Toyota South Africa has bolstered its popular Land Cruiser Prado range by introducing a flagship VX-L derivative. We spend an extended test period with one to unpack whether there are any downsides to its cosmetic upgrades.
What are we driving and why is it significant?
Boasting bold new styling atop modern underpinnings and an impressively comfortable, intuitive cabin layout, the sense of anticipation ahead of the arrival in our market of the fifth-generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was such that order books were filled long before the first cars landed in June 2024. Tested in VX-R guise in CAR’s October 2024 issue, the verdict on the newest “light-duty” member of Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser family was that, given its breadth of ability, including on-road poise and off-road capability, it was likely to remain a popular choice in our adventure-focused market. To date, more than 9 650 units of the new Prado have been sold in South Africa, with a current waiting list of up to four months. Keen to build on this momentum, Toyota South Africa has bolstered its local Prado lineup with the introduction of a new flagship, VX-L derivative.
What’s new on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L?
Available only in Avant-garde Bronze Metallic (pictured), Attitude Black, and Platinum White Pearl, the Prado VX-L is distinguished by colour-coded wheel arches and side sills, rather than the black plastic items on both the VX-R and entry-level TX derivatives. To match the occasion and give the new flagship greater boulevard appeal, it is fitted as standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, an upgrade from the 18-inch examples featured elsewhere in the range.
The VX-R’s comprehensive standard specification, including a 12.3-inch infotainment display, a refrigerated centre console and electrically operated third-row seats, is bolstered in VX-L trim by a JBL-sourced audio system.
Further additions to this derivative include steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual transmission operation, as well as three new drive mode options: Comfort, Custom and a somewhat inapplicable, given this vehicle’s mandate, Sport+ setting.
What does the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L cost?
The new flagship Prado is priced from R1 513 100, which is R12 900 more than the VX-R. The Prado is sold with a nine services/90 000 km service plan.
What are the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado’s rivals?
The flagship Prado’s rivals include the soon-to-be-updated Ford Everest Platinum (R1 309 000) and Land Rover Discovery D350 S (R1 824 700). At the price of the latter, you could also look to the Prado’s Lexus GX 550 sibling.
What is the new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L like to drive?
Leaving the vehicle in its Normal driving mode for most of my more than 1 500 km “ownership period”, the first thing I noted while heading away from Cape Town towards the West Coast was how well composed the ride quality of this derivative remains over pockmarked surfaces, despite the fitment of relatively low-profile rubber compared with the VX-R. Also welcome on this traditionally busy section of road was the car’s adaptive cruise control.
Not usually a fan of a digital rear-view camera for its fixed perspective, on this occasion, with the Prado’s otherwise generous luggage area packed tall and impairing rearward visibility, I was grateful for this roof-mounted system’s “live feed” of trailing traffic.
For the time being, Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6 turbopetrol engine remains reserved for this car’s Lexus GX 550 sibling. For my needs, including open-road cruising without a heavy trailer or, indeed, a boat, followed by daily outings around the always-lovely seaside town of Brittania Bay, the Prado’s proven 2.8-litre turbodiesel powertrain was more than adequate.
Including a reluctant return trip to start a new school year in early January, I averaged 10.2 L/100 km over the duration of my time behind the wheel.
Verdict
The new Prado VX-L derivative is an interesting proposition, as despite its added equipment, it is priced at “only” R12 900 more than the VX-R. That said, I assume the latter will remain the more popular choice for those keen to fit heavier-duty all-terrain tyres to its 18-inch wheels, while not worrying as much about scratching colour-coded wheel arches when heading off the beaten track.
It’s an idea that, to date, has been deflected by Toyota, but the inclusion of a Sport+ driving mode in the VX-L, as well as the still tantalising price gap between the flagship Prado and its V6-powered Lexus sibling (which starts at R1.8 million), makes me think there’s a Prado GR-Sport derivative on the horizon.
As it stands, and with Ford’s planned updates to its Everest range still a few months away, it’s difficult to see the Prado not retaining its 2025 Top 12 Best Buys segment win for the coming year.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L specifications
- Price: R 1 513 300
- Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbodiesel
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Driven wheels: all
- Power: 150 kW @ 3 000-3 400 r/min
Torque: 500 N.m @ 1 600-2 800 r/min - Top speed: 170 km/h (claimed)
- Fuel consumption: 7.9 L/100 km (claimed)
- CO2 emissions: 209 g/km (claimed)
