a Pajero BK or the current generation pajero. For my point of view Pajero is not the best mid-sized suv. The lack of engine power is the one thing...because i can't even go on head to head with the santa fe...or even montero..well comfort wise better than the Pick up based SUV's Well i'm looking forward for the next pajero though sana it's faster than the montero..Toyota is toyota...Prado i think the best of the two. :)

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    3. my pajero is diesel by the way..hehe

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  2. how about the diesel version? is it worth it? am thinking of getting one.

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    1. diesel is pretty slow. feels quick due to torque but any V grade fortuner new or old can out run it. gas version can keep up with a V8 diesel of the land cruiser. diesels are slow in nature turbos help a lot but turbo lag is always present. most people dont know how to drive normally with turbos they have a hard time stepping on the gas smoothly they love to let off and re apply gas.

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  3. I hope you can also review the Land Cruiser LC200 D4D

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  4. It has to fight an intense competition with Mitsubishi Pajero,Nissan Xtrail and Hyundai Santa Fe.Its price is very high and now we have many options in lesser price.

    Toyota Land Cruiser Price

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  5. Certified guzzler. Get the diesel for practicality. Also let's hope that TMP can slash the price a bit to justify why I should get it over the current LC200 which is only (more or less) 680k more.

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    1. Size alone can justify it. The regular land cruiser is hard to drive around in this country with small streets and narrow parking lots areas

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  6. Am presently driving a strada and planning to get a new suv,,any recommendation/suggestion from you guys??am not much previe about this,pls help..tnx!

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  7. This is the dressed up Totota Four Runner, same engine and specs if you guys familiar with it(v6, 4.0). With the Prado 3M price tag twice the price of the Four Runner in the states, if you can afford it why not.

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    1. the prado has a much older history than the 4runner. its been around even before the 4runner was made. the 4runner uses the same chassis as the pradro. its the cheaper version of the prado there.

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  8. Is the fuel consumption you mentioned above based on Mixed, City, or Highway driving? :) Thanks!

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    1. well we've own it for about a year now. fuel consumption is pretty good for a v6. definitely sips less gas than our gas fortuner I think. power though is better than the diesel version of the prado and can definatly keep up with the diesel land cruiser. torque is pretty good in my opinion it being an NA engine you get torque on demand without waiting for the turbo to kick in. fuel economy wise I think dad gets 7-9 km/l all city drives. but. dad uses the recommended fuel which is 95 ron. you NEED to put 95 ron in this car with lower ron fuels you wont get the 275 hourses baybe that's why it felt like it was lacking with ulysses? ive driven a good amount of cars at this point lol and the prado pulls well for a V6. specially now since it's got a 6 speed gearing is very good.

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    2. Wow! 7-9km/l in all city driving?! around metro manila? A bit hard to believe when the smaller displacement (1.5 - 2.0) gas engined cars usually gets an acceptable 7km/l in our current traffic conditions.

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    3. 7-8km/l because dad rarely drives and when he does he doesnt go through as much traffic as the driving distance isnt that far lol but yep it's still thr same i think. The newer transmission helps its now a 6 speed. Lol but yeah i think its because of the actual routes and time uses it.

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  9. hi, is the 4.2" monitor touchscreen?

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    1. It's been a while, so I'm not completely sure. But I do not think it's touchscreen. I'll check my old notes.

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  10. hei uly, i know this article has been around for 3 years but im currently planning to get a v6 prado 150. your article says that 2013 one has a moon roof but the pic dont show.

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    1. we own a 2016 v6 prado. no moon roof. you dont get crawl control and advanced 4wd controls either you just get that basic 4x4 system which is good enough.

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    2. Kumuha din ng 2016 version yung kaibigan ko... parang marami ngang downgraded options galing sa international version. aside from the missing crawl control, moon roof, downgraded din yung audio system. Tsaka ang liit na lang ng cargo area sa likod pag gagamitin mo na 3rd row.

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  11. Sir do you think a used 2010-2013 Diesel Prado is still a good buy?

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