Toyota Land Cruiser 250 Prado

Car of the Day!

Car of the day

What’s New / Key Highlights

 1. Design Philosophy & Exterior

 • The styling has gone back to basics: boxy, rugged, retro cues reminiscent of older Land Cruisers like the 60-series. It mixes classic Land Cruiser DNA with modern touches.  

 • Shorter overhangs, flat roof, lower beltline, improved visibility — all to aid both off-road function and on-road maneuvering.  

 • Different headlight styles depending on trim (“round” in some, more modern shapes in others). Some trims go more classic, others more contemporary.  

 2. Chassis, Platform, Off-Road Capability

 • Built on Toyota’s GA-F platform, same basis as the larger Land Cruiser J300. It means strong body-on-frame construction, good for durability and serious off-road use.  

 • Significant increases in rigidity: frame and overall body stiffness are reportedly up (≈ 50% frame rigidity increase; ≈ 30% overall). Improves stability, toughness.  

 • First in the Land Cruiser family to come with Electric Power Steering (EPS). This helps reduce steering kickback when off-road, plus improves comfort in city driving.  

 • There’s also a Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) on certain trims — you can decouple the front anti-roll bar electronically, improving wheel articulation off-road and reducing stiffness over rough terrain.  

 3. Powertrains / Engines

The J250 is moving away from big V6s (in many markets) toward 4-cylinder engines (some turbo, some mild or full hybrids), depending on region.  

Examples include:

 • A 2.8L turbo diesel (I4) that delivers strong torque, for those markets where diesel remains popular.  

 • A 2.4L turbo petrol (sometimes with hybrid assist) in some specs.  

 • Lower displacement petrol naturally aspirated options in entry trims in some markets.  

Transmission choices also include 8-speed automatics in many cases.  

 4. Dimensions & Practicality

 • Larger footprint compared to the previous Prado in many dimensions: longer wheelbase, more width, slightly more height. That gives more interior space, especially in the 2nd and 3rd rows.  

 • Seating for up to 7 passengers in many markets, with improved comfort and fold-flat / power fold options for rear seats.  

 • Interior is more modern: digital instrument cluster (≈ 12.3-inch in many trims), large infotainment screens, more USB/wireless connectivity, better materials.  

 5. Safety & Driver Assist / Features

 • Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (or equivalent) with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warnings, blind spot monitoring, etc.  

 • Off-road assist features like Multi-Terrain Select, downhill assist, monitors/cameras for terrain, etc.  

 • More comfort & utility: 3-zone climate control, heated/ventilated seats in some versions, wireless charging, higher grade sound systems in upper trims.  

 6. Trade-Offs / What’s Changed

 • Some users have noted that while capability is high, payload or fuel tank capacity may be reduced compared to the prior Prado generation in some markets. There’s more weight and more features, so some compromises in what was carried.  

 • Also, variations by market are significant: depending on local emission rules, fuel preferences, prices, some of the more advanced engine or hybrid options may not be available everywhere.