Toyota Prado 4WD

2004, right: Toyota's new-generation LandCruiser Prado GXL Turbo-diesel has been named 4X4 of the Year by a leading Australian four wheel drive magazine.

It is Toyota's second successive 4X4 of The Year win, building on the success of LandCruiser 100 Series GXL V8 in the 2003 award.

2001 May, right: A Toyota Prado GXL special edition to mark the 50th annivarsary of the Toyota LandCruiser 4x4. This Prado has the 3.4-litre V6 petrol motor, full-time 4WD, dual air conditioning and 8 seats. The manual transmission model is priced from 49,660, the automatic from 52,190 ( 5/2001).

2000 October: The Toyota Prado turbo-diesel is now available with an automatic gearbox; the top TX and Grande automatics get vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control. Right: A Prado RV. Prices of the turbo diesel start at 41,540 for the RV manual.

2000 August, right: The Toyota Prado GXL Kimberley limited edition. Drive away price is 45,990 (rrp, ), which is claimed to include 3,600 worth of extras: air conditioning, 16" alloy wheels, acrylic spare wheel cover, and rear spoiler.

All GXL's get flares, skirts, side steps, remote locking, power windows and mirrors, leather steering wheel, CD-player, i.e. mostly on-road gear.

2000 April: The newly offered 3-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-charged and intercooled diesel delivers 96 at 3600 and 343 at 2000, which looks very good compared to the 2.7L petrol engine, and not bad against the 3.4L V6. (In a 4WD, low-down torque is desirable.) It is a modern unit with electronic fuel injection, electronic "drive by wire" throttle, and twin balance shafts to reduce vibration. The intercooler increases the mass of air drawn into the cylinders. Prices begin at au42,750 for the base RV model. The three levels - RV, GXL and TX - are all fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case with full-time 4WD. (Some competitors offer automatic boxes on their diesels.)
- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html [4/2000]

2000 February: Turbo diesel Prado's shown at the Brisbane Motor Show. The prices are about 5K above the equivalent V6 models, i.e. nearly 48K for the turbo-diesel RV. Deliveries end of February [-Rob Logie].

Toyota Prado 4x4

station wagon, 5 seats (+2), 4 doors, ABS + twin air-bag (+seat-belt pre-tensioners) optional
loa: 4730mm, width: 1730mm, height: 1865mm track: 1475mm/1480mm, grnd clearance: 230mm
turning radius: 5.7m (kerb)
weight: 1720kg - 1805kg (unladen), GVM: 2710kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
3.4L V6:
- 5VZ-FE, 3378cc, petrol, V6, efi, 4-valves/cyl, DOHC (per bank)
- bore: 93.5mm, stroke: 82mm, c.r.: 9.6:1
- transmission: 5m/4a, full-time 4WD, centre diff' lock
  gear ratios 5m: 3.830:1, 2.062:1, 1.436:1, 1.000:1, 0.838:1 (4.22:1)
  gear ratios 4a: 2.804:1, 1.531:1, 1.000:1, 0.753:1 (2.393:1)
  transfer case: 1:1 (hi), 2.566:1 (lo); diff': 4.1:1 (rear LSD)
2.7L 4-cyl:
- 3RZ-FE, 2694cc, petrol, 4-cyl, efi, 4-valves/cyl, DOHC
- bore: 95.0mm, stroke: 95.0mm, c.r.: 9.5:1
- diff': 4.3:1 (rear LSD)
3L turbo diesel
suspension: indep'-coil/live-coil, brakes: disc/disc
tyres: 215-80R16 (30" o.a.d.), fuel-tank: 90L (+ 69L RV6)
(GXL, VX: 265/70R16 tyres (31" o.a.d.))
prices: turbo diesel 41,540 RV manual ( 10/2000)
Rivals: Holden Jackaroo, Mitsubishi Pajero and Challenger, Nissan Pathfinder, Daewoo Musso