2018 Prado

[Richard42 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Richard42]

I went through all of this and there are several posts and conversations on this site started by me, particularly regarding the 2017 Prado Altitude that was released earlier this year.
After weighing up the options between Prado GXL, Altitude and driving heaps of cars, I purchased a Toyota Fortuner Crusade.
At this point in time, the Fortuner top model (Crusade) is $56,990 drive away - perhaps about $5K cheaper than a GXL prado and was about $16K cheaper than the Prado Altitude and had more features, except for the Prado's AWD and Long Range tank (GXL).
Fortuner (with exactly same engine and transmission as PRADO) had inclusions such as Rear Diff Lock, better dash with Multi Information Display, More modern inside and outside styling, Leather interior, Auto tail gate, third row seats easily removable, voice activation for entertainment system, paddle shifters for Auto, Tows 300KG more, Cooler box in dash, and quicker acceleration (somehow).
Prado GXL had AWD and smoother ride, which benefit may have been lost if you do a suspension lift.
I like the altitude, but the DVD system has been superseded (with my children) by tablets / iPads. The Altitude's sunroof I would have liked, but the price was about $74K from memory for the Prado Altitude.

I expect this will all change when the Prado (GXL) gets an update in November and probably gets a diff lock etc, but I needed a car before then.

Fortuner just won Mid-size 4WD of the year by Pat Callan's magazine (Prado was not in the test) and he is not sponsored by Toyota as far as I know.

Fortuner is worth a look if you are considering GXL Prado unless you can wait to see what the next update brings (probably also a price rise back up to RRP which I think is around $67K for the Prado GXL). A GXL Prado now is (at the most) $62,990 but not sure if this deal will include the new model.

I know this is a Prado forum and don't want to offend, but this is just my experience and just might help someone...
Rich.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

So its looking like an 'on paper' towing limit as I said previously.

It would be a real shame if the Prado went further down the dual cab path with high towing limits and a GCM that makes the tow limit almost impossible to achieve.

It's all well and good you can legally tow 3T but when you can only do it with a few vehicle mods, 2 people on board and little to no load in the vehicle then what is the point?

GCM of new Prado (according to: https://www.motoring.com.au/three-to...-prado-109155/) comes in at 5490kgs.

Looks like I was right - what a disapointment...

[TopCat Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TopCat]

GCM of new Prado (according to: https://www.motoring.com.au/three-to...-prado-109155/) comes in at 5490kgs.

Looks like I was right - what a disapointment...

I've asked Motoring.com.au if the GCM that was quoted is for the auto or manual. The towing limit for the manual hasn't changed so the GCM could have been mixed up in the article.
We'll see

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

GCM of new Prado (according to: https://www.motoring.com.au/three-to...-prado-109155/) comes in at 5490kgs.

Looks like I was right - what a disapointment...

Trailhawk is looking even better I'm afraid!

[OzDriver Member Find all posts View Profile Close OzDriver]

I also studied and tested the Fortuner before going for the Prado 2.8 GXL.
Fortuner positive over Prado : felt livelier on performance due to slightly lower weight and part time 4x4, better steering and handling, seemed more modern in looks and style, easier to remove 3rd row totally.
Fortuner negative : seemed less well made, harsher ride, smaller fuel tank, much less width and headroom in second row, re-sale concerns

[150gxl Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150gxl]

The Low GVM of the Crusader killed it for me. How you can tow it’s maximum and not go over GVM will be the real test. The all paw drive and larger fuel tank made the choice between Crusader and Prado all the more easy for my personal purposes.

Our Prado in touring trim with caravan attached but no driver or passengers or beer fridge, is 2700kg on the scales.
The Crusader Max GVM is 2750. At least with the Prado 2990 GVM, we can put the wife and the beer fridge in, as well as myself.

Our 220 ball weight on a 2t caravan, has an effective TBM of 300 to add to the rear axle weight.
I don’t know what the rear axle limit of the Crusader is. However, anyone towing 2800 (or anything) will have to check it out.

