The Sport Utility Vehicle (or SUV) is irrefutably one of the most iconic types of vehicle on the roads. For most people, the SUV represents a large, mobile, powerful icon of utmost capability, ruggedness, brute force and sometimes, even a symbol of status. However, SUVs (or 4x4s as they’re more lovingly known as) were brought into existence with a purpose in mind - to tackle and conquer any type of terrain that mother nature could hurl at us -- a purpose that has not been forgotten by a select few automakers to this day. One of the most iconic brand names when it comes to SUVs has been none other than that of Toyota. And two of the best examples of this Japanese marque’s 4x4 prowess come in distinctly identifiable and almost immediately recognizable avatars, which include the ‘King of Every Terrain’, full-sized Land Cruiser and the remarkably capable Prado.
To begin with, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado (which will be here on referred to as the Prado) are two different vehicles - not just by their market positioning & price, but also because they’re targeted at different car buyers. In the United Arab Emirates, buying the ‘King of Every Terrain’ is definitely not a cheap purchase, as it costs between AED 215,900 to AED 329,000. On the other hand, the latest-gen of the Toyota Prado could be yours if you’re looking for a solid, reliable and comfortable 4x4 between AED 129,900 to AED 189,900 - making it far more affordable to far more people. It’s not just the price that differentiates these two fantastic SUVs, but also their exterior dimensions and interior design. Let’s start with the big boy, first…
The Toyota Land Cruiser is truly a massive vehicle, and is definitely not meant for someone who have difficulty parking a B-segment hatchback or C-segment sedan. So, how large is the Land Cruiser? Well, bringing out the measuring tape reveals that it’s 5.115 meters from nose to tail, 1.980 meters across, 1.905 meters at the roof, and boasts a wheelbase of 2.850 meters. In comparison, the (slightly) smaller Prado comes in at 4.990 meters in length, 1.885 meters in width, 1.889 meters in height, and there’s 2.790 meters between the front and rear axles. On the inside, the Prado can only take up to seven occupants, whereas the Land Cruiser can swallow a maximum of eight people across its three rows. Then there’s the quality of materials between the two -- obviously, the more expensive Land Cruiser feels more premium and posh compared to the Prado.
Both, the Land Cruiser and Prado come with selectable four-wheel drive and automatic gearboxes. As for what’s under the hood, the heavyweight Land Cruiser can be had with a 4.0-liter V6 with 271hp and 385Nm of torque, a 4.6-liter V8 with 304hp and 439Nm, or a 5.7-liter V8 with 362 horses and 530Nm of shove. As you can imagine, if straight-line performance on-road is really important to you, then the V8 should satisfy your quench for speed -- we are talking about a top speed of 220 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 7 seconds. Meanwhile, the most powerful version of the Prado gets a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter V6 with 271hp and 381Nm of torque.
In terms of features, the fully-loaded Prado comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, remote engine starter, automatic LED headlights, keyless entry & go, tri-zone climate control, leather upholstery, cool box, 6-speaker sound system, 9-inch touch-infotainment system with navigation, all-round parking sensors with rearview camera, power sunroof and powered front seats. Meanwhile, the range-topping Land Cruiser gets 20-inch rims, quad-zone climate control, radar-guided cruise control, LED headlights with auto high-beam, adaptive suspension, LED front fog lights, power tailgate, driver’s seat & adjustable steering wheel with memory, heated & ventilated front seats, LED cabin lights, wireless charging pad, rear seat entertainment system, 14-speaker JBL audio system, 9-inch JBL head unit and surround-view cameras.
