Considering Alternatives to My Prado

[natalie321 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close natalie321]

Hi everyone, I’m Natalie, and currently driving a Toyota Prado 150 Series GXL, which has been a solid and reliable companion for years, but lately I’ve been considering a change. A few things are pushing me in that direction: the fuel use is a bit heavier than I’d like, the size feels more than I need for mostly city driving, the tech inside is starting to feel dated compared with newer cars, and servicing costs are creeping up. I also don’t do the same amount of off-roading I used to, so the Prado’s full capability isn’t getting much use anymore. I’m curious to hear what others have moved on to after owning a Prado and whether you found something that balances comfort, practicality, and lower running costs.

Pips NYT

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

Hi Natalie, ones needs changes along with their life, and it do be like that when the vehicle which served us faithfully last time doesn't seem to meet our current expectation or intended usage.

I`m from Singapore, for me it the opposite, having previously owned a 2020 Subaru Forester, and does return back excellent fuel figures and comfort along with its safety features, but when called upon to climb up a steep slope off road, that is where all falls apart, partly being it is a CVT with no low range nor diff lock, moreover lugging a roof top tent and camping gears has increased it weight, as such after careful deliberations, we finally decided to purchase a 202 Prado 150 2.7Liter(Petrol variant) with low mileage which has never been off road from an elderly retiree.

Since then we have found our perfect vehicle for our lifestyle, I`ve have been performing my own servicing and as such has managed to keep the cost somewhat low, but servicing of vehicle in Singapore is actually more expensive over here compared to Australia, and the level of competency left a lot to be desired, that is why I got to get my hands dirty once in a while to make sure everything is done right and proper and with the proper grease, filter, engine oil, and genuine parts.

I`ve seen quite a few Suzuki Jimny over in Perth, including some 5 door variant during my July trip there, maybe some food for thought on your next vehicle that suits your needs and lifestyle.

[conphi89 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close conphi89]

Hi Natalie, I'm in a similar situation, I would like a car smaller than the Prado 150 & was considering downsizing to a RAV 4 or a Subaru Forester. I've come to the conclusion that the Prado might be the choice to stay with. The tech maybe "dated" but reliability is the Prado's forte. I live just outside of Brisbane so most of my driving (even to work & back) is highway so fuel consumption (7.5l to 8.0 l/100km) is pretty good. The Prado's AWD system is the best for slippery or rough roads unlike the on demand systems on the RAV 4. I really like the look of the Forester with its fulltime AWD system but worried about it's reliabity.