Prado priced sharper

TOYOTA has sharpened it Prado pencil by almost $2000 by introducing a cheaper new entry-level diesel variant dubbed "standard-grade" and priced from $44,600 as a manual and $47,600 as an auto.

Previously, the least expensive Prado - the 4.0 GX petrol manual - was priced from $46,290, with the 3.0 GX diesel manual costing $47,290.

A leather steering wheel with audio controls is now standard across all five Prado grades, including the new standard-grade Prado.

But as part of a range-wide upgrade announced on Tuesday, which was followed 24 hours later by a similar upgrade for GM Holden's Captiva SUV, the 4.0 GX manual now costs $46,670 and the 3.0 GX turbo-diesel manual is $47,670 - both up $480.

Like the new standard-grade diesel Prado, both GXs are available with air-conditioning ($2671), metallic paint ($300) and an option pack including ABS, cruise control and a leather gearshifter ($1200), while automatic versions continue to cost $3000 extra.

A second option pack that comprises ABS, cruise, leather shifter and front side and side curtain airbags costs $2200 with manual versions of the standard-grade and GX.

However, for what should be the more popular variant, the standard-grade Prado auto, the same option adds traction/stability control, climate-control and an exterior chrome package - for $5500. The GX automatic's "Option Pack 2", meanwhile, adds independent rear climate-control - for $6000.

Prado GLX pricing rises by $379 to $57,790 for the auto-only petrol, and to $55,790 for the diesel-manual ($58,790 auto).

The Prado VX rises $981 in both petrol and diesel guises, to $68,264 and $69,264 respectively, while the Grande flagship, which is now equipped as standard with a rear-view camera, goes up $1166 - to $75,430 (petrol) amnd $76,430 (diesel). Metallic paint ($368) is the only option for both the auto-only VX and Grande variants.

There are no changes to Prado's 3.0-litre common-rail DOHC four-cylinder intercooled and turbocharged direct-injection engine, which has offered 32 per cent more power and 19.5 per cent more torque since last year.

At the same time, the diesel delivered 127kW at 3400rpm (up from 96kW at 3600rpm) and peak torque of 410Nm at 1600rpm (up from 343Nm at 2000rpm).

To August this year, Prado holds a solid second place on Australia's medium SUV sales charts - behind Ford's Territory and ahead of Captiva - but Toyota's own smash-hit Kluger II has almost out-sold it since launching two months ago.