What's the difference?
The right lane on Aussie freeways is occasionally referred to as the ‘fast lane’, which is laughable because the highest legal speed in the entire country is 130km/h (81mph). And that’s only on a few stretches in the Top End. Other than that, 110km/h (68mph) is all you’re getting.
Sure, a 'buck thirty' isn’t hanging around, but the subject of this review is a 460kW (625hp) four-door missile, capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and on to a maximum velocity somewhat in excess of our legal limit.
Fact is, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe is born and bred in Germany, where the autobahn’s left lane is serious territory, with open speed sections, and the car itself the only thing holding you back. In this case, to no less than 305km/h (190mph)!
Which begs the question, isn’t steering this machine onto an Aussie highway like cracking a walnut with a twin-turbo, V8-powered sledgehammer?
Well, yes, But by that logic a whole bunch of high-end, ultra high-performance cars would instantly become surplus to requirements here. Yet they continue to sell, in healthy numbers.
So, there’s got to be more to it. Time to investigate.
Is there a more anticipated new car launch of this year? Since the 250 Series Prado’s development started in earnest back in 2022, there have been rumblings about what to expect.
And while the LandCruiser Prado might not be as strong a seller for Toyota as a HiLux or RAV4, it is crucial to get this one right. Not only does the Prado have to be tough enough for rural work, it needs to be slick, comfortable and desirable enough for family buyers who like the finer things in life.
Like a pair of RM Williams boots, then, the Prado needs to perform as well on the cattle station as it does in the boardroom.
The latest 250 Series model is off to a great start in the looks department with chic retro detailing and dramatic surfaces. But the Prado’s talent needs to run a lot deeper than just looks.
An all-new ‘GA-F’ frame shared with the bigger 300 Series, revised powertrain and fully overhauled cabin has our mouths watering. What better test for Toyota’s new family wagon than a hot, humid and harsh Kakadu National Park?
With dramatic looks, a luxurious spec, and impeccable quality, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe remains supremely well controlled as it delivers eye-widening performance and amazing dynamics. But there’s an ‘edge’ to the experience you need to be ready for. If I was determined to head for the Aussie ‘fast lane’ in a BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe I’d opt for the M850i and pocket a lazy $71K (enough for a cheeky M235i Gran Coupe to add to your collection).
The new Prado has nailed the brief. It manages to leap ahead in diametrically opposed areas; not only is it far more refined, comfortable and confident on road, it makes off-roading easier than ever before and can tow more weight.
While the cabin layout, design and practicality is mostly excellent, the seven-seat versions’ boot has issues. You may not be put off by the high load lip or uneven floor but I’d recommend properly poring over the new Prado in person before taking the plunge.
Despite carrying over an engine, it feels like the biggest step in Prado’s history. Expect the appeal of this effortless, rough-and-tumble 4WD wagon to resonate with Prado fans and a whole new urban buyer. Get ready to see an awful lot of these on Australian roads soon.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The drive route took place on the traditional lands of the Larrakia, Murumburr and Jawoyn people and CarsGuide pays our respects to Elders past and present. CarsGuide would also like to thank Joshua Hunter, a Jawoyn Traditional Owner of the Wurrkbarbara clan, for his generosity.
Want to start a vigorous car enthusiast discussion (more a verbal punch-up)? Simply ask whether a four-door car can be a coupe.
Traditionally, the answer is no, but over time numerous automotive brands have applied that description to cars with more than two doors, including SUVs!
So, here we are. A four-door ‘Gran Coupe’, and the M8 Competition version retains the smoothly tapering turret and frameless side glass that help give selected BMW four-door models the same swoopy, coupe look.
At close to 4.9m long, a fraction over 1.9m wide, and under 1.4m high, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has a firmly planted, low-slung, wide-track stance. Always a subjective call, but I for one, think it looks stunning, especially in our test car’s ‘Frozen Brilliant White’ matt paint finish.
In an era of comically oversized BMW grilles, things are relatively under control here, with a bright black finish applied to that ‘kidney grille’, as well as the huge front bumper air intakes, front splitter, front fender vents, exterior mirrors, window surrounds, 20-inch rims, lip spoiler on the boot, rear valance panel (incorporating a functional diffuser), and quad exhaust tips. The roof’s black, too, but that’s because it’s made of carbon-fibre.
