Toyota Land Cruiser For The Price Of A Sierra? » MotorOctane

SUVs have been Toyota’s bread and butter. While India adores the Fortuner, the rest of the world is fixated on the Land Cruiser brand. The Land Cruiser Prado is particularly popular in the Middle East, and it possesses all the abilities of the flagship Land Cruiser.

Now, you can buy a used Toyota Prado for the price of the Tata Sierra. Here is what you should know about the fabled Land Cruiser before you buy one.

Looks

The Prado is bigger than the Fortuner in every way. In the Australian market, the Prado sits between the Fortuner and the flagship Land Cruiser. It is for those who seek a more capable off-roader than the Fortuner, but want a smaller vehicle than the flagship Land Cruiser.

The car has a solid road presence and stands out among today’s mid-sized SUVs. The high window sills and the commanding driving position make you feel like you own the roads. The massive gap between the wheel and the wheel well shows that this car can tackle any terrain. These looks are also functional, and the Prado is thus renowned for it in the Middle East.

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Cabin

Don’t expect the luxuries of a Skoda Kodiaq inside the Prado. However, the feature list is still extensive. The features include front parking sensors, a rear parking camera, power front seats, an electric-folding last row, a sunroof, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity. If you choose to use the Prado as an off-roader, the feature list would be the least of your concerns.

Due to its massive dimensions, the Prado can seat five passengers with utmost comfort. The last row is only recommended for children or for adults on a short journey.

Powertrain

The Prado used to be available with a 3.0L turbo V6 diesel and a 4.0L V6 Petrol. The transmission options included a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. To show that the Prado is a serious Off-roader, Toyota made hill-start assist control, downhill assist control and 4WD as standard across all variants. It also came with 7 airbags as standard and 9 on higher variants.

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What’s The Catch

The issue with most used cars is their reliability. But with the Toyota, you can be assured that it will last an eternity. These cars are driven roughly for all their lives and yet last a long time. You won’t have to worry about the engine going kaput. The major issues you may face are electronics- or automatic gearbox-related. This everlasting reputation of Toyota has become an issue, as you can never find a used Toyota SUV that has driven fewer than a lakh kilometres. Most people prefer a low-mileage car because it seems like the safe bet.

The only niggle with the Prado comes with city driving. The V6 diesel is a gas-guzzler, and being almost 5m long, it would not be easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. While the engine may be reliable, its maintenance is still expensive. Oil changes, tyre changes, fuel filter replacements, and other routine checks cost more with a car this size than with smaller cars.

Should You Buy One?

The Prado is all about the driving experience. You sacrifice many luxuries, like fuel efficiency and features, to buy the Prado. These sacrifices are rewarded with the off-road capabilities and road presence. If you need a serious off-roader, there are very few cars on the new or used market that could match the Prado. It is a proven vehicle that has been tested across the most demanding terrain in the Middle East and Australia, making it the perfect off-roader for any garage.

This particular model is the 2010 diesel variant and has been driven 1.6L kms. The price is listed at 23 lakh rupees, but after digging into used-car websites, you can find one for 18-19 lakhs. The chances of you finding a Prado with fewer than 1 lakh km are very low, and if you do, cash in on it.

Another thing to note is that many people use the body kit from later Prado models on older generations. Be wary of such modifications before buying one. Moreover, do not get overconfident with Toyota’s reliability and take your trusted mechanic with you before purchasing a used Prado.

Car Listing

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