Car Reviews

The most expensive Prado wears the name of the National Park in which its Australian media launch took place.At the top of the Prado tree, the Kakadu moves back to match the VX's appearance with 20-inch alloy wheels, body colour bumper trims, illuminated side steps and 'Lux' grille.Inside, it has genuine leather-accented upholstery, heated steering wheel, heating and ventilation for the front and second row outboard seats, eight-way power adjust for the driver and four-way for the passenger.Carpet floor mats, a refrigerated centre cubby, power-adjust steering column, 14-speaker JBL sound system, terrain monitoring cameras and a panoramic sunroof finish off the ritzy Kakadu's equipment list.The Prado has not been rated by ANCAP yet but comes fully featured with adaptive cruise control (that can be set to regular if you wish), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign assist, driver-attention monitoring, rear occupant alert and nine airbags.It uses the same 'GA-F' ladder frame platform as the larger 300 Series and a version of the old 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with a 'V-Active' 48-volt starter generator. The Prado now has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The Kakadu builds on the list of features with adaptive dampers, five on-road drive modes, a torsen limited-slip rear differential and Toyota's multi-terrain select off-road system.

The Jeep Avenger's base model is the Longitude, which starts at $49,990 before on-road costs, while still featuring most of the same functional features as the higher grades.

The CX-80 flagship doesn’t come cheap, with the Azami trim setting you back $74,150 (petrol), $76,150 (diesel) and $87,200 (plug-in hybrid).

The 2025 Toyota Prado Altitude is the most identifiable of all variants, with the heritage square grille, chunky tyres and a choice of two unique colours — Ningaloo Blue or Tanami Taupe — paired with a light grey roof.Like the GX, the five-seat Altitude is a much more practical offering than the compromised seven-seat Prados.Along with the unique matte grey 18-inch alloy wheels and Toyo Open Country 265/70R18 tyres, the Altitude gets a locking rear different, front stabiliser disconnect system, passive dampers, 221mm ground clearance, Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Crawl Control and Toyota's multi-terrain select off-road system.Though it's rough and tumble, the Prado Altitude is equipped with a few more goodies than the VX, with genuine leather-accented upholstery, a heated steering wheel, digital rear-view mirror, heating and ventilation for the front seats, eight-way power adjust for the driver and four-way for the passenger.A refrigerated centre cubby, carpet floor mats, power-adjust steering column, 14-speaker JBL sound system and sunroof round out the appointments.The Prado is yet to be crash tested ANCAP yet but comes fully featured with adaptive cruise control (that can be set to regular if you wish), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign assist, driver-attention monitoring, rear occupant alert and nine airbags.Toyota's latest Prado uses the same 'GA-F' ladder frame platform as the larger 300 Series and a version of the old 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with a 'V-Active' 48-volt starter generator.The Altitude has full-time four-wheel drive comes and easily-engaged high and low range. All Prados have a 3500kg braked towing capacity and the Altitude's payload is 580kg.

The Earth is the middle rung on the Kia EV5 ladder, splitting the entry-level Air and flagship GT-Line, and it will set you back $64,770, before on-roads.

The GT is the second most-expensive model in the CX-80 family, with petrol, diesel and PHEV setting you back $68,950, $70,950 and $82,000 respectively,

The seven-seat Toyota Prado VX is aimed at the affluent buyer who drives mostly on sealed roads.It gets a traditional 'Lux' grille design along with 20-inch alloy wheels and body-colour cladding, think of the VX as a high-sheen RM Williams to the GX's steel-toed Blundstones.Inside, the theme continues with genuine leather-accented upholstery, heating and ventilation for the front seats, eight-way power adjust for the driver and four-way for the passenger.A refrigerated centre cubby, carpet floor mats, power-adjust steering column, 14-speaker JBL sound system — that isn’t a huge upgrade — and terrain monitoring cameras finish out the equipment levels.The Prado has not been rated by ANCAP yet but comes fully featured with adaptive cruise control (that can be set to regular if you wish), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign assist, driver-attention monitoring, rear occupant alert and nine airbags.It uses the same 'GA-F' ladder frame platform as the larger 300 Series and a version of the old 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with a 'V-Active' 48-volt starter generator. The VX also gets adaptive dampers with greater drive mode customisation and the same 3500kg braked towing capacity.

The cheapest EV5, the Air, arrives in two guises, Standard Range or Long Range, and the former is something of a bargain. It’s the only EV5 to get included on-road costs, and Kia is asking $56,770, on the road. That puts it well below the Tesla Model Y. As of right now, the single-motor Tesla is $60,868, on the road, in NSW.

The Touring marks the second-from-bottom rung on the Mazda CX-80 ladder, and is offered with all three of the model’s powertrain options. With petrol power, you'll be shelling out $61,950, with diesel that's $63,950, and with plug-in power it's $75,000.

The MG ZS Hybrid+ Essence is the flagship model of the initial new-generation ZS line-up, priced from $36,990 drive-away to position it above the Excite. The ZS is already the best-selling small SUV in Australia and MG hopes that this new hybrid option will expand its appeal.