Overall the M8 Competition Gran Coupe is a compelling combination of strong, confident character lines along the bonnet and lower flanks, with tightly wrapped curves following the high hip line, and more organically irregular, yet distinctly BMW shapes in the head- and tail-lights.
The interior is a beautifully balanced design with a broad centre console sweeping up to the middle of the dash and wrapping around to focus on the driver, in typical BMW fashion.
The multi-adjustable sports front seats are immaculate, with high-end quilting in the centre section matching a similar treatment in the doors. The dark grey (full) leather trim is offset by carbon and brushed metal trim elements for a cool, calm and focused feel.
Crack the bonnet open and a spectacular ‘BMW M Power’ carbon cover dressing the top of the engine is guaranteed to impress friends and family.
Sitting on Toyota’s GA-F ladder frame platform, the Prado’s dimensions have changed dramatically. With a 60mm longer wheelbase, Toyota has minimised the Prado’s front overhang giving the impression of having a wheel in each corner.
Looking back to the past helped influence the Prado’s appearance, with more horizontal and vertical surfaces. It has the appearance of beings carved back from a block of clay, with sharp lines in relief giving the shape tension and purpose.
By stepping the window line down 30mm and raising the seat position 20mm, Toyota has improved the sense of space inside the Prado’s cabin dramatically. Partially a nod to past LandCruisers, the new Prado is not only better looking, but more practical, too.
Of the M8 Competition Gran Coupe’s 4867mm overall length, 2827 of it sits between the front and rear axles, which is a pretty healthy wheelbase for a car this size (and 200mm more than the 8 Series two-door coupe).
Space up front is generous, and one upside of a four-door, rather than two-door coupe, is you’re not struggling quite so much for space to get in and out when parked next to other cars.
Once inside, there’s plenty of storage up front, with a large lidded box/armrest between the front seats, twin cupholders in the centre console, as well as another covered area for wireless phone charging and extra bits and pieces in front of that. Long door pockets provide space for bottles, and the glove box is a decent size. There’s 12V power as well as USB sockets for media connection, with charging outlets in support.
At first glance you’d swear the rear seat was designed as a two-seater only, but when push (literally) comes to shove a centre passenger can squeeze in, legs straddling the rear console.
In terms of legroom, at 183cm (6’0”) I could sit behind the driver’s seat set for my position with knee room to spare, but headroom is another matter, with my noggin making solid contact with the soft Alcantara headlining. It’s the price you pay for this car’s racy profile.
There’s a neatly trimmed storage box and two cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest, plus door pockets with enough room for small bottles. The rear console houses dual climate controls, twin USB power sockets, and a small oddments tray, as well as buttons for the optional rear seat heating fitted to our test car ($900).
The 440-litre boot is a bit like the car itself - long and wide, but not very high. The rear seat split-folds 40/20/40 if you need more space, and the boot lid is automatic with a hands free function. But don’t bother looking for a spare of any description, a tyre repair kit is your only option.
Only two grades of Prado are available in five-seat guise, the GX and off-road focused Altitude. And although, on paper, the seven-seat option makes more sense, it brings one of the Prado’s biggest flaws.
Toyota quotes a vast 906L space with the third-row folded in seven-seat versions (and much smaller 182L space will all seats up) but the reality is less appealing. Because Toyota had to package the 'V-Active' system’s battery under the boot floor, the sixth and seventh seats sit proud about 100mm when folded.
A flimsy plastic riser box with storage space brings the floor level up when the third row is stowed. It may be a good spot for wet swimmers or valuables, but it dramatically increases load height. It is also only rated to carry a maximum 60kg load. The third row can’t be easily removed, either. This isn’t the most elegant solution.
The Prado’s five-seat layout is more practical for touring than the small increase in boot space (954L) suggests, with a lower load threshold and more useable space. Fold the second row flat and the load area is close to, if not quite, flat, and space increases to 1895L (1829L in the seven-seat).
Payloads take a circa-100kg nosedive coinciding with a weight increase of about 270kg over the old car to between 2495-2595kg.
It means the Prado 250 Series can only carry between 580kg (Altitude) and 615g (GXL) before breaking over the gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating.
Still, improved chassis stiffness and a new transmission mean the braked towing capacity jumps 500kg to 3500kg.
And then we come back to the overwhelming positives in the Prado which continues in the cabin which is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor.
