New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado revealed, confirmed for NZ

Toyota has revealed its new Land Cruiser Prado to the world today, exposing us to its inherently classic styling and electrified drivetrain that will grace New Zealand’s gravel and tarmac in early 2024.

Otherwise known as the 250 Series, the new light-duty four-wheel drive has taken direct inspiration from its ancestors with regard to its styling and go-anywhere, do-anything attitude.

Starting with the Prado’s new retro-inspired looks, the SUV has been revealed with two faces, one with circular headlights and another with square eyes, both of which we can’t help but think are a direct nod back to the 1980s 60 Series.

Its side profile is undoubtedly boxy, mirroring that of the design found on the recently-revealed Lexus GX which is underpinned by the same Toyota GA-F platform.

The only engine choice on offer in New Zealand will be a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel four-cylinder mated to a 48-volt hybrid electric system, making 150kW and 500Nm of torque combined. Shifting gears for you will be a new eight-speed automatic transmission coupled to a four-wheel drive system.

Kiwis will also be pleased to know that the new Prado has an increased towing capacity of 3500kg, matching the industry standard figure for the country’s most popular utes.

All variants of the model bound for our shores will be offered in a three-row, seven-seat configuration, a decision that was made based on customer feedback.

The driver gets a 12.3-inch instrument display, while a same-sized infotainment touchscreen features in the centre of the dashboard, above physical air-conditioning controls.

As for tech features, there’s wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, satellite navigation, and more.

Also included in the package is a full suite of safety and driver assistance features which will be detailed at a later date.

“The new Prado is going to make a statement for the customers who purchase it. It’s an iconic design and will be a significant game changer that will continue to light up our line-up and I am excited for it to arrive in New Zealand,” says Neeraj Lala, CEO of Toyota NZ.

Pricing and specification details for the incoming Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will be released closer to the model’s launch in New Zealand early next year.

Also taking some of the limelight today is the updated 70 Series which now wears a fresh new face, also inspired by models of old.

The facelifted model will reportedly keep the V8 turbo diesel but will add the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder found in the Prado to its powertrain offering, according to overseas reports.

Local plans for the more agricultural and heavy-duty Toyota Land Cruiser have yet to be disclosed.

Update: Toyota New Zealand has confirmed that the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 will go on sale locally in late 2023.