PRADO ROCKS ON

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA HAS LAUNCHED ITS 2025 PRADO, AND FITTINGLY DID SO IN KAKADU NATIONAL PARK, A PLACE THE TOP-SPECIFICATION PRADO KAKADU WEARS ON ITS BADGE

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

THE new Toyota Prado 250 Series will be sold in Australia in five model grades: GX, GXL, VX, Altitude and the top-of-the line Kakadu.

The Altitude grade is now a full time model rather than a limited edition one, and it is the most off-road focused of the new Prados.

It is the only variant that comes with a locking rear differential and front sway bar disconnect mechanism to give it better traction at the rear axle and more wheel travel at the front. It also comes on 18-inch all-terrain Toyo tyres and is only offered as a five-seater, leaving more room in the cargo area by ditching the third-row seat. Leaving the rear seat out also ups the payload capacity.

All 250 Series Prados are powered by the 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre diesel four-cylinder engine, boosted with Toyota's 48-volt V-Active technology. The tech doesn't increase peak output, the mill still making the claimed 150kW-500Nm of the previous Prado and current LandCruiser 70, HiLux and Fortuner models. The engine is backed by a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time/ dual-range four-wheel drive system.

The new Prado offers a 3500kg towing capacity with an integrated towbar that is prewired and ready to use.

The 250 Series Prado rides on a variant of the same TNG-F chassis that underpins the LandCruiser 300 Series, the Lexus GX550 and the Toyota Tundra pickup. It's a bigger wagon than the 120/150 Series Prado and more akin to an 80 Series LandCruiser in size.

Stylistically the boxy body takes many cues from the 60/62 Series LandCruisers of yesteryear that give it a retro appearance, with the Australian models all featuring the FJ62-like rectangular headlights, while the round headlights as seen on the LC250 in some other markets will not be offered here on any grade.