That said, it doesn’t go overly-digital like GWM’s Tank 500, maintaining physical controls for low-range, locking diffs, drive modes, crawl control and, most important of all, the HVAC and seat temperature controls.
Every Prado has 12 cupholders, including two in the front centre console. The door bins are a little small but a refrigerated centre cubby (GXL and above) means you can keep bottles of water nice and cool.
Material quality is stand-out, even the GX has lashings of squidgy rubber and synthetic leather trimmings on the dashboard and door cards. GXL and above get squishy knee-pads on the transmission tunnel, too. Only the too-low armrests and a driving position geared towards shorter drivers are worth the smallest of complaints. The seats, though, are very comfortable no matter the grade.
The Prado’s second row has plenty of knee room for me (188cm) but the floor is set quite high, compromising comfort for taller occupants. There’s also hard plastic cladding on the transmission tunnel that impacts middle seat comfort. A fold-down armrest, 60/40 split backrest with several levels of recline, third climate zone (in GXL and above), face-height vents, two USB-C charge points and a 12-volt socket mean it’s pretty comfy in the back.
With tumble-forward second-row seats and a big, square door mean getting into the Prado’s third row is easier than before and simpler than a Ford Everest. Once back there you’ll find four more cupholders, two USB-C charge points and adjustable backrest decline. Again, the high floor means it isn’t suitable for carrying seven adults great distances.
For child seats, the Prado has ISOFIX tabs on the outboard second row seats and a total of three top tether anchors for the second row.
At $349,900, before on-road costs, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe sits in an interesting part of the upper-luxury, high-performance market, the unifying theme being a forced induction V8 engine under the bonnet.
On price, it lines up almost exactly with Bentley’s twin-turbo Continental GT V8 ($346,268), but that’s a more conventional, two-door coupe.
If it’s four doors you’re after, some compelling options, within shouting distance of the M8’s price, include the supercharged V8 Jaguar XJR 575 ($309,380), twin-turbo V8 Maserati Quattroporte GTS GranSport ($299,990), and the presidentially powerful and imposing twin-turbo V8 Mercedes-AMG S 63 L ($392,835).
But, arguably, the competitor that lines up best in terms of intent, performance, and personality is Porsche’s Panamera GTS ($366,700). You guessed it, a twin-turbo V8, also designed to prowl the autobahn’s left lane.
So, in this exalted company you need to bring your quality and features A-game, and the M8 Competition Gran Coupe doesn’t disappoint.
Running through all the car’s standard equipment would be a tedious exercise, if only for the sheer volume of features, and hopefully, the following highlights package will give you a feel for the level we’re talking about here.
Aside from copious amounts of active and passive safety tech (covered in the Safety section) this brutal Beamer features, four-zone climate control, configurable ambient (interior) lighting, keyless entry and start, ‘Merino’ leather trim covering the seats, doors, dash, M steering wheel, and gearshift, ‘Anthracite’ Alcantara headlining, 20-inch alloy rims, active cruise control, a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and laser headlights.
The electrically-adjustable sports front seats are ventilated and heated, while the leather-trimmed steering wheel, front centre armrest, and even the front door armrests can also be dialled up to a toasty setting.
You can also add a 10.25-inch multimedia display featuring navigation (with real-time traffic updates), Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as gesture control and voice recognition. The exterior mirrors are heated, folding, and auto-dimming. The Bang & Olufsen surround sound audio system boasts 16 speakers and digital radio.
There’s also a digital dash display, panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, soft-close doors, power sunblinds on the rear, and rear side windows, and a l-o-t more. Even in this price range, that standard fit-out is impressive.
Grade for grade, the 2025 Toyota Prado has jumped in price significantly with the GX $9670 more than before and top-spec Kakadu $12,552 dearer.
Despite the same basic engine, there is justification with classier recycled cloth upholstery in the five-seat GX ($72,500), ice cold dual-zone climate control, a strong 10-speaker sound system and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Auto LED headlights, manual seat adjustment, keyless entry, auto wipers, five USB-C charge points, a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display and generous 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with 12 months of Toyota connected services along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make the GX feel like a mighty complete specification.
That said, it still has manual seat adjustment, a urethane steering wheel and rubber floor mats but then it is the workhorse. Practicalities like 12 cupholders and 220-volt three-pin power outlet in the boot mean it’s fit for purpose.
