Prado upgrade aims to retain top spot

TOYOTA has given its V6 LandCruiser Prado models a few upgrades and a minor facelift in a bid to maintain its status as the segment leader.

The Prado has continued virtually unchanged since its launch in July, 1996, and sales have dropped slightly this year. Nevertheless, it is still the biggest seller in its category.

The mid-size off-roader earned 5044 sales until the end of July, compared with 5844 for the same period last year.

The eight-seat Prado V6 is now offered in four grades - RV, GXL, VX and Grande - compared with three previously.

Cost of entry for the V6 range has risen by $860 with the RV manual priced at $41,250.

The GXL manual now costs $46,240 (formerly $45,240) while the VX auto is priced at $55,970, compared with $54,530 for the old Grande VX.

The range is topped by the Grande which costs $62,780 - more than any other LandCruiser - barring the V8-powered GXV.

Visually, the upgraded models are discernible by their revised grilles and a new deeper front bumper with wider openings.

The RV and GXL have slightly modified black grilles with vertical bars but the VX and Grande models now have a chrome horizontal-bar grille, making them look more like the full- size LandCruiser.

The rear end has been updated with clear combination tail- lights and a black-on-white nameplate.

Inside, the V6 Prados feature easier to read instrumentation and better seat material and door trim. A 40/60 split/fold second row seat with three child restraint anchorage points is among the upgrades.

This arrangement allows access to the third row seat even while a baby capsule is in place in the second row seat.

Fog lights are now standard in the GXL, VX and Grande, and the latter two models also get new three-spoke alloy wheels and a six-speaker stereo.