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NEWS
Three-tonne towing for Prado
November upgrade will finally see Australia's top-selling large SUV match the 3000kg towing capacity of key rivalsToyota's top-selling Prado will finally offer the 3000kg maximum towing capacity of its most direct competitors when the facelifted model goes on sale in November.
However, the long-awaited towing upgrade for Australia's favourite large SUV applies only to automatic versions; cheaper manual models will continue with a 2500kg towing capacity (with a braked trailer; 750kg unbraked).
Following the new-look Prado's world debut at the Frankfurt motor show last week, Toyota has also quashed rumours it will axe the popular SUV's 63-litre sub-tank, which in addition to its 87-litre main tank brings fuel capacity to 150 litres.
That's enough for a theoretical range of 1800km-plus and makes the 150-series LandCruiser Prado one of the few off-road SUVs able to undertake long-haul off-road treks like the Simpson Desert without the need to carry extra fuel.
Of course, this applies only to 130kW 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel models, which continue to produce 450Nm of torque with an automatic transmission and 420Nm with a manual, and to officially consume 8.0 and 7.9L/100km respectively; the 207kW/381Nm 4.0-litre petrol V6 will be axed as part of the facelift due to lack of demand.
At 150 litres (except for models with the spare wheel mounted underneath rather than on the tailgate, such as the Altitude special-edition), the Prado's fuel capacity shades all full-chassis, dual-range ute-based SUVs including Toyota's own Fortuner and the Ford Everest (both 80 litres), Holden Trailblazer (76 litres), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (68 litres) and Isuzu MU-X (65 litres), and even the company's V8-powered 200 Series (138 litres).
Toyota says the Australian Prado diesel auto's uprated tow rating, which now matches the European version and follows the release of an aftermarket versions from Lovell's Springs, comes as a result of upgrades to the vehicle's engine and transmission cooling systems.
However, while the updated Prado matches the three-tonne braked towing capacity of the Everest, Trailblazer, MU-X, Pajero and Fortuner (except for the 2800kg manual), it falls short of the Pajero Sport (3100kg) and the 3500kg afforded by the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery, 200 Series LandCruiser and most one-tonne utes – with one notable exception being the HiLux diesel auto (3200kg).
Nor does it match the Everest 4x4's class-leading 5800kg gross combined weight (or GCM), another important factor in towing as it's the maximum allowable mass of the vehicle, its passengers and cargo, plus the mass of the trailer and its cargo.
In comparison, the Prado's GCM is just 5490kg, which beats the Pajero Sport's 5400kg but is also shaded by the MU-X's 5750kg and the Trailblazer's 5700kg.
The Trailblazer continues to top the turbo-diesel engine output charts with its 147kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder, followed by the Everest's 143kW/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder, the Pajero Sport's 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre four, the Fortuner's 2.8-litre four (130kW/450Nm manual, 130kW/420Nm auto) and the MU-X's 130kW/430Nm 3.0-litre four.
Full 2018 Prado details – including pricing – won't be unveiled until closer to launch, but apart from its 200 Series LandCruiser-style front-end makeover the eight-year-old model has been confirmed to bring a revised dashboard centre stack, instrument panel and switchgear, plus a number of safety upgrades.
These include lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam for all models, autonomous emergency braking and active cruise control for all models except manuals, and blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert for all models except GX and GXL.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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