The Prado GXL ($79,990) is what most will think of as the minimum family trim with roof rails, a power tailgate with rear window hatch, heated and ventilated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, eight-way power adjust driver’s seat, leather-accented steering wheel and shifter, a total of seven USB-C charge points and a wireless smartphone charger.
The next step is the VX; a more luxurious urban-oriented trim that gets a different (and a little ugly) ‘Lux’ front grille reminiscent of the old Prado, 20-inch alloy wheels, body colour wheel arch and body trims and Bi-LED headlights with auto levelling and high beam.
For its near-$90K asking price the VX’s cabin bumps the digital cluster to 12.3 inches, adds leather-accented upholstery, power lumbar adjust for the driver, four-way power passenger adjust (without height), a refrigerated centre cubby, carpet floor mats, power-adjust steering column, a 14-speaker JBL sound system — that isn’t a huge upgrade — and terrain monitoring cameras.
Visually closer to the GXL with the square grille and ‘TOYOTA’ lettering, the $92,700 (before on-road costs) Altitude is Toyota’s off-road focused model. It’s also probably the best looking, available in two exclusive paint colours ('Tanami Taupe' and 'Ningaloo Blue') and riding on tough matt grey multi-spoke 18-inch alloys with Toyo Open Country all-terrain tyres.
Inside it’s much like the VX, though upgraded with a heated steering wheel, digital rear-view mirror and a sunroof. It loses tyre pressure monitoring, oddly, but picks up a locking rear differential, passive dampers and front stabiliser bar disconnect.
Right at the top of the tree is the Kakadu which pairs the VX’s exterior appearance with illuminated side steps, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated rear outboard seats and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential.
The M8 Competition is powered by an all-alloy, 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, featuring direct-injection, as well as the latest version of BMW’s ‘Valvetronic’ variable valve timing and ‘Double-VANOS’ variable camshaft control, to produce 460kW (625hp) at 6000rpm, and 750Nm from 1800-5800rpm.
Designated ‘S63’, the engine’s two twin-scroll turbos are located, along with a cross-bank exhaust manifold, in the engine’s (90-degree) ‘hot vee.’
The idea is consistent transmission of exhaust energy to the turbos for improved response, with the reversal of usual practice completed by inlet manifolds positioned on the engine’s outer edges.
Drive goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed ‘M Steptronic’ (torque converter) auto transmission with ‘Drivelogic’, and dedicated oil cooling, as well as BMW’s ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive system.
The xDrive set-up is built around a central transfer case housing an electronically-controlled, variable multi-plate clutch, with front to rear drive distribution set to a default 40:60 split.
The system monitors multiple inputs including, wheel speed (and slip), acceleration and steering angle, and is able to vary the ratio up to 100 per cent rear thanks to the ‘Active M Differential.’
This is not a hybrid, I repeat, not a hybrid. That’s what Toyota keeps saying, at least, even though the Prado’s 48-volt ‘V-Active’ Australian-honed integrated starter generator system is what some other manufacturers call ‘hybrid’, or ‘mild hybrid’.
There’s an 8.4kW/65Nm electric motor generator powered by a small 4.3Ahr battery that contributes to mildly improved acceleration and extended stop-start cycles. Toyota says changes have been made to the diesel engine, including a new turbocharger, higher flow injectors and changes to the block and head.
None of the tweaks increase the Prado’s ‘1GD-FTV’ 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder’s power and torque outputs beyond 150kW (at 3000-3400rpm) and 500Nm (1600-2800rpm).
Turbo-diesel V6s in the Ford Everest and larger LandCruiser 300 Series easily outpunch the Prado, yet it still makes assured progress when lightly loaded. Additionally, the suppression of the engine’s vibrations and noise is much improved.
A new eight-speed automatic transmission gets a lower first gear ratio and taller cruising gears. Toyota says the shifts are 25 per cent faster than the old six-speed, from the driver's seat they feel slick and confident. There are fewer early down changes, too, making for a smoother drive.
Toyota does not claim a 0-100km/h sprint time for the new Prado but it doesn’t feel meaningfully quicker than the old car, which got there in a bit more than 10 seconds. The Prado will go onto a top speed between 165km/h (GX, GXL), 170km/h (VX, Kakadu) and 175km/h (Altitude).
Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 10.4L/100km, the M8 Competition emitting 239g/km of CO2 in the process.