So the 5450 GCM on the 2018 Prado means we couldn’t tow any more than the original 2500kg.
The extra cooling and suspension improvements would definitely help.
FWIW, with the power available in Prado/Crusader, I wouldn’t want to be towing anywhere near their limits, but that’s just personal opinion.

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

The 2018 Prado may not have a GVM of 2990. I heard from the dealership that there was a weight reduction in the 2018 model. Not sure how they have done it though.

Cuda

[150gxl Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150gxl]

GCM 5990kg?

There’s been an update on the Motoring site’s story:

UPDATED 28/09/2017 3:00pm: Toyota Australia has advised that, along with an upgraded 3000kg braked towing capacity, automatic versions of the facelifted Prado will come with an increased (and now class-leading) GCM of 5990kg



Down in the text of the story they quote GCM 5490kg. Confusing. Maybe they missed changing that and the headline is correct.
No mention of GVM.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

There’s been an update on the Motoring site’s story:

UPDATED 28/09/2017 3:00pm: Toyota Australia has advised that, along with an upgraded 3000kg braked towing capacity, automatic versions of the facelifted Prado will come with an increased (and now class-leading) GCM of 5990kg



Down in the text of the story they quote GCM 5490kg. Confusing. Maybe they missed changing that and the headline is correct.
No mention of GVM.

Interesting update. Perhaps the GVM will remain at 2990 and they've just added the 3000 towing to make it a 5990 GCM?

I'm wondering of the Tare is coming down a tad now...

[Guest Close Guest]

Great to hear the correction. Now bring back the V6.

[RobP69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RobP69]

I have also been looking at the new 1 and managed to get an 'internal use only' spec sheet from the dealer.

VX loses KDSS as well as the power fold 3rd row of seats. Everything else for all models is gains.

Game changer for me if true - whole point of me going up to VX spec was for the KDSS - wish this speculation kaka was over so I could make a definitive decision :/

[bretthar Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bretthar]

Game changer for me if true - whole point of me going up to VX spec was for the KDSS - wish this speculation kaka was over so I could make a definitive decision :/

Will wait and see but I would think that was unlikely as the current prado is getting old and they need to keep interest in it by adding extras that have no real cost in manufacturing, to take stuff away would be very strange
On the increase to 3T that's great but I'm pulling around 2.5T at the moment and is all good on the flat but any hill and its game over, 130Kw just does not cut it, would hate to be pulling 3T up a hill.

[bigowenb Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigowenb]

Game changer for me if true - whole point of me going up to VX spec was for the KDSS - wish this speculation kaka was over so I could make a definitive decision :/

Was at my local Toyota dealer on friday......all dealers now have the email from Toyota with all the spec changes for the facelift. VX is definetly loosing the KDSS and rear seat electrics with no indication that it will be available as an option either......don't know what the heck Toyota Australia is thinking!!!

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

Nice get. Where did you find these pics?
Still not sure if this updated Prado is going to be enough to sway me from a Grand Jeep Cherokee Trail hawk. I'm sort of convinced they overcome the reliability and warranty issues now and you get so much bang for your buck. Nice accessories from Uneek as well.

Hoppy I just come out of a GC it was a great car no issues, was doing a lot of kms so I went back to a standard company vehicle, which is a hilux it will be due next June thinking about jumping back into a GC myself again, the prado does look great but the 2.8 Motor is just a weasy sounding Motor..

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

Will wait and see but I would think that was unlikely as the current prado is getting old and they need to keep interest in it by adding extras that have no real cost in manufacturing, to take stuff away would be very strange
On the increase to 3T that's great but I'm pulling around 2.5T at the moment and is all good on the flat but any hill and its game over, 130Kw just does not cut it, would hate to be pulling 3T up a hill.

mmmmm, I have towed 2.5 tonnes and its never been "game over" for me going up hills? ...except for auto transmission temps, which can climb very quickly (but Auto temps are definitely cooler though when towing in S4 as you are supposed to...but still get too hot without a transmission cooler)...but if you tow anything more than 500kg for any sort of distance or off road, i'd definitely install a transmission cooler...it will be interesting to see if Toyota have included an auto transmission cooler if they have increased the towing capacity to 3,000kg.