Yesterday's State Of Motoring Industry held at the iconic Kyalami racetrack saw Toyota South Africa go through the numbers of new vehicles sales in the country as well as analyse their own market share. Being one of the countries best selling brands for the better part of the last two decades, the Japanese manufacture is a leader in motoring in the country. Their plant in Prospecton Durban which now produces the Corolla Cross, among other models has also also adapted their production line to assemble hybrid cars. This segment has enjoyed a steady growth over the years but with full electric cars slowly coming into the market, it would be interesting to see what plans Toyota SA had to introduce their very own EV models to the market and they did not disappoint.
Toyota took this opportunity to display some of their new models that would be hitting out shores during 2024 and 2025. Lets take a closer look at the models and their anticipated local launch dates:
Land Cruiser 70 Series
A legend in the off roading world and one that comes with the age old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" but it did need an upgrade so Toyota have tinkered with the 70 Series to upgrade to the engine which is now the 2.8 GD-6, with a new 6-speed auto, a first for the model, updated cabin with infotainment system. The model will be launching in February.
Land Cruiser Prado
Probably one of the most anticipated models worldwide hits our shores in April this year. The new Land Cruiser Prado has a modular design and square silhouette. Based on the LC300 platform the car is big, and is powered by the same 2.8 GD-6 engine and 8-speed auto gearbox. The Prado will debut in three variants, being the First Edition and then followed by the TX and VX-R models.
Toyota Hilux 48V
A game changer for one of South Africa's most loved bakkies see's the introduction of a mild hybrid model which launches in March this year. the 48V volt mild-hybrid electric package offers an additional 12kW and 65Nm of torque through the motor generator to the engine, it has regenerative braking, advanced stop/ start all to aid in fuel saving. There have been adjustments made to make the car more fuel efficient such as reducing the idle speed to 600rpm and improved acceleration which is assisted by the electric motor. The 48V will be available on all Hilux 2.8 Auto Raider, Legend as well as Fortuner 2.8 models.
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota have confirmed the introduction of their first full electric model, the bZ4X, based on Toyota's eTNGA platform, a dedicated BEV platform. . It has striking styling, lots of angles, features dark contrast fenders for visual drama. The car which will be offered in FWD and Dual -Motor AWD with specs still to be confirmed. The car will have a 400km range in eco mode.
Toyota GRS III
This model had huge traction online when launched globally with many locally asking if we would see it in SA, well brace yourself as its set to land on our shores in March this year! It's a menacing looking bakkie with the face grafted from the iconic Tundra with customised Dakar-bred styling. Wide-Tred body and bespoke GR interior make this one stand out from the crowd. Performance is boosted over the regular Hilux 2.8 GD-6 with power now at 165kW and 550Nm of toque.
Lexus RZ
Another first see's Lexus introduce their first EV also coming in 2025, this model offered exclusively with dual motor AWD has powerful motor that produce 150W to the wheels and kW to the rear. Lexus pioneered advanced Steer by Wire tech which gives you better control with the handling. The range varies between 375km and 450km.
A month back I found myself in the mystic Cape Winelands, it was my first trip back to the Cape since the pandemic and while I normally choose the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city, this time round I opted for the peaceful and majestic Franschhoek to spend some much needed time off. I was fortunate enough to have the new Toyota Landcruiser Prado VX-L to help navigate through the mountainous regions that give harvest to the finest wines produced worldwide. It was the perfect vehicle for this as it gave me the opportunity to do a little exploring while in the area as well.
The new Toyota Landcruiser Prado VX-L is the range topping model, previously was fitted with the 4.0L V6 engine but now has adopted the new Hilux 2.8L Diesel motor that churns out 150kW and 500Nm of torque. While the engine downgrade might be a head scratcher for some, if you've drive the previous 4.0L variant you'd know that while have an extra 52kW output, it wasn't the most logical option and proved to be uneconomical. This new motor however shines from the time you switch it on, the ride is smooth, with plenty of torque on tap available for take off and while the kW output might not win any battle of the SUV's you must remember that this is a premium SUV with 7-seats. It's meant to be climbing dunes, scaling escarpments not drag racing on a flat runway and with the full 4x4 capabilities all neatly packaged on the driver's center console, it makes navigating even the trickiest terrains a breeze.
