Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2009 review

A toytown test track is not the best place to try out a big Toyota Prado, but the sampler at the Megaweb was all we had on offer.  But while repeats runs on the mini circuit were never going to test the 4WD’s offroad ability, the tight corners, gentle slalom and a section of cobblestones did herald that the new vehicle is smoother and quieter.

That’s no surprise, given the current model has set a pretty high baseline.  After trying out the new push-button start too early (and being admonished by a light-stick wave from one of the track ‘guards’) we only had enough track length to punch the 203kW/380Nm 4.0-litre V6 up around 80km/h in short bursts of acceleration, with the five-speed sequential automatic slotted into the mock-manual mode.

It sparked a wave of shocked faces on the Prado’s army of minders, who seemed more used to funseekers pootling around at 10km/h.
But the engine’s eagerness – and guttural voice – were enough to promise it’ll be happy to be challenged.  It steered seamlessly around the low-speed turns and hairpins. But even though we were taking them at perhaps a slightly higher notch than the suggested speed, it wasn’t enough to give a true indication of real-world driving.

This third generation offers an updated cabin, with classier materials and accents, dominated by a massive and bluff-sided centre stack.
The roofline has been lowered by just under 20mm, which perhaps makes it look a little sleeker – if you squint the right way.  Our test car had the spare tyre mounted under the floor to accommodate a split rear gate, but the Aussie ones will retain the rear door and back-mounted wheel set-up of the outgoing model.

Its maximum seating capacity has dropped from eight to seven, which may lose it a few buyers who prefer the big 4WD to settling for a more demure people mover.  But you still climb high, and sit high, in the cabin.

Given that the other vehicles on the test track ranged from sedans down to the miniature iQ, there was a clear sense of dominating the traffic, which will give the Prado a tick from those who want to venture into the wilds of shopping centres and school drop-off zones.