Farewell to a legendary car beloved by Aussies: New 2025 Toyota Prado is just around the corner but is it better in every way or will we miss some of the 150 Series Prado's charm? | Opinion

Fifteen years is a very long time. Since 2009 Australia has seen seven changes of Prime Minister and a population growth exceeding four million but only one generation of Toyota LandCruiser Prado. 

Understandably, the late 2024 local release of the 250 Series Toyota Prado is much anticipated. With such a gap between the 150 Series, we’re expecting big changes; improvement in absolutely every aspect seems like the bare minimum. 

But, because we all know Joni Mitchell never lies, perhaps we won’t know what we had until it’s gone. Here are some of the unique features we’ll miss about the 150 Series Toyota Prado.

Big chunky buttons

By its 15th year in production, the Prado has seen many trends and technology leaps and with that changes inside the cabin and though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now feature, very few of the hard points have changed. 

It’s left some awkwardly shaped storage cubbies behind especially in upper spec models like the Kakadu’s weird L-shaped receptacle.

Although the centre stack has changed quite remarkably since its introduction, the chunky rotary dial to select four-high and four-low along with eight easy-to-understand drive buttons first launched in 2018 is totally fuss-free.

Less so for other buttons, for example the idle-up and parking sensor buttons hidden behind the power-adjust steering wheel. Oh, and that wood trim has looked dated for at least the past eight years.

Proper in-car entertainment

The height of mid-2000s middle class fancy has to be the fold-down back seat entertainment unit. It was the ultimate road-trip boredom killer and, in the Prado’s case, you’re locked into Blu-Ray discs that can now be picked up for next to nothing at charity shops.

If you never subscribed to Sony’s high-def disc drive there’s also an HDMI port you can plug a DVD player or games console into – and trust us, a screen up and away from the face is much better for quelling travel sickness than Fruit Ninja (can you tell I don’t keep up with mobile game trends?).

2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu 150 Series

Finally, the pair of wireless headphones that come with the system mean parents (or older siblings) don’t have to be subjected to the Bluey theme tune for the 10,000th time.

The Conversation Mirror

The latest people movers and SUVs have clever ways to communicate with passengers, with the ability to amplify the driver’s commands through the speakers in the third row of seats in the Kia Carnival, for example. 

A $270,000 BMW 7 Series has an interior camera you can take selfies with or view the feed on the multimedia screen.

2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu 150 Series

But in the 150 Series Prado, things are a little more analogue. Where you’d expect to find a sunglasses storage cubby is actually where the Conversation Mirror (that’s the official name in the manual) is found. 

Instead of shouting at the misbehaving sproggos while focused on the road, you can quickly flick them a look of disdain in the convex mirror. For easier passengers, it helps hold a conversation or keep an eye on the seatbelt situation, for example.

The last bastion of mechanical simplicity?

Okay so the 150 Series Prado is no original Land Rover Defender or 70 Series but it is that bit more analogue than the new model will be, with hydraulic power-assisted steering, non-electric sway-bar disconnect system and a physical connection between shifter and gearbox.

The new car carries the same ‘1GD’ 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel under the bonnet that is well-known to mechanics, so that will alleviate some of the concerns about a new off-roading platform.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series

There are also fewer active safety systems on the 150 Series that can play up when going bush, like wading through water or with excess dust. Knowing Toyota, though, it’s certain extensive testing has gone into these features. 

Regardless if you get a new or old Prado, though, the dealer network and general knowledge about Toyota products will remain strong in Australia. 

Finally, the price

The new Prado is between $9670 and $12,522 dearer than the model it replaces and that is a big price increase no matter the vehicle segment. 

In this 4x4’s case it makes it roughly 15 per cent dearer, giving more affordable rivals including the Ford Everest V6 and V8-powered Y62 Nissan Patrol a little bit more breathing room. 

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series

Still, with plenty more interior technology and that eye-catching exterior design, there will likely be queues forming around the metaphorical block for buyers to get into the new Prado. 

We should have a definitive answer on what we miss about the old Prado by the time we sample the new one, which is due to happen before December this year. Stay tuned for the full rundown of Toyota’s latest 4x4.