Despite the standard auto stop/start function, over a week-long combination of city, suburban, and freeway running we recorded a (dash-indicated) average of 15.6L/100km.
Pretty thirsty, but not outrageous when you consider this car’s performance potential, and the fact that (purely for research purposes) we exploited it regularly.
Recommended fuel is 98 RON premium unleaded, and you’ll need 68 litres of it to fill the tank. That equates to a range of 654km in line with the factory claim, and 436km using our real-world number as a guide.
For all that electrification and engine improvement, the new Prado’s combined consumption figure falls only a whisker from 7.9L/100km to 7.6L/100km. We saw about 10L/100km on the Prado’s trip computer during a mix of rural highway and dirt road driving.
To combat NOx emissions, the Prado’s Euro 5 compliant diesel now gets a 17.4-litre AdBlue tank. Toyota says the Prado will use around a litre of AdBlue every 500km, meaning it will need a top up once every 8500km, depending on driving style and conditions.
The other thing to note about the 250 Series is its reduced fuel capacity. Having only an underslung full-size spare wheel and battery to package means no extra tank and a maximum of 110 litres of diesel onboard, instead of 150L. That’s still easily enough for a 1000km driving range from a fill-up, though.
There’s something teutonically symmetrical about the way the M8 Competition Gran Coupe delivers its prodigious thrust.
Peak torque of no less than 750Nm is available from just 1800rpm, remaining on full song across a broad plateau all the way to 5800rpm. Just 200revs later (6000rpm) peak power of 460kW (625hp!) takes over to finish the job, with the rev ceiling sitting just over 7000rpm.
That’s enough to slingshot this 1885kg bruiser from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, which is supercar fast. And the engine and exhaust noise produced by the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 during such rapid acceleration is suitably brutal, courtesy of electronically-controlled flaps in the system opening up.
On a more civilised drive you can reduce the exhaust noise via an ‘M Sound Control’ button on the centre console.
The eight-speed auto is fast and positive, especially in manual mode, which dials up the fun via wheel-mounted paddles. And when it’s time to direct this car’s forward momentum into lateral movement BMW has brought in the engineering heavy artillery.
Despite its frameless door body structure the M8 Competition Gran Coupe feels solid as a rock thanks in no small part to its ‘Carbon Core’ construction, using four primary components - carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), aluminum, high-strength steel, and magnesium.
Then the ‘Adaptive M Suspension Professional’ (with active anti-roll stabilisation), the tricky xDrive continuously variable AWD system, and active M Sport diff combine to keep everything under control.
Suspension is a double wishbone front, five-link rear arrangement, with all key components in alloy to minimise unsprung weight. In concert with the electronic wizardry on-board, it helps keep the M8 buttoned down with only modest body roll in enthusiastic cornering, as the rear-biased AWD system seamlessly distributes drive to the axle and wheels that can make best use of it.
The price you’ll pay for the track-ready tune is in compromised ride comfort. Even in the ‘Comfort’ setting, the M8 Competition is firm, and feels corrugations and imperfections to a surprising degree.
An alignment of the BMW 8 Series planets left me with the keys to this car and the M850i Gran Coupe (also using the Carbon Core body) at the same time, and the difference between their softest settings is appreciable.
Also be aware that at 12.2m the M8 Gran Coupe’s turning circle is substantial, and it’s just as well all that camera, sensor and self-parking tech is available to help you guide this ship into port.
The M8’s electrically-assisted, variable-ratio steering features an ‘M’ specific calibration to deliver satisfying precision and good road feel. But in similar fashion to the ride a noticeable amount of unwelcome feedback comes through to the wheel.
The fat Pirelli P Zero rubber (275/35 fr / 285/35 rr) grips hard, and the monster brakes (ventilated all around, with 395mm rotors and six-piston calipers up front) wash off speed without fuss or fade.
But overall, you’ll have to live with a less refined drive when you sign on for the M8 Competition. Straight away it feels faster but lacks the M850i’s lighter touch. No matter which drive or suspension mode you select, responses are more aggressive and physical.
To fully explore and enjoy the M8 Competition’s abilities it feels like the race circuit is its most appropriate habitat. On the open road, the M850i is all the Gran Coupe you’re going to need.
