CAR OVERVIEW
The Prado absolutely slaughters its competition in the large SUV segment. Ever since it was launched as a ‘family friendly’ alternative to the full Land Cruiser, anyone with even a passing interest in getting off the beaten track has dropped by a Toyota showroom to test-drive one.
Inside, the interior of the GXL Prado is typical Toyota. Hardwearing plastics, tough cloth trim and smartly thought out, easy to use buttons and switches are all part of the Prado.
Part of its appeal was that it was unchallenged for a long time: nobody could make an affordable large SUV that was reliable, capable of carrying more than five passengers and could get stuck in when the paved roads ended. This allowed the Prado to build up a loyal following over 20 years that has seen it evolve from a fairly basic family wagon to a near ‘mini me’ of it’s big brother Land Cruiser 200.