The new Toyota launching in South Africa this April – Photos

Nine months after it was first unveiled to the world, the next-generation Toyota Prado is finally hitting South African showrooms this April.

At launch, the new off-roader will be sold in entry-level TX and flagship VX-R grades forgoing the current iteration’s VX and VX-L trim levels, with one powertrain option to be available across the range.

The manufacturer has also secured a few Prado First Edition units for the local market with distinctive styling and features, though it didn’t reveal how many of these will be available.

At Toyota’s annual media conference in January, Leon Theron, vice president of sales and marketing, warned interested buyers that there may be stock shortages early into the launch cycle as waiting lists for the new Prado are filling up rapidly in every market it has already gone on sale, but it should become more readily available as time passes.

2024 Toyota Prado First Edition

What to expect

The new Prado is built on the same platform as the larger Land Cruiser 300 and therefore achieves superior performance and comfort over its predecessor, and it boasts a retro-inspired “modular design” specifically to simplify parts replacement, said Theron.

The refined chassis assures 50% higher frame and 30% higher overall rigidity compared to the outgoing SUV and is combined with a “radically redefined” suspension system, these elements resulting in a vastly improved breadth of capabilities.

Furthermore, the new Toyota replaces the old version’s hydraulic power steering setup with an electronic system and gets a new Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism that can change the front stabilizer state, which paired together delivers heightened driving performance and ride comfort off-road as well as better handling stability on-road, according to the manufacturer.

Standing 4,925mm long, 1,980mm wide, and 1,870mm high; the new Prado is 100mm longer, 95mm wider, and 20mm taller than the existing model, and it now has a 60mm-longer wheelbase of 2,850mm courtesy of the upgraded architecture.

Propelling the new SUV in South Africa will be Toyota’s trusty 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel powerplant churning out 150kW and 500Nm, which is channeled to all four wheels via a permanent 4×4 system.

While this motor is featured in the current Prado, the Japanese automaker states that it will provide enhanced torque response in the new model thanks to a redesigned and more efficient turbocharger.

Similarly, the upcoming SUV is equipped with an automatic eight-speed transmission supplying 25% faster shifts than the six-speed box found in the outgoing version.

Depending on the model, the next-gen Prado further gets a rear and central differential lock as standard which has been changed from a motor to a solenoid type system that gives 85% quicker response times than before, thus allowing the diff-locks to be activated in 0.15 seconds.

The driver will also have access to several selectable drive modes including a Tow/Haul setting, in addition to downhill assist and crawl control – the latter of which is best described as off-road cruise control.

Upgrades applied inside the Prado’s cabin are equally as comprehensive as under the skin.

In here, occupants now have much more leg and shoulder room than before thanks to the redesigned seats with thinner backrests complementing the larger body, and outward visibility is enhanced by virtue of flatter surfaces throughout and a repositioned A-pillar.

While the specifications of the Prado TX are still to be revealed, the VX-R showed to South African media earlier this year brings automatic LED lights, leather-wrapped seats with heating and ventilation in front, a heated steering wheel, a wireless phone charger, voice control, tri-zone climate control, and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and central touchscreen of the same size.

Several advanced driver assistance systems are also included like adaptive cruise control, lane-trace assist, and an around-view camera system.

More details such as the local pricing and specifications of the new Prado will be released closer to its debut later in April.

For reference, the current model retails from R1,168,400 for the TX, up to R1,376,400 for the VX-L headliner.

Considering the Land Cruiser 300’s barrier to entry is pegged at R1,458,900, the next-gen Prado should start somewhere between R1.2 million and R1.4 million.