There’s no doubt the Prado has some niggling issues but none of them manage to compromise the driving experience. It is head and shoulders above the vehicle it replaces and a perfect complement to the bigger 300 Series.
Immediately I noticed the light steering in the car park. This is the first LandCruiser product ever with electronic power-assisted steering (funny Toyota managed to hang on longer than Lotus).
No longer are you lumbering an over-sized tiller through your hands when zig-zagging between trees, the new 3.24 turn lock-to-lock system is light, accurate and makes the Prado instantly agile.
And yet when cruising pockmarked NT roads at the posted 130km/h speed limit there’s no dead-zone and plenty of heft off-centre to smoothly deal with crosswinds and cambers.
The other benefit is massively reduced kickback on high-speed dirt roads and when crawling over rocks. There really are no drawbacks here.
Despite its roughly brick-shaped frontal area the Prado manages to cut its way quietly through the air with no whistling mirrors or trim pieces. The eight cabin mount cushions have been revised to further eliminate suspension feedback in the driver’s seat.
Braking is strong with improved four-piston front calipers clamping 354x32mm ventilated front rotors and single piston sliders wrapped around 335x20mm ventilated rear discs.
The ride is superb with passive dampers and 18-inch alloys as on GX, GXL and Altitude. Excellent bump absorption meets a confident posture through high-speed corners. On dirt, the Prado deals with surprise drainage ditches and pot holes beautifully with no more than a dull thud reaching occupants.
With adaptive dampers, the 20-inch alloy-wheeled VX and Kakadu have five on-road drive modes instead of three: 'Eco', 'Comfort', 'Sport', 'Sport S+' and configurable 'Custom'. In Comfort, low-speed plushness is next level with almost friction-free travel over speed humps and knobbly rocks.
Things can get busy on really bumpy roads at 100km/h-plus in Comfort, so it’s best to trade some of that lush travel for Normal’s increased body control. Sport and Sport S+ make the dampers firmer and transmission more aggressive, though this doesn’t suit the Prado’s long-legged charm.
Toyota has hit the nail on the head for on-road dynamics and comfort, then, but what about capability on rough tracks and trails?
The basics are all present and accounted for. All Prados have permanent four-wheel drive, a low-range transfer case and locking centre differential.
Activating off-road aids is easy with switches all gathered near the gearshift on the centre console and they’re faster than ever — low-range engages in about two seconds and the centre differential now locks 24 per cent faster, says Toyota.
With track width increased by 79mm up front and 83mm at the rear and the longer wheelbase, the new Prado is more stable, too. A winding access road through Kakadu National Park with unsighted bends, bumps and mud-splashes highlighted the poise of the chassis and precision of steering, all inspiring huge confidence in the Prado’s abilities.
The four-link live rear axle remains with coil springs all-around remains but a newly-developed double wishbone front suspension with a longer stroke, greater caster and aluminium knuckles adds 10 per cent more front wheel articulation.
Approach angle improves to 31 degrees but departure drops to 17 degrees and wading depth is 700mm. While the 210mm ground clearance saw our GXL scratch its underbelly on a termite nest, the higher-riding VX, Altitude and Kakdu have a bit more breathing room at 221mm.
With a 30 per cent stronger body and frame, the local engineers who worked on the new Prado’s development claim the lack of locking rear diff in GXL and VX doesn’t impact the capability of the new 4WD. The main snag we noticed was the departure angle.
The GX and GXL get 'Downhill Assist Control' (DAC, high-range) and the clever 'Crawl Control' system (low-range) that works as an off-road cruise control, of sorts.
Using the drive mode select wheel, the speed of the car can be controlled without worry of bouncing around on the throttle or brake. Unlike the old system, the ABS pump is really quiet.
Adaptive damper-equipped trims and the Altitude get the latest iteration of Toyota’s well-regarded multi-terrain select. In high-range you can select 'Auto', 'Mud', 'Sand', 'Dirt' and 'Deep Snow' and in low range Auto, Mud, Sand and 'Rock', all of which augment traction control and response for the various conditions.
A mogul control program makes the ride smoother on bumpy terrain while the new 360-degree and terrain-view cameras show a feed from beneath the body to avoid nasty rocks.
The biggest challenge was dished out to the Altitude off-road flagship, with no GR Sport (at least for now). Equipped with all-terrain tyres, a locking rear differential (that actuates in just 0.15 seconds) and an electronic front stabiliser disconnect system that adds another 10 per cent front axle articulation, the Altitude absolutely cruised up, around and back down the rocky outcrop. We’ll need to find a bigger challenge.
