The all-new Land Cruiser Prado is the latest generation of a model that has built an unrivalled reputation for strength, reliability and the ability to cope with the harshest conditions, in all parts of the globe. The design of the new LC Prado is a clear expression of the vehicle’s status as a fully-fledged off-roader that is inherently strong and stable.
Its essential reliability is reflected in the shape and composition of parts designed to cope with harsh conditions and be easy to replace if damage occurs. There’s a timelessness, too, in design simplicity that expresses quality and will not look out-of-date, and a sense of professionalism in the form-follows-function design of the kind found in top-quality professional tools.
Brought together, these elements create a fusion of heritage and modernity: this is a Land Cruiser that is rooted in its origins, yet meets the highest contemporary standards.
The classic LC Prado silhouettereferences the definitive lines of the early Land Cruiser models (the 40, 60 and 70 Series Land Cruisers are clear influences) with a strong horizontal axis, a long bonnet, upright windscreen, a short front overhang and distinctive trapezoidal wheel arches.
The standard headlight options are a slim oblong triple-eye arrangement of LEDs or a classic round-eye projector bi-LED alongside vertically arranged turn indicator and daytime running lights. Again, with a view to avoiding damage, the front fog lights are deeply recessed in the bumper corners; the front and rear corners are chamfered (which also aids manoeuvrability); and the lower door sections have a scraped, concave surface.
The bodywork displays contrasting sharp hard and glossy curved surfaces for a simple, modern look with a sense of tension and high precision. The overall effect is of the Land Cruiser Prado having been carved from a single lump of pure metal. The car’s wide stance, flared front and rear wings and the tight body shape combine to emphasise stable performance. At the rear, the lights are tightly grouped in vertically stacked combi-units.
The interior layout of the LC Prado expresses a safe, functional look suitable for off-road driving with an emphasis on durability, high quality and measures to reduce fatigue.
The instrument panel and upper door mouldings have strong horizontal lines that make it easy to grasp the vehicle’s orientation in challenging conditions and make for an open cabin environment with excellent outward view for everyone on board. The panel’s cross-section is lowered in front of the front passenger, enhancing the open feel.
Information sources – the driver’s instrument combimeter and multimedia display are set high for easy visibility and there is a wide console area – a Land Cruiser characteristic – that keeps driving controls close at hand for quick and intuitive operation. The digital instrument display (9 or 12.3-inch according to equipment grade) presents meters and data with sharp graphics that are clear to read in all lighting conditions.
The multimedia system is accessed via high-definition touchscreen (eight or 12.3-inch). The physical shape of the switches and their operating methods have been unified – simple toggle or push controls – so the driver can operate them easily without having to look away from the wheel or change their posture.
Professional rally drivers were consulted on the design of the combination of dial selector and push switch used for vehicle system functions such as the Multi-Terrain Select.
Knee pads and padded door shoulders provide protection when the going gets tough and the top of the door panel has a scooped profile so the driver has space for free elbow movement. The new steering wheel design reflects the solid, stable exterior styling, with wide spoke openings to help prevent fingers being injured in the event of steering kickback. The centre pad displays the classic TOYOTA logo, with function switches rationally organised on the left and right sections of the centre spokes.
The new LC Prado range offers seven-seat interiors. The front seats have a new design to provide strong support when driving off-road and are available with power adjustment. In addition, they also have thinner seatbacks, improving leg and knee room for rear seat passengers, and are available with integrated heating and ventilation. Thicker urethane cushions disperse pressure over a wider area of the occupant’s body and are shaped to promote the optimum pelvis angle, reducing the load on the waist and muscles.
The cushion sits on a hard lower layer, a construction that helps prevent the occupant’s posture collapsing when turning or changing lanes. The side bolsters project further, helping keep the body in place when horizontal forces are experienced, as when driving over rough surfaces.
Although a seven-seater, there is space behind the third-row seats for two 55cm suitcases. With the third row folded, there is room enough for three 86cm cases plus one 81cm and one 69cm.
The new LC Prado also gets a top-hanged rear door as standard, improving the ease of access with the availability of power back door operation and an independently opening glass hatch.