Seeing that I was in Franschhoek, and living at the bottom of the world famous Franschhoek Pass, you bet I drove the pass a few times, most memorable was chasing the sunset from the valley, up the pass and watching it from the Threewaterskloof Dam. It was good to see the dam levels full as previously when I was in that part of the country it was close to bone dry. I wasn't expecting much in terms of performance from the Prado on the Pass but it did surprise me being able to take some of the bends faster than I thought it could handle. The nimbleness of a big a bulky vehicle like that which won't win any type of aerodynamic wind tunnel contests just blasted its way though. The large tyres held the car in the lane and Toyota's Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) that adjusts the shock absorbers' damping levels kept the vehicle calm and composed while maneuvering thought the twistys and the engine was also on-hand to deliver that torque boost of acceleration when needed.
The Prado comes equipped with High-Beam adaptive LED's which light up more than your road, the lights extend out onto the sides so you can see for any objects should you go off-roading in the dark. There is also the multi-camera system to ensure you have clear visibility on screen of what's going on around your car. The car also has front and rear PDC's and self-parking which helps when needing to parallel park this behemoth in town. It has a 14-speaker sound system which includes a subwoofer that was well tested, with the sounds of Kanye West and Drake reverberating through the mountains during my time there.
Comfort wise, you can't really fault anything in the Prado, while some might say the interior is dated, there is a new model due in the next 2 years so it wouldn't make sense for Toyota to make a major overhaul of this one's. The seats are large and comfy, the leather is of a good quality and extended onto the dash and doors. Some of the materials used do feel a bit plasticky but at the same time you need something robust and easy to clean if you are going to be going off-road quite often. Technology wise, its still pretty practical with a large touchscreen infotainment screen, the car now comes with mobile apps preloaded so you can make use of Apple Car-Play of Android Auto, there is the option of using Bluetooth as well. Driver and front passenger have separate zone climate control aircon with seat heating and cooling. The second row seats also receive this luxury along with seat heating, while the 3rd row just get single zone. The 3rd row seating is neatly folded away and operated via a switch in the luggage space or the second row which unfolds or folds the seats quickly and easily.
Luggage capacity in the Prado VX-L is, how the former Orange president of the United States would say is "HUGE". With the 3rd row seats folded down you can get your whole house in there along with the kitchen sink. The lateral opening tailgate helps to load and unload with easy, also saves short people the embarrassment from trying to jump and reach for buttons or pull to close. The center glove box doubles as a fridge for you to store four full size wine bottles to keep chilled while you head out for picnics or scenic drives. I mean, when in wine country, might as well!
Overall my time with the new Prado was sublime, yes there are certain aspects that seem dated with the car but at the end of the day, people who buying this car aren't going for the fancy stuff, they want to know they have a well capable off-roading machine that can double as a comfortable town car and this fits the mold to perfection. Its comfortable, luxurious, practical and in all fairness still looks darn good to me. It fitted in well in its environment and managed to turn a few heads on our escapades. With its dual fuel tank that has a combined total of 150L, the range of the Prado could give you well over 1200km if driven properly. I can assure you that the reduced size in engine has no major performance impact on the overall performance of this vehicle, if anything it's a bit better if you ask me!
Toyota for long have been one of the go-to brands when it came to SUV's, they've dominated the market since the early days which the big hitters in the industry and proved to not only compete with them but also surpass them in sales with their products not only being cheaper but in some instances, better than that of the much pricier European counterparts. The legendary reliability of Toyota has also been a big part in the success, with consumers knowing that they're getting a good quality product and not something that will cost you an arm and a leg to maintain. Of recent the market has shifting focus with many brands bringing out a wide variety of SUV's and SAV's, which has saw the trend shift to this segment of car as the preferred choice of many, while they may have their purpose, most aren't true off road going vehicles, with at most, some offering only four wheel drive. Toyota, with the Land Cruiser models have still been one of the best on the market, for a true all round offering, and I was fortunate enough to be get behind the wheel of their new Land Cruiser Prado VX.L for a week.
