Toyota Prado Kakadu 2011 Review

Four-wheel-drive vehicles that rival prestige sedans in terms of technology and luxury equipment can retain impressive off-road credentials.  A range of manufacturers has developed luxury versions of dinkum 4WDs with all types of driver and comfort aids; the Toyota Prado Kakadu as tested here being a shining example for someone with $90,000 to put into a vehicle that covers the two scopes of luxury car and serious off-roader.

VALUE

Prado is a big seller thanks to equipment, ability and reputation. The Kakadu is the top-of-the-range Prado at $87,990 when having a four-litre V6 petrol engine (202kW power) or $1000 more for the three-litre turbocharged diesel engine we tested.

Our Prado had a $2500 option pack that includes radar cruise control allowing the driver to nominate a distance from  the car ahead on a motorway, the vehicle automatically beginning its braking if getting too close.  Prado diesel (in any guise) is a formidable 4WD with 32-degree approach angle and 220mm ground clearance. Even on standard tyres it has good off-bitumen abilities.

DESIGN

Prado Kakadu luxury touches include a leather interior, sat-nav, rear camera and reversing guide, rear seat DVD with fold-down screen plus headphones, multi-information display touch screen to set up vehicle functions (hours of fun here with owner's handbook on your lap), power sunroof, a 14-speaker premium sound system, three-zone aircon plus a large centre console bin that can be used as a 'fridge, heated front seats, memory position driver seat plus a steering wheel that folds out the way automatically for entry and exit.

A forward facing camera helps in parking and having a squiz at the terrain immediately in front of the vehicle (we'd like this to have an adjustable lens, the standard one being a very wide angle).

TECHNOLOGY

Prado Kakadu justifies its price with all the gear. As well as hill-start assist and downhill control it has height adjustable rear suspension controlled by a dashboard knob. It raises 40mm to give the body extra clearance (reverting to normal at 50km/h) or lowers 20mm to aid rear loading (returning to normal at 12km/h).

Push buttons allow the driver to select a locked centre differential, turn off the stability control and select between comfort, normal and sport for shock absorber settings.  It is constant 4WD. Low range is selected with a dashboard rotary knob.

Toyota claims the ABS system will "read" the sort of surface the Prado is on and adjust accordingly.  The diesel engine works away without complaint and is pretty well matched to the five-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift.

DRIVING

The computer showed an acceptable 10.5 litres/100km in suburban driving. By the end of our holiday driving it read an average 8.4 litres/100km, an excellent figure given it included 110km/h freeway running and a beach drive in a 2.5-tonne wagon.

VERDICT

Kakadu stands out little from a $60,000 GXL Prado on the outside. But once your friends are inside, you'll dazzle them with its goodies.

TOYOTA PRADO KAKADU DIESEL

Price: $88,904
Engine: Four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel, 2982cc
Power: 127kW @ 3400rpm
Torque: 410Nm @ 1600-2800rpm
Economy: 8.5  litresd/100km; on test 8.4.
Transmission: Full-time four-wheel-drive, switchable to low range; five-speed automatic; 2100rpm at 110km/h 4WD ability: 220mm ground clearance, 32 degree approach angle, 25 degree departure angle, 70mm wading depth, 22 degree ramp over.
Dimensions: 4930mm long, 1885mm wide, 1890mm high, 2790mm wheelbase. 2435kg kerb weight; tows 2500kg.