Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for sale in Kenya

The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado’s story begins in 1984 when it was introduced not as a new model in the Toyota lineup but instead as a light-duty version of the larger 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser (J70). It was at the time known as the Land Cruiser 70 Light. Compared to the larger Land Cruiser, the 70 Light had a shorter wheelbase and a smaller engine, traits that the Prado has retained to this day. The 70 Light was sold under a variety of nameplates in various markets but as its popularity grew, it’s the Prado nameplate that stuck.

Toyota intended the J150 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado design to suit both urban and off-road settings and they succeeded on that front – the car never looks out of place. The fourth generation Prado is both longer and wider than the previous generation but the wheelbase remains the same as before. Gone is the iconic rear door mounted spare wheel replaced instead by an under body mounted one. The rear door itself doesn’t open upwards like in previous model years but instead hinges to the side. Opening this door in tight spaces could be a challenge but luckily the top glass can be opened separately allowing the input and removal of smaller items.

The side of the car is adorned by large side steps and you’ll need them given the height of the car. Toyota was kind enough to fit the side steps with a set of lights that illuminates both the entrance and the ground so you won’t have trouble finding your way even in the dark.

2013 Toyota Prado Facelift

2017 Toyota Prado Facelift

The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado’s interior appears utilitarian when compared to luxury SUVs from brands like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo and even their own luxury divison Lexus but that’s not to say it isn’t attractive. There’s a symmetry to the interior’s design that extends from the dashboard to the controls. Materials feel pleasant to the touch and if you opt for the higher trim levels you’ll find that the leather seats rival even those of the German competition. Knobs, switches and dials in this car all feel like they could last a hundred years.

The Toyota Prado’s interior received some changes for the 2013 model year. The driver’s instrument cluster was redesigned to be more ergonomic and now included a 4.2 inch colour multi-information display to show the driver useful information about their car’s setup and driving conditions.

Interior changes for the 2017 model year were less noticeable. The infotainment system received a minor refresh and the air conditioning controls were adjusted slightly. The front seats received cooling when previously they were only heated while the rear seats received heating. Lastly Toyota replaced the steering wheel with the one from the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Performance and Fuel Economy

Three engine options are currently available in Japan. These are the 2700cc 2TR-FE straight four-cylinder petrol engine, the 2800cc 1GD-FTV turbocharged straight four-cylinder diesel engine and the 4000cc V6 petrol engine. The 2800cc turbo-diesel is only available for the 2015 model year onwards and replaces the 4000cc petrol.

The 2700cc engine is fine for city driving but can get noisy under hard acceleration and at highway speeds. The 2800cc diesel provides a good balance of power, performance and fuel economy while the 4000cc V6 provides the best driving experience of them all, smooth and quiet at all speeds.

Detailed engine specs can be found in the table below:

What are the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado trims?