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In other markets, such as North America and Europe, this is the Toyota LandCruiser – but for Australia, it is the slightly smaller sibling to the flagship LandCruiser 300 Series. This is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series, and it’s an important vehicle for the brand.
The Prado was originally the Bundera, a comfort-oriented variant of the 70 Series – he is based on ‘a product line still in production today’.
The Prado became its own model, launching here in mid-1996 as a cheaper family SUV but with the same off-road capabilities that Aussies had expected from the LandCruiser nameplate.
For example, from $36,990 the Prado was nearly 26 per cent cheaper than the base LandCruiser 80 Series – with range-topping landcruiser Sahara being almost three times the cost of the Perado.
The Prado, as such, was regarded for over 20 years as the best-selling SUV in its class; it has been popular since then but is barely dying even though there’s an ongoing competition from both legacy and newcomer brands.
The new generation, even with higher prices, had over 17,000 orders placed before the car was launched in Australia – to say nothing about the new luxury model being introduced, badged as the Lexus GX.
Despite its widespread popularity, it still took me until the previous 150-Series before I really ‘got’ the Prado.
I was given a long-termer to me for two months in one of the Covid locks and it turned out to be one among the few times I reluctantly handed back – with firmly gripped keys and forced smile.
The new Prado carries the 2 over, . This is a 48-volt mild–hybrid system and an eight speed automatic transmission that drives full time four-wheel drive, but the 8-litre turbodiesel from the previous generation has been replaced with its own 4-wheel engine. Nevertheless, power outputs are the same as I drove my 2021 model but this new model has gained about 140kg.
This was my first real chance to know the 250 Series – other than a short drive in the Lexus twin – but it’s based on. vehicle Toyota has said is strong enough to be known as the LandCruiser abroad for badgering them with branded ‘strong’. Big phone call A strategic, but big call from a .
And as we approach our 30th birthday in Australia (as a standalone model), is the new Prado dynasty’s successor? Let’s know.
How much does the Toyota LandCruiser Prado cost?
Toyota LandCruiser Prado, a 2026 model of its own line-up (the ranges for the GX) and five variants are available across the lineup.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GX | $72,500 |
| 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GXL | $79,990 |
| 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado VX | $87,400 |
| 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Altitude | $92,700 |
| 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu | $99,990 |
The prado is the Kakadu-topping Prado, as with my long-termer; $99,990 plus on road costs – and is last step in the ladder before Lexus GX (from $116,000 +ORCs).
A Ford Everest is the off-road SUV based on the Ford Ranger ute – which starts at $58,990 +ORCs, and is Prado’s most direct competitor in sales terms. While arguably the most direct comparison would be to V6 Everest models, which start at $66,990 +ORCs.
Although the range-topping Everest Platinum V6 is slightly more expensive than the Prado Kakadu, at $83,490 +ORCs, the two models have never really felt like they’re direct competitors on a philosophical level. The true Toyota equivalent of the Everest was the now-defunct Fortuner, based on the HiLux.
China has been the only real rival to emerge, with the GWM Tank 500 – twin-turbo V6 hybrid technology and cost $66,490 drive-away.
To see how the Toyota Prado stacks up against its rivals, use our
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What is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado like on the inside?
There’s been a noticeable wind change in the way Toyota has approached the Prado’s design, both outside and in.
The company knew the Prado would be dropping the name of its new car in many major markets, designers have given the vehicle a more muscular and rugged feel throughout – borrowing elements from the 300 Series, Tacoma and Tundra pickups, and the US-market Sequoia off-road SUV.
It is now more trail-ready than ever – perhaps with the exception of early 70 Series Prado but it doesn’t feel as welcoming or family friendly like its predecessor.
Yet, Toyota’s quality and high-end materials are still the same for its build quality; so that the Prado feels every inch like a sibling to the LandCruiser 300.
Triple 12- Twin 12. 3-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment provide a lot of information, with the wireless Apple CarPlay working well all our time with it. It was good, loud audio and had a lot of bass (with plenty of Bass) with the 14-speaker JBL sound system.