DESIGN
Being part of the Fourth Generation of Prado's the design over the last three models haven't been very different with the overall styling remaining the same and subtle changes to the lights and interior. This latest version of the Prado is very stylish though, with a nice big front grille in chrome finish, the elongated front head lamps with LED strip below adding shape to the very bulky and edgy design. It has some hints of Lexus DNA here and there which add to the appeal of the car. The normal ride height is quite high, but this is adjustable with the automatic air suspension, the Prado being a fully fledged 4x4 comes with large tyres with high profiles and 18" rims, so you know you can really go bundu bashing with it. Moving around to the back, the styling remains the same to the pre-facelift model with some white accents on the lights. Being the top of the range L model, Toyota have added extras to make you know this is the real McCoy with added chrome finishes adding to that luxury feel. On the inside, one really can't fault anything on the design front., I love the way everything is laid out on the centre console, with a dedicated section for off-roading.
PERFORMANCE
The car is powered by a 3.0 litre, inline 4 cylinder diesel motor, which produces 120kW and 400Nm of torque. Not the most exciting figures by far from such a big engine but this car is a brute and all it's power comes to fruit when taking the roads less traveled. On the dirt, coupled with the four wheel drive, the Prado makes mince meat of the terrain, move onto more rocky pastures, the torque comes into play with the engine hauling the massive frame over some of the more tricky routes. All while it barely sips the diesel in its massive 120 litre tank. On tarred surface, it does feel like a slouch especially with a full load, and the 5 speed auto gearbox does it no favours but once it gets going, it just shift nicely along. The thing that surprised me the most was the comfort, but that we'll chat about a little later. The dedicated off-road panel I was chatting about earlier in the center console has everything you need to set the car up to drive across almost any terrain, but the car does also automatically judge the response of the surface while driving and adjusts to suit.
COMFORT
The Prado is huge, you see it on the road but don't really take notice of really how big it is until you get into one, or for the smaller folk, try to get into one. That side step they have on there isn't just for fun as some of my passengers found out. The seats could be compared to sofa's as they're big and plush, the front passengers get the luxury of heated and cooled options for themselves while the rear three get to choose how much space they need as the rows can be moved forward and backwards if need be and there is good reason for that as neatly tucked away into the floor of the trunk are two additional seats which when raised makes the Prado a full 7 seater, which can seat 7 adults, yes, 7 adults comfortably. I put this to the test as we made a days trip exploring the KZN midlands with some friends on the last day I had it. This of course minimizes the space in the trunk but you still can squeeze in a bag and a half. Another neat feature in the Prado is the refrigerated center compartment which sits under the arm rest of the two front passengers. It's quite deep and can fit four 500ml bottles easily, and with most cooled compartments in cars whereby they just let the aircon blow in the cool air, this one is an actual fridge! Within 30 minutes of have warm beverages put inside, it was ice cold and ready to drink. Coming back to the ride quality, while the air-suspension might not be as fancy as some of the others, it does its job, no matter what surface we were travelling on, the ride remained the same and had no one spilling their cool beverage along the way.
TECHNOLOGY
The Prado comes packed with all the tech you expect in a modern day 4x4, keyless entry with push start, a large multi- infotainment screen for all you media purposes, unlike the Hilux, the Prado has dials for volume and tuning control which I prefer. It has bluetooth and media streaming. It comes standard with a 14 speaker sound system which includes a subwoofer in the boot. The multi function steering wheel is powered by a hydraulic/ variable flow control, making it easier to steer in difficult terrain, the car has 4 cameras, one at the front, one in the rear and two on the side, giving the driver the option to switch between them, to navigate in tight spots, or can opt to see a birds eye view of the car. The rear seats are electronically controlled by switches in the boot which fold up or out in a matter of seconds. There are three power sockets in the car, a 12V in the front and rear and a 220V in the boot. The Prado has LED high be headlights which have adaptive technology which auto adjusts when it senses oncoming cars.
VERDICT
While the Prado might not be the best Toyota offers in its Land Cruiser stable, it certainly is one of the favourable models from them. The price tag is more than justified when compared to what else is on the market. Its packed with technology, great finishes and looks fantastic. It's more than capable of going off-road, and will eat up almost any surface with ease. With the amount of equipment you getting in this car as standard, all for under a million, is almost a steal. Toyota really have kept the Prado legacy high on this one and certainly remains one of my favourite SUVs on the market today.
