Updates have been announced for the Toyota Prado range which includes a powertrain upgrade, a new infotainment system and additional safety tech.

 

Headlining the changes is more power from the Prado's 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, it now produces 150kW and 500Nm, the latter is now available over a wider 1600-2800rpm  band.

 

For context, outputs are up 20kW and 50Nm when compared to the outgoing model. The updated engine is the same unit that’s already been spruiked in the revised versions of the HiLux and Fortuner.

 

Toyota says the extra grunt is due to a new ball-bearing turbocharger with a larger turbine and impeller, along with improved engine rigidity and cooling.

 

The Prado’s engine is now mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to all four corners.

 

Fuel economy is slightly improved to 7.9L/100km on the combined cycle. The improvement comes through tweaked pistons and piston rings, changes to the cylinder block and head, higher fuel-injection flow rate and the adoption of high-performance materials for the exhaust manifold.

 

Fuel capacity is 150 litres with an 87-litre main tank and 63-litre sub-tank, while the maximum braked towing capacity is 3000kg.

 

Every Prado now gets a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and enhanced voice recognition.

 

The Toyota Safety Sense suite also gets an upgraded autonomous emergency braking system which can now detect pedestrians during day and night, and cyclists during the day.

 

Also upgraded is the lane-departure alert system, it now offers steering assistance by applying the brakes to one side of the vehicle to help prevent it drifting unintentionally into another lane. Road-sign assist is also standard and can be used to reset the vehicle's cruise-control speed.

 

The entry-level GX variant gets 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation, keyless smart entry and start, air-conditioning and a reversing camera as standard. Automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers have been added for 2020 along with an Espresso Brown paint option.

 

Buyers can option a third row of seats on the GX, while the extra pews are standard on the GXL.

 

Additional equipment on the GXL includes side steps, roof rails, three-zone climate control, bi-LED headlamps, LED foglamps and daylight running lamps, and rear parking sensors.

 

The GXL can be dressed up further with a premium interior pack that adds leather-accented ventilated, heated and power-operated front seats and heated second-row seats - all of which are standard on the VX.

 

The VX also features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, DAB digital radio, dusk-sensing headlamps, panoramic and multi-terrain monitors, blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.

 

Range-topping Kakadu models add paddle shifters, a moonroof, adaptive variable suspension, rear air suspension with auto levelling, rear-seat entertainment, and crawl control and multi-terrain select off-road aids.

 

GX and GXL are now fitted with rubber mats, while VX and Kakadu gain carpet mats.

 

On all grades above the GX, customers can opt to have the spare wheel mounted on the tailgate or located under the vehicle where it replaces the sub-tank.

 

 

Prado GX - $59,840

Prado GXL -$66,540

Prado VX - $76,380

Prado Kakadu - $87,030

 

 

Third-row seat (GX) - $2550

Premium interior (GXL) - $3470

Optional paint (all grades) - $600

Flat tailgate (GXL and above) - no added cost