Thankfully, in its infinite wisdom, Toyota has chosen to have an array of real buttons across the steering and the dashboard. After a couple of days, it’s not until you know what everything is to be learned for ages that control things like the climate control can be done quickly and without taking your eyes off the road.
A good kitted out base-model Prado GX starts with, but each step up has a decent swag of extra features and culminates in the peak Kakadu.
But for the Kakadu, it feels like a range-topping variant of paraphrasing has been done too much. The Dash is a large slab of plastic with some screens, and may be slightly Gucci-style to justify the $100K price tag.
The front and rear leather seats are heated, ventilated, a heated steering wheel with power adjustment, an illuminated side steps (stylistic sunroof), ‘head-up display”, rerigerated centre console box, wireless smartphone charger and back climate control to name just.
While the seating position is comfortable, a side step should be used when entering and leaving the Prado; there’s about foot between edge of the step and seat. If you’re a bit taller from the car, just get up into the vehicle rather than throw yourself in. I’m just getting old, or maybe I am a .
It seems that visibility has been a bit less, as it appears to be more of ‘higher shoulder line’ (though big mirrors, if bright and clear reversing camera or blind-spot assist) is not an issue than it was in the past.
You would think there is plenty of space for adults in the second row, but as you know, it doesn’t have much support on the bench seat when long distances are a bit difficult. The third row of seats folded, which is accessed via a power tailgate, has good boot space as it’s – being if it was – seven-seater.
With all three rows of seats in use, luggage space is very compromised, and best used for school commutes or emergency situations rather than a dedicated seven-seater. Our man Max Davies went into great detail about the luggage space, which you can read here. But it’s worth saying, you’re better off moving to the 300 Series or a dedicated people mover if you need to transport more than five people and their bags.
| Dimensions | Toyota Prado |
| — | — |
| Length | 4990mm |
| Width | 1980mm |
| Height | 1925mm |
| Wheelbase | 2850mm |
| Cargo capacity | 182L (all seats up) 906L (third row folded) 1829L (third and second rows folded) |
To see how the Toyota Prado stacks up against its rivals, use our
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What’s under the bonnet?
As mentioned above, the Toyota Prado still has a 2-year-old . Similarly to the HiLux, LandCruiser 70 Series and HiAce engine – this generation model has an addition of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to help reduce fuel consumption and emissions from 8litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.
| Specifications | Toyota Prado |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.8L 4cyl turbo-diesel with 48V MHEV |
| Battery | 4.3Ah li-ion |
| Motor generator power | 8.4kW |
| Motor generator torque | 65Nm |
| Total system power | 150kW @ 3000-3400rpm |
| Total system torque | 500Nm @ 1600-2800rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive type | Full-time 4WD |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.6L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 8.7L/100km |
| CO2 emissions (claimed) | 200g/km |
| Fuel tank | 80L main tank 30L sub tank 17.4L AdBlue |
| Kerb weight | 2535kg |
| Payload | 615kg |
| Braked towing capacity | 3500kg |
| Gross vehicle mass (GVM) | 3150kg |
| Gross combination mass (GCM) | 6600kg |
This is an eight-speed automatic transmission of power to all four wheels (low range, torque sensitive limited rear differential) for off-roading with a torque.
Approximately 8 fuel economy figures were over a mix of freeway, suburban and city driving. That’s not far from the combined claim of 8 litres per 100 kilometres, which isn’t far off the total claimed by . 7L/100km.
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How does the Toyota LandCruiser Prado drive?
It’s a bit of an argument that everyone talks about reliability being the reason why Australian buyers bought the LandCruiser and the Prado.’ I think it’d be something else to say so much more. A harder word for .
Sure, reliability is a very high value in our market but the real appeal of the LandCruiser (and its extended family) comes from the feeling of solidity that you hear when you drive it. There have been a lot of attempts to , but there are few that match Toyota on this level.
The Prado is continuing this . There is a calmer, more comfortable ride and little blue pills are like it’s an addiction to the chassis. To say the quality of fit and finish inside is a part of that, you get ‘a car which impresses both but also gives an immense confidence to the driver.
