Toyota broadens Prado appeal with new VX-L grade
By Khulekani On Wheels / on February 9th, 2026 / in Car News, featured
By Staff Reporter
Toyota South Africa has expanded the new-generation Land Cruiser Prado line-up with the return of the VX-L grade, giving buyers another option at the upper end of the range.
The VX-L was last seen on the previous Prado and now joins the TX and VX-R grades, bringing the total to three variants. Each is aimed at a slightly different type of buyer, from those who prioritise off-road ability to those who spend most of their time on tar.
The TX remains the entry point into the Prado range, focusing on the model’s core strengths of durability, practicality and everyday usability. At the other end, the VX-R continues to target traditional Land Cruiser customers who want a tougher, more adventure-focused specification.
The returning VX-L sits alongside the VX-R but with a different brief. It is aimed at buyers who want more comfort and refinement for daily driving, while still benefiting from the Prado’s all-terrain capability.
There are also some clear visual and equipment differences between the VX-R and VX-L. The VX-R leans into a more rugged look, with 18-inch alloy wheels, black exterior detailing, functional mouldings and off-road-oriented touches.
The VX-L takes a more polished approach, with 20-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured exterior mouldings, a painted rear bumper and illuminated side steps. Inside, it gains silver metallic accents, a 14-speaker JBL sound system and additional stitched leather trim.
Another key difference is the suspension. The VX-L is fitted with Adaptive Variable Suspension, which is aimed at improving comfort and composure on the road. The TX and VX-R retain their 18-inch wheel setups with a full-size spare, while the VX-L runs on 20-inch alloys, also with a full-size spare.
All models come with Toyota’s connected services, including the MyToyota profile and in-car Wi-Fi with a complimentary 25GB of data, provided customers opt in.
Pricing (South Africa)
Prado 2.8GD TX – R1,342,200
Prado 2.8GD VX-R – R1,500,200
Prado 2.8GD VX-L – R1,513,300
All Land Cruiser Prado models are sold with a 9-service / 90,000km service plan and a 3-year / 100,000km warranty. Buyers can also extend these through Toyota’s dealer network.