The Altitude can be tricked up even further with Toyota genuine accessories, including a roo bar (with body colour option) and integrated winch. We’ll be sampling one early next year on our well-known off-road loop, so stay tuned to see how it compares to other rivals.
For now, what is impressive isn’t necessarily how far you can take the Prado on tricky terrain, but how calm and relaxed it feels eating up rough conditions.
The BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in terms of active and passive safety tech.
As well as expected crash avoidance features like stability and traction controls, this M8 features the ‘Driving Assistant Professional’ suite which incorporates active cruise control (with ‘Stop & Go’ function) and ‘Night Vision’ (with pedestrian recognition).
Also included are AEB (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), ‘Steering and Lane Control Assistant’, ‘Lane Keeping Assistant’ (with active side collision protection”, an ‘Evasion Assistant’, a ‘Crossroads warning’, ‘Wrong-way warning’, as well as front and rear cross traffic alert.
The headlights are ‘Laserlight’ units incorporating ‘BMW Selective Beam’ (with active high-beam control), there’s a tyre pressure indicator, and ‘Dynamic Brake Lights’ to warn those behind of an extreme braking event.
Plus, M8 Competition owners score complimentary enrollment in the BMW Driving Experience Advance 1 and 2 courses.
To help guide your parking efforts there’s a hi-def reversing camera (with panoramic view monitor), rear parking distance control, and ‘Reverse Assist’. But if all else fails the car can park itself anyway (parallel and perpendicular).
If all of that isn’t enough to avoid an impact, you’re protected by 10 airbags (dual front and front side, knee bags for the driver and front seat passenger, as well as side airbags for the second row, and curtain airbags covering both rows).
An automatic emergency call function contacts the BMW call centre for connection to relevant services in the event of a crash. And as has been the case with BMW since the dawn of time, a first-aid kit and warning triangle are on-board.
More and more, safety is becoming a byword for systems that incessantly beep, bing and bong offering more a stressful soundscape than genuine help. In Prado's case, things are different.
It may not have an ANCAP crash safety rating yet, but as it is equipped with nine airbags, auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitoring and occupant alert, the Prado is off to a strong start. All trims get these safety features, too.
The calibration suits Australian roads and driver standards with the only warnings we noticed being a few tugs at the steering wheel to stay within the lane markings and a gentle suggestion to take a break after two hours behind the wheel.
Plus, they’re pretty simple to disable. When off-roading, there’s a single button that disables those that can get intrusive on tight trails, such as low-speed AEB and rear cross-traffic alert.
You need to dive through the digital driver’s display to disable the parking sensors which sound like an RSL pokies room when you’re passing low-slung bushes.
The stability control (tweaked depending on drive mode) steps in gently to correct any wrong-doing on dirt and still lets you power out of boggy situations. Also, the ABS system is very effective and silent at work, helping keep the brake pedal feeling confident no matter the surface.
BMW offers a three year/unlimited km warranty, which is at least a couple of years off the mainstream market pace, and lagging other premium players like Mercedes-Benz and Genesis, both sitting at five years/unlimited km.
Roadside assistance is included for the duration of the warranty period, and the standard ‘Concierge Service’ provides everything from flight information, to global weather updates, and restaurant recommendations, from a real human.
Technically, service is ‘condition based’ with the car telling you when it’s time to hit the workshop, but you can use every 12 months/15,000km as a guide.
BMW Australia offers ‘Service Inclusive’ packages that require customers to pre-pay for servicing, allowing the cost to be covered off in finance or leasing packages and reducing the need for concern about paying for maintenance further down the track.
BMW says there are different packages available, from three to 10 years, or between 40,000 and 200,000km.
Toyota backs the Prado with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty from the factory. Providing the 4WD is serviced on schedule, Toyota will extend this warranty to seven years.
Maintenance is due a little more regularly than your run-of-the-mill family seven-seater like a Toyota Kluger or Hyundai Palisade but that is to account for the Prado’s heavier use case. It is capped at $390 a visit with Toyota calling for the car to return every six months or 10,000km.
Another clever feature is the Prado’s front end, which is split into smaller sections including the fog light bezels, lower valance and grille, which can be replaced individually if damaged.