Price hikes for Toyota LandCruiser tow vehicles

Toyota has upgraded two of its most popular vehicles for towing -- the Toyota LandCruiser Prado family SUV and Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series workhorse range -- but the additional technology comes at a price.

The 2020 Toyota LandCruiser Prado has been fitted with new features, including an enhanced infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, improved safety systems and a more powerful engine.

There are no changes to the external design of the 2020 Toyota Prado, which arrives in showrooms from October 1, but prices have risen across the range between $2000 and almost $3000 depending on the variant.

All versions of the hard-core Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series now score a new infotainment system with 6.1-inch touch-screen, satellite-navigation, voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity. But the multimedia technology updates also bring price hikes ranging between $2360 and $5460.

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 70 Series are the latest Toyota models to get significant price hikes, following similar moves with the updated HiLux and Fortuner, but the Australian market leader appears confident Australian buyers will pay a premium for its products.

Manual versions of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado are no longer available and the entry-level GX model grades now opens the range at $59,840 plus on-road costs, while the GXL now costs $66,540 -- both representing a rise of $2850.

The Toyota Prado VX is now priced at $76,380 (up $2754), while the range-topping Kakadu is an $87,030 proposition -- up $2084.

All Prado models have a three-row, seven-seat layout except the GX, which is a five-seat vehicle.

The major mechanical change for the new Prado is an upgraded 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, which carries over from the 2020 Toyota HiLux and Fortuner.

Despite the heavily modified four-cylinder engine cranking out 20kW more power and 50Nm more torque (for a total of 150kW at 3400rpm and 500Nm over 1600-2800rpm), towing capacity remains unchanged at 3000kg.

Toyota has fitted a new turbocharger, modified cylinder block and head, reworked exhaust manifold and new pistons. Fuel economy has dropped slightly from 8.0L/100km to 7.9L/100km.

However, the diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues that have plagued the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine in the Prado, HiLux and Fortuner (resulting in a class-action lawsuit against Toyota) have apparently not been addressed.

Standard safety features for all Prado models have also been upgraded with autonomous emergency braking now able to detect cars and pedestrians day and night, and cyclists during the day.

The lane departure alert system has been upgraded to include active lane keeping assist but, unlike more advanced systems that are linked to electric power steering, the Prado dabs the brakes on one side of the vehicle to attempt to keep it within its lane.

Toyota has added a new road-sign recognition system that scans speed limit signs and displays them on the instrument panel and can override the cruise control settings. As with the previous model, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert are available.

Inside, the 2020 Toyota Prado comes with a bigger 9.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system that now offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay when plugged in via USB.

Toyota says the Prado's voice recognition system has been improved and the myToyota app also enables several third-party apps to work with the touch-screen, including Waze sat-nav, AccuWeather and Stitcher.

Entry-level five-seat Prado GX variants come with automatic rain-sensing wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, reversing camera, air-conditioning and keyless entry/start.

Third-row seating is a $2550 option on the GX.

All Prado models except the GX can be ordered with a full-size spare wheel mounted underneath the car instead of the rear tailgate, but this deletes the secondary fuel tank.

Toyota Prado GXL models come standard with seven seats, three-zone climate control, LED headlights, fog lights and daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, roof rails and side steps.

The up-spec Prado VX gets power-operated, leather-accented, heated and cooled front seats, along with heated second-row seats – all of which can be added to the GLX via an option pack ($3470).

VX model grades also get larger 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, digital radio, premium 14-speaker JBL sound, plus panoramic and multi-terrain monitors, a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.

At the top of the tree is the Toyota Prado Kakadu, which gets paddle shifters in addition to the upgraded touch-screen system with Apple and Android phone mirroring.

Carryover Kakadu features include advanced one-touch ‘multi-terrain’ off-road systems with crawl control, carpet floor mats, a moonroof, adaptive suspension with auto-levelling rear air suspension plus a rear seat entertainment screens.

Half of the the four-variant Toyota Prado range continues to attract luxury car tax (LCT), which from July 1 this year charges 33 cents in every dollar over $68,740.

Price rises for the upgraded Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series off-roaders start with the entry-level Workmate single cab chassis ute models, now priced from $68,950 plus on-road costs (up $3710).

That means every model in the LC70 range – including cab chassis ute, five-door wagon and two-door Troop Carrier models – is now priced over the luxury car tax threshold ($68,740 since July 1).

The Toyota 70 Series dual-cab ute is now priced from $71,500 plus ORCs (up $3760), the wagon from $67,400 plus ORCs (up $2410) and the Troop Carrier from $71,350 plus ORCs (up $$2360).

The biggest price hike is reserved for the GXL Troopie – up $5460 to $74,550 plus ORCs – and the GXL dual-cab now tops the LC70 line-up at a cool $75,600.

But while the LandCruiser 70 may be fundamentally unchanged since 1984 (apart from a ladder chassis upgrade that helped volume-selling single-cab variants get a fleet-friendly five-star ANCAP safety rating in September 2016), at least it now has modern multimedia technology.

All versions of the hard-core Toyota 70 Series workhorse line-up score a new infotainment system with 6.1-inch touch-screen, satellite-navigation, voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity.

There are no changes to the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8, but all variants now come with two front USB ports, a 12-volt accessory power input, a larger smartphone holder and a cup-holder in the passenger-side door bin.

How much does the 2020 Toyota Prado cost?
GX -- $59,840 (+$2850)
GXL -- $66,540 (+$2850)
VX -- $76,380 (+$2754)
Kakadu -- $87,030 (+$2084)
* Prices exclude on-road costs

2020 Toyota Prado options:
Third-row seat (GX): $2550
Premium interior (GXL) $3470
Optional paint (all grades): $600
Flat tailgate (GXL and above): no added cost

How much does the 2020 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series cost?
Workmate single cab chassis $68,950 (+$3710)
GX single cab chassis $70,950 (+$3530)
GXL single cab chassis $73,050 (+$3810)
Workmate double cab chassis $71,500 (+$3760)
GXL double cab chassis $75,600 (+$3860)
Workmate Troop Carrier $71,350 (+$2360)
GXL Troop Carrier $74,550 (+$5460)
Workmate wagon $67,400 (+$2410)
GXL wagon $71,500 (+2410)
* Prices exclude on-road costs

2020 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series options:
Optional paint (except Troop Carrier): $600
Diff locks (GX single-cab and Workmate double-cab): $1500

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