And that’s not just sunshine, praise and all.’ But it’s also a little bit of sun for ? The stated performance is the same even though the mild-hybrid system presumably takes some load off the engine, and it does not mean that there is no difference in performance. The car itself has meanwhile gained some 140kg, enough to take the edge off.
The new Prado sounds like it was just an old-generation Prada, whereas the former – and now that generation had been doing well, but is more apparent when you come across a hill or have to get ahead of traffic. This also exacerbates some small concerns about heavy towing, giving the V6-powered Ford Everest an advantage for those who think ‘The Lap’.
pedal tuning is not the solution to this situation, a condition that does not help. It seems that there is a very little difference between 50 per cent throttle and 100 percent throttle, as the engine doesn’t really seem to have any more to give. A bit of poke in the first half of a pedal is also on tap and so it almost lures you into ‘false security that there’s more on your tap. When you lean on it, you find a blank answer to “I’m not sure what I am doing.”
The first 15 per cent of the brake pedal is too light and not as confident as a big heavy car, but it’s also very hard for Braking to match up with the rest of that car. But, mind you, it just takes a little more pressure before they sign onto the job and that’s where the brakes are?
Despite the fact that you have enough traffic to pass through and cruise along, you’ll get your groove with the Prado. Adapt the torque from the turbo, let the transmission move through its cogs and the big girl wafts along nicely with her large daughter.
We’ve had the worst driver assist systems we’d ever seen, and actually did what they said on the box for the most part (which means that they didn’t distract with constant bings and bongs).
The steering weight is the sweet spot for something like this, delivering good balance of lightness and direction to front wheels (although there isn’t much back-to-driver communication). And if that’s what you’re after, buy a Porsche.
While it’s not as bad as its predecessor, handling is pretty good for a big bus and while that’s fair enough to be the case of an SUV on 20-inch alloys with lower-profile tyres. A good adaptive suspension does feel competent, though it can be sucked up on more difficult terrain. But without driving the two side-by-side, it’s hard to know if this was an intentional choice for making the Lexus GX more comfortable.
The Prado was not taken to the bush on this occasion, but we have previously covered its off-road capability (see Paul Maric’s video at the top of this story). Despite the Kakadu beingn’t exactly what you want for such things – given its wheel and tyre package – there is no question that it has enough old and new technology to tackle just about anything thrown at it.
Although it looks rugged, it’s less than a giant like-minded – just wants to scoop you up and put you down safely at your destination.
| Off-road dimensions | Toyota Prado GXL |
| — | — |
| Track front and rear | 1664mm front 1668mm rear |
| Ground clearance | 210mm |
| Approach angle | 31º |
| Departure angle | 17º |
| Ramp breakover angle | 25º |
| Wading depth | 700mm |
To see how the Toyota Prado stacks up against its rivals, use our
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What do you get?
The base Prado GX is a relatively non-frills approach, but the standard features continue to piling on as you move up the range and culminate in the highest Kakadu variant on test here.
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2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GX equipment highlights:
- Five seats
- 18-inch dark grey alloy wheels
- Front grille with ‘TOYOTA’ lettering
- LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- Folding body-coloured mirrors
- Darkened front and rear bumpers, side sills, wheel arches
- Manual tailgate
- Fabric upholstery
- Rubber floor mats
- Six-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
- 7.0-inch multi-function instrument display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 10-speaker sound system
- Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Four USB-C ports
- Embedded satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Toyota connected services
- Dual-zone climate control
- Downhill assist control
- Crawl control with five speed settings
Prado GXL adds:
- Seven-seat capacity
- Roof rails
- Rear privacy glass
- Silver front and rear bumper trim
- Power tailgate
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Leather-accented steering wheel and gear knob
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Wireless charging pad
- Rear climate control
- Two extra USB-C charging ports
2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Range (L-R) Altitude, VX, GX, Kakadu and GXL
Prado VX adds:
- 20-inch dark metallic alloy wheels
- Bi-LED headlights with dynamic auto-levelling
- Adaptive high-beam assist
- Body-coloured front and rear bumpers
- Over-fender (wheel arch) moulding
- Rear guard trim
- Leather-accented seats
- Power lumbar and memory function for driver’s seat
- Four-way power-adjustable passenger seat
- Power-adjustable steering wheel
- Carpet floor mats
- Refrigerated centre console
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14-speaker JBL sound system
- Adaptive Variable Suspension
- Five drive modes
- Multi-terrain select
- Multi-terrain monitor
Prado Altitude adds:
- Five seats
- 18-inch matte grey alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres
- Locking rear differential
- ‘Stabiliser disconnect mechanism’ (in place of Adaptive Variable Suspension)
- Black door handles and tailgate trim
- Black wheel arch moulding
- Sunroof
- Two-tone colours available
- Digital rearview mirror
- Heated steering wheel
- Head-up display
Prado Kakadu adds:
- Seven seats
- 20-inch alloy wheels with highway tyres
- Panoramic sunroof
- Illuminated side steps
- Heated and ventilated rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Adjustable driver’s seat thigh support
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Head-up display
- Torque-sensing limited-slip rear differential
To see how the Toyota Prado stacks up against its rivals, use our
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Is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado safe?
