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During a road test up the Sani Pass in the Drakensberg, one generally has to keep one’s eyes straight ahead, and there is little time to admire the spectacular vistas.
A steep, winding, rocky dirt track with blind hairpin bends and heart-stopping drops, this demanding and often precarious route that links KwaZulu-Natal to Lesotho is also one that lures many adventure seekers.
Not too many vehicles can make it up this pass, but the rugged Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with its legendary 4x4 off-road prowess is one that can.
The line-up of this beefy off-road capable and on-road competent SUV consists of five models: three 3.0-litre diesel variants and two 4.0-litre V6 petrol models, finweek sampling the 3.0-litre diesel VX-L.
Outward
It’s a big, chunky SUV sitting high off the ground, built to take on the most extreme of off-road conditions.
Broad and lengthy with a short front overhang, exterior styling of the refreshed Prado is now more modern and robust to better reflect its off-road capabilities, while still retaining the model’s essential DNA.
New-look frontal enhancements include a bonnet shaped to improve downward visibility and raised wings to more easily pinpoint the vehicle’s extremities.
The chrome grille and high-brightness LED headlamps and fog lamps have been arranged into one flowing design and set higher for better off-road functionality.
New rear elements include a redesigned lamp cluster with an LED stop light and restyled bumper.
Adding to the more athletic and dynamic posture of the robust Prado VX-L are stylish new 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inward
Despite its ground clearance of 215mm, the Prado’s side step makes entering this high riding cabin a doddle.
The interior is spacious, comfortable and refined, proving that off-roading ability does not mean having to forego comfort and sophistication.
Combining leather, wood grain and metallic elements, the Prado VX-L’s luxury interior comes with features including ventilated and heated leather seats, satellite navigation, reverse camera, Bluetooth connectivity and USB among them.
The central console – the top of which has been lowered by 25mm to improve visibility – houses an 8-inch tablet-like colour screen that displays comprehensive vehicle and infotainment data, as well as drivetrain-related instruments, which include the high and low range switch and three drive modes – comfort, normal and sport.
The size and elevated driving position add to a sense of security while the heaps of space that this refined 4x4 offers includes comfortable seating for seven and power folding of the third-row seats.
On course, on-road
While focus remains on the Prado’s off-road capabilities, on-road competency is not compromised. Luxury offerings, a comfortable ride and practicality for everyday driving are not sacrificed.
Aside from the testing ascent and descent of the Sani Pass, many challenges awaited during the test drive, including thick mist, rain, wind, potholes, steep and twisty inclines and declines, and the occasional goat and herd of cows.
It was not your average test drive, but the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L handled itself with dignified composure. On the tar it is extremely comfortable and straightforward to drive, the driving experience akin to that of a premium mid-size vehicle.
It’s big and heavy but that doesn’t mean a sluggish performance, courtesy of the efficient 3-litre diesel engine.
Despite its size and purpose, road hand-ling is respectable. A high riding position, direct steering, grippy conduct, negligible body roll or cabin noise, impressive visibility and passable overtaking ability make for a confident and pleasurable driving experience.
The overall length of this 4x4 has been increased by 60mm. Yet with a tight turning circle of 5.8 metres, the Prado is highly manoeuvrable – a perk when navigating narrow roads and tight parking lots.
While mostly efficient and seamless, the five-speed “dogleg” automatic gearbox offered on the diesel model is perhaps not quite as fluid on inclines as it could be, the box “hunting” to achieve the best gear for climbs on the tar.
On the flip side, it is an easy fix using the gearbox’s manual mode and one has to bear in mind that the gear ratios are optimised for low-speed tractability and off-road use.
The VX-L model also comes with a power-operated tilt-and-slide “moonroof” and comprehensive active safety assistance package to help prevent accidents or mitigate impact consequences.
Aside from the wide-ranging brake and stability control systems that includes trailer sway control, safety features include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function, adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane departure alert and automatic high beam.
The ACC system allows the driver to maintain a specified distance from the vehicle ahead via a choice of three pre-selected distances.
A blind-spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert and an upgraded tyre pressure warning system add further driver support.
With two tanks housing 150 litres of fuel and a range in excess of 1 000km, this sophisticated 4x4 does not require many fuel stops. And where high-grade diesel is unavailable, lower-grade diesel can also be used.
Despite extreme terrain, the “putting of foot” on tar and stop-start traffic jams, fuel consumption averaged 10.4-litres for the test.
Equally suitable for the streets of suburbia or the dunes of the desert, this chameleon morphs from refined boulevard cruiser to authentic go-anywhere, bundu-bashing 4x4 with the mere flick of a switch.
Off-road adventure
The Prado shines off-road.
While high range is suitable for most off-road situations, a low-range transmission with user-selectable rear and centre diff locks forms part of the standard ensemble and is suited to the most challenging of off-road situations; like those dished up on Sani Pass.
Also handy when traversing steep inclines and declines are the Prado’s hill and downhill assist controls.
Multi-terrain select allows the driver to select from five pre-configured modes depending on terrain [mud and sand; loose rock; mogul (snowy terrain); rock and dirt; and rock] tailoring the vehicle’s traction control, transmission characteristics, power delivery and suspension settings to the terrain ahead.
Lessening preoccupation with navigating testing terrain obstacles comes in the form of the new multi-terrain monitor camera system that allows for a panoramic and birds' eye view as well as under-floor view and tyre position.
It’s a feature that was well used on Sani Pass.
As with all Prado models, the VX-L features Toyota’s Active Traction Control system (A-TRAC) that regulates wheel-slip by directing torque to the wheel with the most traction.
The system also allows for braking pressure to be applied to wheels individually to maximise traction.
The Prado’s design allows the chassis to twist or bend off-road, while on-road the kinetic dynamic suspension system helps correct sway.
And the innovative body-on-frame build not only reduces body twisting for optimal vehicle control, it also isolates the cabin from suspension impacts.
It all adds up to a significantly less choppy experience than one might expect.
Summary
With its legendary robustness and go-anywhere-ability, this refined and sophisticated yet strong and durable off-roader owns the Pass.
This burly brute’s intuitive and user-friendly all-terrain support systems boost driving confidence levels, spurring even the most amateur of off-road enthusiasts to stretch their multi-terrain abilities and make the most of this technically advanced 4x4’s off-road capabilities.
And it does not disappoint when simply cruising along boulevards either.
This is a shortened version of an article that originally appeared in the 1 February edition of finweek. Buy and download the magazine here.
