By Khulekani Dumisa

Recently I spent time with a vehicle that will take you off a dealership floor in Mzansi to Mombasa without breaking a sweat. Boasting a more powerful engine and an upgraded infotainment system, the updated Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L is here to take you to your next expedition effortlessly.

Increased power

The new 2.8-litre turbodiesel mill makes 150kW and 500Nm. This is a hike of just over 20kW and 50Nm compared to the outgoing engine. The other benefits of the new engine in the updated Toyota Land Cruiser Prado includes improved engine rigidity and cooling, fuel economy (at a claimed 7,0l/100km), and refinement. We can attest to the latter having experienced the engine in various Toyota vehicles already.

New infotainment

A new infotainment system is fitted across the range and now incorporates a larger 9-inch touchscreen display (previous 8-inch), enhanced voice recognition and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is a welcomed addition although the graphics could be better and the car could do with more USB ports.

Living with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-

It’s easy to see why many South African families love this car. Whilst it’s been around for a while now, it’s still quite relevant. Few examples manage to delivery luxury, off-road capability and last for many years, as it does.

The infotainment upgrades introducing Apple CarPlay are welcomed although the dash looks outdated and features a lot of hard plastics. The latter is not bad as it guarantees durability. In terms of practicality, 7 seat comfortably whilst luggage space comes in acres with the last row folded down and the car steaming 5. Maximum braked towing capacity increases to 3,000kg on this 2.8 model.

The new 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine with 150kW and 500Nm is a good fit here. It’s got tons of turbo lag at take-off though but feels robust and carries the car very well once you get going. The cabin is also fairly well insulated managing to help deliver a quiet and comfortable ride befitting of the Land Cruiser Prado.

Pricing

Pricing for the updated Toyota Land Cruiser Prado starts from R958,700.