The independent government-funded vehicle safety outfit, ANCAP, awarded the Prado a full five-star safety rating back in 2024.
| Category | Toyota Prado |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 85 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 84 per cent |
| Safety assist | 82 per cent |
The large Toyota ranked in all four categories well with no less than 82 at its worst (safety assist) and as high as 89 for child occupant protection, making it one of the best families that consider safety is important.
Safety equipment highlights:
- Nine airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Stability control with active traction control
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane trace assist (lane centring)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear parking support brake (stops the car if a static object is detected)
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Trailer sway control
- Trailer pre-wiring harness
- 360-degree camera
The VX, Altitude, and Kakadu grades gain tyre pressure monitoring.
To see how the Toyota Prado stacks up against its rivals, use our
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How much does the Toyota LandCruiser Prado cost to run?
Toyota offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on the Prado, with roadside assistance plans available to be purchased from $99 annually.
| Servicing and Warranty | Toyota Prado |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Purchasable, $99 or $139 per year, depending on plan |
| Service intervals | 6 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years, $395 each |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3950 |
Toyota has lowered its capped-price service plan from three years to five since we last drove the Prado – but prices have also increased by five bucks to $395 per visit. If the car’s maintenance schedule requires you to visit your dealership every six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), what is a fair amount of ?
Compare that to most other large turbo-diesel SUVs, which typically only require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km.
Despite the fact that you may want to think about the extra pain of driving in twice as much (depending on how many miles you tend to drive up), there is also an argument that regular maintenance will be more effective for longevity and reliability. If you want to keep your 44 out of its warranty, then the extra time and money spent could be a good investment.
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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado
But the new Toyota Prado has a long history to live up to, and while it isn’t setting an old standard for the nameplate, it remains firmly in demand for those who need ‘a comfortable SUV with real off-road capability’.
But the last model was a clearly ageing out model that had to be replaced, and there is no doubt this new Prado offers all the latest technology buyers are looking for. Perhaps the only big exception is its use as a dedicated seven-seater, perhaps being an important part of .
It also provides cocooned strength that is synonymous with the LandCruiser name, which may be what loyal Prado owners are looking for on the road. But while it is a lot right, we did have some minor complaints.
There’s the price tag for Then there’. For the Kakadu and – all the niceties that come with it – another $30K is an attractive option at $72,500, but for this one more difficult argument comes from Prado. If we look down to the cheapest Ford Everest Platinum, or even if you don’t need the extra kit, the entry-level LandCruiser 300 Series?
It’s a little thing that seems like nothing about the new Prado, while it has all the ingredients to make this one of the best cars objectively possible, but there is something very special (it just doesn’t really be as good as the previous generation).
While handing it back, the key clutches didn’t have us holding up as tightly as we were; if you had to give that last five per cent for an exceptional experience – both in terms of the cabin and also driving experience.
Despite being a relaxed hauler, the Prado is still an attractive option for families — especially those who live out in the country and need peace of mind from their car that comes with being more remote – as well as having access to where they are after if there was.
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