Thoughts on the Next Gen Prado

[DSS150 Find all posts View Profile Close DSS150]

First of all, I know there is another thread along similar lines to this but I wanted to start a fresh one for specific discussion.

Working for Toyota in Sales I get a lot of feedback from customers on what they like and don't on the current models and the new style Altitude has been polarising, some loving the new door and one tank omission and some not.

There is discussion of the new style being implemented across the range which may upset some.

So, doing my own little bit of brainstorming I was wondering if Toyota would consider having both door/tank options in the range.


What are peoples thoughts on the following?

Keep the current GXL, VX and Kakadu Turbo Diesel auto in the same format (rear door/twin tank) as current with an obvious revised look and spec.

Then include 2 vehicles with the new Altitude style rear door.

A GX with 5 seats, twin tanks and spare mounted on the interior rear side of the vehicle.
Basic spec, steel wheels, vinyl floor and a good platform for modding.

Then a Grande, also with Altitude style rear door and 1 fuel tank, spare underneath.
Similar spec level to Kakadu with all the bells and whistles.


This would mean 5 Prados in the line up which would be manageable you would think from a manufacturing p.o.v.

Also based on sales figures, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they stuck to Turbo Diesel Auto as the only option, seeing as there are very few petrol or manuals sold in Prado now.

Discuss away

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

GX & GXL with spare on rear door, VX & Kakadu without.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

GX & GXL with spare on rear door, VX & Kakadu without.

Totally agree

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Totally agree

Yep, me three. Two Practical workhorses and two shopping trolleys


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[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

I can see them following Mitsubishi's lead which Jeep, Land Rover, Nissan have now adopted and start down the all independent suspension, monocoque type design.

[DSS150 Find all posts View Profile Close DSS150]

The problem with this would be large number of Grey Nomads that want all the luxuries in their touring vehicle.

Speaking from personal experience, a big portion of what we sell are Kakadu and Altitude models and a lot of these (contrary to popular belief) are not just shopping trolleys but are hitting the dirt and doing a number of kms.

Not having a twin tank luxury Prado is going to limit the Prado market IMHO, I hope Toyota don't go down this track.

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

Kakadu with two tanks

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

KEEP MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AVAILABLE!!! You do it Europe so you can do it here.

and long range tanks

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

GX & GXL with spare on rear door, VX & Kakadu without.

If they are doing that can they make KDSS available on the GXL?

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

GX & GXL with spare on rear door, VX & Kakadu without.

Totally agree

Yep, me three. Two Practical workhorses and two shopping trolleys




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My Grande is NOT a shopping trolley unless I'm parking on top of some idiot in a brand new Prius that took up two spots while I'm restocking the beer fridge......

(With all respect to tDSS150 for creating a decent thread) Toyota have a lot more to worry about than losing the second tank by bringing the European model here. The 150 is tired and already losing sales to Jeeps (ugh, I swore), the DRL's on the Kakadu are a major fail, as well as a list of other hates that has seen 120 owners decline to upgrade.

If they made the next model Prado with "the after market" and clearance in mind they would obliterate the competition. Of course, the long range fuel capacity is a must, but most will just Kaymar the rear end and add an aftermarket tank anyway.

Get rid of the FGay and option in a kick arse Prado option with 33's. It doesnt matter what you badge it, they wont be able to produce enough of them to sate the weekend warrior market.

In the meantime, I remain resolute and wont be buying a 150 GX, GXL, Alt or Kaka with or without a wheel on the door.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

I saw an Altitude the other day and loved the look. Surely there must be room under there for maybe not 2 tanks but a bigger single tank? Or maybe a bigger single and 30-40 ltr 2ndary tank? I think Dad's GU 2nd tank is only 40 odd ltrs.
My biggest gripe with the 120 (and 150) is standard ground clearance and the wheel on the rear door (although not as bad on the 150 as the strut is better)

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Doesn't the 200 have one big and one small tank? Maybe they can squeeze one in as an option. That would be good.
Sorry MLC but I reckon nearly all Grande or Kaka Prados never go off road like yours does. We are the minority. Hardest work most of them would do is driving on the lawn to wash it.


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[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

MLC's got a point. The reason the Jeep (particularly the JK) is doing better is that there are a million and one aftermarket bolt ones that you can customise your vehicle with. They provide a good basic base to start with and you make it what you want after that. The JK is the only 4 door soft top, and one of the last live axles trucks left. Its basic, a pig to drive, and rattles the hell out of you, but they are fun and relatively easy to customise and set up for your needs.

To be fair in Aus to go anywhere you'll be doing 80% of the trip on bitumen just to get there, so it makes sense to have cars more geared up for that. Although there's hardly anywhere left that you need a hardcore off roader anymore. Most main tracks could be probably done in a family sedan or AWD now. The Gibb isn't the goat track it used to be and the Cape will be bitumen all the way soon. For most people the worst they will see is the graded gravel road into the national park campground.

Also the state of the market these days is that everyone wants 'luxury' and doo dahs and gizmos. Half of which never gets used. Same as for caravans, most want LCD's TV's, microwaves, LCD this, push button this, touch screen that. Nobody wants to do it rough, but for me that's half the fun. They all want their BIG4's and Kids clubs. The cars reflect that.

I reckon if Toyota did a similar basic vehicle, a percentage of the market would jump on board. When I was a kid, the family would take the roofs off our FJ40's and 90 Series with two spanners and go bush for days camping in a tent. The only way I could do that with a modern car is to buy a Jeep.

The 180litre tank sold me on the 120. So if Toyota go the way of the others manufacturers with the Prado and go single fuel tank, moncoque chassis, independant suspension, then I think my next vehicle would be GU patrol, 200 series GX or a 70 Series (though they will be hard to get hold of second hand once they are phased out)

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Lets design the Prado Outback:

1. 33 inch tyres
2. Euro style door with spare underneath (this is better dealt with after market)
3. No pathetic DRLs. The front lights to be redesigned so any kick 4rse bar may be easily fitted.
4. Front and rear lockers.
5. Deep wheel arches designed to accommodate serious rubber.
6 V6 Diesel or V8,
7. 3-4 tonne tow capacity

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

AMTS, I think I crossed the line, apologies to DSS, chuck the previous post wherever it fits better.....