New Toyota Prado delayed until 2024
Hybrid power, rugged design for next-gen LandCruiser Prado; HiLux-based diesel to return as wellThe next-generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado is not expected to arrive in Australia until 2024, which will see the current J150 series turn 16 years old before it’s replaced.
As previously reported, the fully-redesigned Toyota Prado is expected to make its world premiere in late 2022, about 12 months after the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series launches.
Originally set down to arrive in Australia in 2023, new intel obtained by carsales suggests that the new Prado’s local launch timing will push into 2024.
“It’s at least more than two years away,” said a source with knowledge of the project.
However, when shown images published by Russian website
, our source indicated it would not look like the Toyota RAV4-inspired rendering.A more aggressive and Americanised look is likely, with Toyota’s product planners and designers confident of “what it takes to design a global off-roader” that will appeal to its key markets in Australia, Russia and the Middle East.
With its exterior design referencing the incoming 2021 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series – which has been partially leaked – the 2024 Toyota Prado is expected to be slightly larger than the current model and will naturally retain its seven-seat layout and off-road capabilities.
Prado to adopt hybrid powertrain
As part of Toyota’s pledge to electrify every model in its portfolio by 2025, the new Prado will get a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, potentially based on an updated version of the Japanese car-maker’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder powertrain.
Toyota’s all-new TNGA-F platform architecture – shared with the next LandCruiser 300 Series and the Tundra and HiLux utes – will underpin the new Prado, retaining its rugged ladder-frame chassis to ensure its off-road and towing capabilities meet customer expectations.
However, unlike the six-cylinder turbo-diesel the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series will get – developing around 200kW/650Nm – the next-gen Prado is expected to retain the same four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the HiLux, as is currently the case.
The Toyota Prado was upgraded in mid-2020 with a more powerful 2.8-litre diesel engine (150kW/500Nm) and a handful of infotainment and safety upgrades – but no changes to its design.
There’s a chance Toyota could offer a V6 engine in the next Prado, whether petrol or diesel, if the brand decides to unleash a high-performance version, potentially with a GR badge.
The generational change should usher in advanced safety and tech upgrades to rival European product offerings, including larger LCD infotainment screens with improved connectivity features, not to mention several advanced driving systems.
The latter will assist in steering, accelerating and braking the vehicle on- and off-road.
Despite the current Toyota Prado soldiering on for twice as long as previous generations – seven years each – it remains the top-selling vehicle in its segment by a large margin, with a 20 per cent market share in 2020.
It’s so popular, in fact, that Prado supply in some regions of Australia is drying up amid strong demand in the marketplace for reliable, tow-friendly and off-road-capable vehicles.
The Prado’s sales dominance mirrors the success of its bigger brother, the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series, sales of which have skyrocketed and even resulted in widespread price gouging.
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