Those who hold that the only electronic assistance a pukka off-roader requires is a cellphone in the glove box might wonder where the latest Prado is going.
A Toyota that's built its reputation for unrivalled ruggedness and durability through relatively simple means is now using a lot more terabytes to tackle all levels of terrain.
That's good news on the road, where the mid-level VX and flagship VX Limited, the first six-figure Prado, provide smoother sailing, due to their body-roll-reducing Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, than the 200 Series Cruiser. Aonther tweak, Adaptive Variable Suspension with Roll Posture Control, further lessens movement.
Heading off-seal is when the going gets trickier, not so much for what you get, but for how it's packaged.
The key new feature of a crawl control, in which the driver chooses an appropriate snail's pace (1-5kmh) speed then lets the car get on with it, is fantastic. So too the tied-in multi-terrain select that further refines the throttle, suspension and brake settings for specific conditions.
This good gear is tied in with a gizmo called a Multi-Terrain Monitor, which uses four cameras to show conditions around the vehicle. It might keep your boots clean but otherwise I can't see the point; in really doubtful conditions it's always better to physically check things out.
The software could make the difference between success and getting stuck, but so will technique, a point reinforced on the preview day. While the VX Limited, the model that has the bulk of the new hi-tech equipment, was a better on-seal drive than the entry GX, which doesn't, at the Toyota NZ's off-road test site they were pretty much equals in experienced hands.
The tech upload aside, the attractions are better safety equipment and more gear wrapped up in a more modern-looking, larger seven-seater body. Underneath it all, the Prado remains old-school where it counts, continuing with the same four-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, five-
speed auto box and a rugged ladder frame-style chassis.
Inside, there's a new modern dash with a Lexus-style keyless entry, push-button start system, Bluetooth and a reversing camera. Satellite navigation is kept for the $104,990 flagship.
Four-wheel-drive modes work through a rotary dial and chunky switchgear is in keeping with the Tonka-toy image.
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