How Australia helped the new 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado 'step up': 4WD icon has local development on suspension, transmission and engine plus genuine accessories package to punish the Nissan Patrol, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X

Although it’s made by a Japanese company in another country, the Toyota LandCruiser Prado has become a part of Australian life and, to make sure the new 250 Series survives our tough environment, this country played a key part in its development.

Despite the 250 Series playing full-size LandCruiser in the UK, Europe and North America, the only country outside Japan that Toyota saw fit for technical development was Australia.

Another important piece in the puzzle is Toyota’s genuine accessories catalogue. As a country that uses vehicles like the Prado in the bush, a well-integrated bull bar system is a must for our market.

A similar program was put in place for the 300 Series and plenty of other LandCruiser alumni have had their mettle tested down under. But it is comforting knowing that even though the new Prado carries cool new looks, it shouldn’t come at the cost of performance.

Toyota considers Australia its ‘designated Centre of Excellence for 4WD development’, suggesting 80 per cent of all the world’s environment types can be found here.

Leader of the Prado project is Ray Munday, Toyota Australia Senior Manager, Vehicle Evaluation and Regulations. He reckons the initial suspension and chassis section was made easier by the new Prado sharing the 300 Series’ basic TNGA-F platform and wheelbase length.

That said, any vehicle engineer worth their salt is in no hurry to stop improving.

“What is significantly different [with Prado] is the powertrain,” said Munday, “so we did quite a lot of testing, evaluation and development work on that with prototypes in a range of locations and different terrain.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado

 “The new V-Active 48-volt technology was already in HiLux so again, we were able to use some of the knowledge we had gained from that but in the new LandCruiser Prado, it is mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission,” said Munday.

Locations of choice include rural Victoria and New South Wales. Toyota said it focussed on off-road environments including sand dunes, muddy bogs and water crossings as well as towing heavy loads.

 “We really wanted to stretch the eight-speed auto and were very pleased with the results…We focussed on making a dependable product, and its performance was exceptional. It’s quite a step up from the current model in terms of its off-road performance.”

The new Altitude off-road focused trim was treated to greater scrutiny on technical off-road tracks with a particular focus paid to the performance of its Toyo all-terrain tyres.

Along with the suspension, engine and transmission calibration, the Prado’s genuine accessories need to interface nicely with the new suite of safety and driver assistance systems – especially the frontal protection.

Starting with the bull bars, there are four different styles for the new 250 Series: premium steel, premium alloy, semi hooped (commercial) and hoopless, all of which come in matte black powder coat finish. The premium and hoopless options can be had in body colour for the first time.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado

Toyota said the products have been improved for Kangaroo strike strength and were evaluated locally for weld strength, strain gauging, extreme temperatures, UV damage, electrical standards, water fording, corrosion, wind noise and vibration.

Further accessories can be fitted to the bars, including a 9000-pound Warn winch that snuggles behind the number plate, a light bar and an antenna, all of which have been tuned to work with the safety and assistance systems over a five-year process.

The Prado accessories range includes 8000kg-rated front and rear recovery plates, 5mm thick aluminium front bash plate, a snorkel, cargo mats and a load barrier.

Towing was another important consideration with Toyota offering on- and off-road rated tongues and towballs for the new Prado with a neat cover that protects internals when not hooked up.

“As part of our development program, we stress-tested all of these components in a variety of environments to ensure as Toyota Genuine Accessories, they were more than up to the task,” said Munday.

Interestingly, shortly after the Prado’s global launch a fan spotted a camouflaged model on a trailer in Alice Springs, potentially suggesting Australian models were subjected to another few rounds of torture before coming to market — or it was just a marketing vehicle being shown to dealers.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado

“In all the development, testing and evaluation work we did in a variety of locations, through thousands of kilometres, it was really about pushing the capability envelope, particularly in that off-road environment,” said Munday.

The new 250 Series Prado features a revised version of the previous Prado’s 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with ‘V-Active’ technology comprising a 48-volt starter-generator and small electric motor. A proper hybrid is tipped to follow in the future.

Outputs remain at 150kW and 500Nm but the engine hooked up to a new eight-speed torque converter automatic from Aisin. The new, stronger, wider and longer wheelbase TNGA-F underpinnings aid the Prado achieving a 3500kg braked towing capacity — up 500kg.

Basic suspension layout of double wishbone front and a four-link live rear axle is carried over but has been honed for the new model. As before, most trims are coil sprung but up-spec Prados get adaptive variable suspension.

Available in five trims spanning GX, GXL, VX, Kakadu and the new Altitude five-seat off-road variant, the Prado 250 Series payload varies between 580kg (Altitude) and 615kg (GXL).

The LandCruiser Prado, a rival for the Nissan Patrol, Isuzu MU-X and (also heavily Oz-developed) Ford Everest will go on-sale imminently and our in-depth review will go live on November 21.

2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado pricing

Prices listed are before on-road costs