Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is the answer if you are looking for power, adventure and sophistication in a mid size SUV. It is good looking, seats 7 people, performs wonders off-road and does not consume a lot of fuel.
We test drove the VXR (top trim) of the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for a good one week, putting it through most possible scenarios one could face in the UAE. As you see in the video, we took on some water logged roads as well. The Prado drives like a boss on & off the road and you feel really confident. One thing that could improve is the handling. The steering response is a bit lazy and the driver needs to consider speed & vehicle occupancy before taking on a sharp bend. Better ask the passengers to buckle up!
Ground clearance of 8.6 inches and wheel size of 18 inches ensures that you are set to take on any terrain without much fuss. You can easily switch between Low 4×4 or High 4×4 by putting the car in neutral and rotating the knob placed on the center console.
Driving inside the city, we are looking at a fuel economy of 10.1 liters per 100 km and this can improve once you hit the highway. These numbers are very good when compared to Prado’s arch rival Mitsubishi Pajero.
The 0-100 km dash was painfully slow, while the manufacturer specs sheet says it takes around 9 seconds, it felt like a lifetime to me. Toyota Prado has a top speed of 200 km per hour, I wont suggest taking it all the way there as speeds of over 160 km per hour make the car a little unstable.
A range of safety features include Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) to warn you of any approaching traffic when reversing, while the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) provides a visual warning if another vehicle is hidden in a blind spot.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Specs:
Engine: 4.0 Liter – 6 Cylinders Horsepower: 271 Bhp Torque: 381 Nm Drive System: All Wheel Drive Transmission: 6 Speed Automatic (ECT)Interior:
Prado’s cabin is overall neat with premium finishes. Driver gets a 4.2 inch color TFT display that shows essential vehicle information. The steering wheel feels premium upon touch with buttons to control the driver display and the infotainment system. Leather seats are comfortable and with the summer season around the corner, I am sure most people will appreciate the ventilated and cooling option (front only though). The 9 inch infotainment screen has a crisp display, state of the art navigation system and a variety of apps. 6 speaker audio system make the Prado experience even more enjoyable. The gear console is also neat and clutter-free. You can easily switch between Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes. Toyota Prado is equipped with Tri-zone climate system and AC vents in all three rows. Access to the third row is quick and simple by just flicking the lever on the second row seat shoulder. Second and third row seating is completely foldable incase you want to transport more cargo and less people.2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado price in UAE: Starting from AED 129,900
The model we reviewed as shown in the video is Toyota Prado VXR 4.0 Liter and is priced at AED 189,9002020 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Review Rating
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Performance - 7.9/10
7.9/10
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Driving Pleasure - 7/10
7/10
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Look and Style - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Fuel Economy - 8.6/10
8.6/10
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Value for Money - 8/10
8/10
8/10
Summary
Kind of best of both worlds SUV, solid 4×4 off-roader and equally effective in the city.
Pros
- Full 4×4
- 7 Seater
- Good Fuel Economy
- Decent Infotainment
Cons
- Lackluster Acceleration
- Limited Cargo with all seats in use
- Tight 3rd row
- Sloppy Handling