Here’s yet another car we can add to the list of vehicles we wish we could buy in South Africa.
As you can see from the images, it’s a short-wheelbase Land Cruiser, or Prado as we know it in South Africa.
Even though it’s shorter than the long-wheelbase model, it still has 1574 litres of load space and a carrying capacity of 593 litres.
It’s more utilitarian than the Prado we know, as it offers a non-slip floor, cloth seats and a metal bulkhead to separate the driver and passenger from the boot. It still comes with USB connectivity, keyless entry and automatic headlights, so it’s not completely devoid of features.
On the outside you’ll note the steel wheels. Being a shorty, it should also be a lot more capable off-road than the long-wheelbase car.
It’s powered by the 2.8-litre GD-6 engine, mated to a six-speed manual.
Toyota has expanded its Prado range with the addition of the eagerly anticipated 4,0-litre V6 model, claimed to be the most powerful six-cylinder engined vehicle in its class.
First announced at the Auto Africa Show in October last year, it completes Toyota’s three-model Land Cruiser Prado range, consisting of the Turbo diesel manual, mechanically similar VX turbo diesel automatic, and now the VX petrol automatic.
The new engine develops 179 kW at 5 200 r/min and a mighty 376 N.m of torque at 5 200. These figures are up from the previous 3,4-litre model’s 132 kW at 4 800 r/min and 298 Nm at 3 600.
In common with the VX turbo diesel, it features a permanent four-wheel drive system that is mated to Toyota’s smooth-shifting four-speed automatic, with a lock-up torque converter, and second gear start function.
Techno-wizardry features include: a Torsen limited slip centre differential; Active Traction Control (A-TRC); Vehicle Stability Control (VSC); Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). After driving the Prado on some of the most daunting 4×4 trails in the Gauteng area, we can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of these systems.
The rest of the comprehensive package includes: 17-inch wheels, latest generation ABS brakes, Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and the Emergency Brake Assist System (BAS), a 180-litre fuel tank, intelligent dual-stage front airbags supplemented by side airbags for the front seats and curtain shield airbags for the front and middle row seats, two ISO-FIX child seat anchors, plush leather furnishings.
There is also an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and four-way adjustable front passenger seat, a one-touch auto up and down function for all four electric windows, a three-zone climate control system with separate controls for rear seat passengers, Optitron instrumentation, a multi-function trip computer and an integrated premium audio system with a convenient six-CD shuttle mounted in the glove compartment.
It includes a 90 000km/five-year service plan.
