When the new Toyota Prado is going on sale in South Africa

Toyota South Africa has confirmed that the new Land Cruiser Prado, which made its global debut on 2 August in prototype form, is scheduled to hit local dealerships in the second quarter of next year – i.e. between April and June 2024.

As such, the local pricing and specifications of the vehicle have yet to be revealed, and neither has the model line-up.

The new SUV is a drastic upgrade from the current one, with virtually nothing carried over from one generation to the next. Prospective owners can expect enhanced performance, better off-road agility, tougher styling, and more advanced features than ever before seen in a Prado.

What’s new

The new Prado is a stark departure from its predecessor in the aesthetics department taking styling cues from the original FJ Cruiser with a modern twist.

It now sits on the same platform as the flagship Land Cruiser 300 and is much bigger as a result, measuring 4,920mm long, 1,988mm wide, and 1,860mm tall – an increase of 95mm in length and width, and 10mm in height.

The 2,850mm wheelbase is 60mm longer than before, too.

The front end of the fresh-faced Toyota incorporates squared-off and horizontal fixtures, signifying the new design direction the manufacturer will follow with its next-gen products, it said.

Following this theme, the nose is based around a rectangular grille and tri-beam headlights, a simplistic silver bumper that is mimicked at the rear, and a low-set front cowl improving outward visibility for passengers.

Muscular wheel arches and a low beltline continue to emphasise the newcomer’s rugged aura, and at the rear, a vertically-oriented tailgate and new tail-light signature complete the look.

Under the skin, plenty of effort was poured into improving the Prado’s ride comfort, handling, and breadth of off-road abilities.

Thanks to the new TNGA-F ladder-frame chassis, the next-generation SUV is 50% more rigid than the current-generation vehicle, helping to increase overall rigidity by 30%.

“The modern and stiff platform allows for improved suspension performance with greater wheel articulation for off-roading, and excellent handling and ride comfort on-road,” said Toyota.

Furthermore, a new stabiliser-bar control system allows the front stabiliser bar to be disconnected for even better wheel articulation, while enhanced functionality for the multi-terrain select and multi-terrain monitor systems assist owners in taking the Toyota to places it would never have been able to go before.

The adoption of electric power steering further provides a “crisper” steering feel, in addition to enhanced low-speed manoeuvrability on tarmac, and more control on mud, dirt, and rocks. The system also allows integration with active safety programmes such as lane-trace assist.

Importantly, the new Prado will employ a variety of turbocharged petrol and diesel powertrains “catering to the unique needs of various global markets and their operating conditions,” said the manufacturer.

This includes the first-ever hybrid system in a Land Cruiser, though it must be noted that not all of the engines will be offered in every market the Prado is sold.

The preliminary specifications of the drivelines, as provided by Toyota, are as follows:

Inside, the 2024 Prado sports a “clean, stylish, and functional” design with dual digital screens for the instrument cluster and multimedia system, and an “intuitive layout” for the switches that group basic functions together.

As the SUV is still in prototype form, Toyota hasn’t revealed exactly what it will offer, only that it will have the latest Safety Sense Package which is the collective name for the manufacturer’s suite of advanced driver assist systems like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Judging from the photos provided, we can at the very least surmise that the new Prado will have heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, leather upholstery, a camera system, and an “Idle Up” feature – though it bears mentioning one last time that not all these abilities will be offered in each market.

“Further details on the all-new Land Cruiser Prado including local specification will be made available closer to the vehicle’s South African introduction in Q2 of 2024,” said Toyota South Africa.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado