Toyota Land Cruiser 250 (J250W)

After four generations, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is no more. In its place, a new successor is taking over in the Light Duty class of the Toyota Land Cruiser lineage, sitting between the Heavy Duty-type Land Cruiser 70 and the flagship Station Wagon-type Land Cruiser 300. Welcome to the all-new Land Cruiser 250.

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250

Starting at 5,200,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the first-ever Land Cruiser 250 picks up where the Prado left off with its boxy styling, luxurious interior, legendary off-road capability, and an array of tech worthy of bearing the Land Cruiser bloodline.

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250

Beginning with the design, the Land Cruiser 250 uses the cubic approach that will leave observers Tetris-eyed. Be there and be square, they said, and like the final Prado it replaces, the Land Cruiser 250 doesn't feature a rear spare wheel. Fair enough.

In observance of the Land Cruiser's heritage, the 250 doesn't use Toyota logos all over and instead uses TOYOTA letterings. A real blast from the past.

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 interior

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 interior

Apart from the squarish exterior design that makes their square pants fizz, the all-new interior stays true to the Land Cruiser's character as a luxury off-roader not only works as a family-oriented vehicle but for taking VIPs and executives to their important points of interest. The driver's side is packed with a 12.3-inch TFT display that tells most of the important stuff around this car, the available 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment purposes, HUD, digital rearview mirror, climate control, Nanoe X, and heated steering wheel, among others.

Apart from that, the Land Cruiser 250 is offered with a choice of a 5-seater or a 7-seater. Whichever seating layout you're on, you will be greeted with luxurious features like the power moonroof, and the available JBL Premium Sound System. As for boot space, it's good for up to four golf bags with all of the passenger seats folded down. For easy access, the Land Cruiser 250 comes with a hands-free power liftgate that can automatically open with your foot lift.

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250

With the TNGA platform and a ladder frame chassis, the Land Cruiser 250 is better to drive and more rigid than the Prado. It even has improved braked towing capacity as well. For the first time in a Land Cruiser series, the 250 features electric power steering and a brand-new Stabiliser Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) that allows drivers to manually switch the stabilizer between 'locked' and 'free' for extended wheel articulation. Other useful features of the Land Cruiser 250 include Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, the improved Multi-Terrain Monitor with a Toyota-first back underfloor view, full-time 4WD with Torsen LSD, Downhill Assist Control, Hillstart Assist Control, A-TRC, electric rear diff lock, and Drive Mode Select.

The Land Cruiser 250 is offered in a choice of a VX-exclusive 163PS 2.7L 2TR-FE petrol engine mated to a 6-speed Super ECT and the one engine that scares all Japanese straight, a 204PS 2.8L 1GD-FTV diesel engine (optional on the VX model, exclusive to the GX and ZX models) mated to a Direct Shift-8AT with paddle shifters. The petrol version has a fuel economy of 7.5km/L while the diesel version does 11km/L. All are based on WLTC Mode standards.

In terms of safety, the Land Cruiser 250 features the new and improved Toyota Safety Sense comprising advanced features such as the Pre-Collision Safety System with Pedestrian Detection and Road Sign Assist, among others.

Being the Prado's successor can be stressful work, especially with the diesel engine being the cream of the crop. The kind of engine that terrifies Gen Alfa Japanese people lately. Despite mixed results, the Land Cruiser 250 is still the Prado's successor worth waiting for. The middle child of the Land Cruiser family is now cubed for perfection. Let's see if the Japanese public had their word with this off-roader.

Just don't call this a Prado anymore because the Land Cruiser 250 is no longer the Prado of yesteryears. This off-roader has turned.

Available Colors: Avantgarde Bronze Metallic, Super White II, Platinum White Pearl Mica, Black, Avantgarde Bronze Metallic, and Smoky Blue.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

My FH5 Log: A Donk and a Prado

FH5's Series 3 Storm Season Playlist brings back the Donkervoort D8 GTO and the Arctic Trucks Land Cruiser Prado in the roster. All you have to do is to accumulate enough points by winning events listed on this week's playlist to score these returning Forza favorites. 

Anyway, now that I got the keys to the two playlist-exclusive prize cars, it's time to get to know about them quickly before setting them off for their usual leisurely drive.

First up is the Donkervoort D8, which can be acquired by scoring 25 points in this series's Storm Season. The Donkervoort D8 may be known as the Dutchman's Caterham but it's more than being that. With the Audi-sourced 2.5L TFSi 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed gearbox, carbon fiber kevlar body, and track-honed dynamics, the Donkervoort is a different kind of track car for people who think they're not interested in British-made track toys like the Caterham but like a crazy open-wheeler that can ignite their senses.

Getting 45 points from this playlist will grant you the keys to the Toyota Arctic Trucks Land Cruiser AT37, a Prado modified by Icelandic offroad specialists, Arctic Trucks.

 With a quick intro done, it's time to give these two a quick race to demonstrate their abilities.

Send in the tapes.

Enjoy your new rides!

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J150 - 2018 facelift

Welcome everyone to Series III of the current-generation Land Cruiser Prado and because this is the second time Toyota has facelifted this baby Land Cruiser, this latest minor change promises to be the best Prado ever, whatever the heck that is, because apart from the updated design, they've added Toyota Safety Sense P on the latest minor change. More on that later on, but first...

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

What's new on how it looks for this 2018MY minor change? Well, you can see the Prado's new hood, taller front bumper, new daytime LED running lamps, redesigned grille, realigned wing lines and bumpers, new taillights, new rear bumper, newly designed wheels, and more, making it even more longer than the pre-facelifted model by about 60mm. Exterior aside, the interior has been heavily revamped to make it more luxurious while still providing seats for either five or seven. With the new dashboard, new instrumental panel, reorganized switch gear, LED ambient lighting, new T-Connect SD Navigation System for expensive models, new steering wheel design, and much more, Toyota's done a massive job to overhaul the Prado's already luxurious interior into something else. Now that's what an SUV should be like, catering the rich and powerful wherever they go.

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado interior

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado interior

The engine lineup's heavily changed, however. Gone is the 4.0L V6 engine, which is rather disappointing for Prado fans many, and in the choice of engines are now down to just the 2.7L 2TR-FE engine with 9.0km/L of fuel economy or the revolutionary 2.8L 1GD-FTV clean diesel engine with 177PS of power, 450Nm of torque, and fuel economy of up to 11.8km/L based on JC08 Mode standards. All of these engines are mated to a 6-speed Super ECT.

Combined with the ladder frame, Multi Terrain Select, Crawl Control, KDSS, and the Multi Terrain Monitor among many other features, the Prado really is a real sports utility hero, even in its new look, and because being a Toyota, the Prado now comes with a new array of safety tech courtesy of Toyota Safety Sense P, including a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high-beam, and optional blind spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic.

The Land Cruiser Prado is available in TX, TX L Package, and TZ-G, and prices now start at 3,538,080, which is more expensive than the pre-facelift and while offroad enthusiasts are mourning over the loss of the V6 engine, which became the staple of the Prado lineage, the new look and the added tech made the Series III Land Cruiser Prado a cut above the rest as its ready to chart through new heights, whatever lies ahead.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J150 minor change

The Land Cruiser Prado, it maybe the junior version of the Land Cruiser but it really behaves like its big brother thanks to its off-road capability, luxurious interior fit for politicians, big engines, and the high pricing that will really empty your pockets. This is the kind of offroader that you can expect to see one crossing through the streets whether if you're in the Philippines or in the Middle East or in Europe or in India or in Australia but the junior version of Japan's answer to the Range Rover really tries to be a stand-out in the face of the crowd. If you're happen to drive or ride in one of those, people might think that you are a high-ranking official trying to make the rounds.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Now, there is an updated version of the Prado and judging by its minor change, I still don't understand the way it looks because look at its new front face, it's about as disappointing as the M_h_ndr_ Sc_rp__. (NOTE: I removed some of the vowels on it to prevent search engine query hijinks by the time I'm checking) And then there's the headlamps which is now has the shape of a putter and...are we playing golf or what? Sorry, we're not playing golf, perhaps it's still the SUV capable of sending rich politicians to the golf course for their recess.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado interior

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado interior

So, what about the interior? For the very observant amongst you, it seems the dashboard's changed a bit and the more expensive models now come with the SD Navigation System featuring G-BOOK mX Pro (Version 2.1). Yes, quite an update on the hardware and the software alike for navigational purposes in mind but there has been some numerous mild updates on the interior such as the updated speedo with some multicolor TFT LCD with high visibility, and yes, you can still have the optional 3rd row seating to make the Prado a seven seater. I'm not quite sure if this can be used as a family car and hey, summer's almost over, so make the most out of it but no. Never mind, the Prado's too expensive for a family car, it's usable for the rich and famous, even politicians.

2014 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Of course, you can still have the 2.7L 2TR-FE engine with the power output of 163PS and the fuel economy of 8.5km/L or a powerful 4.0L V6 1GR-FE engine with Dual VVT-i, that carries the power output of 276PS and the fuel economy of 7.9km/L, but remember, if you go for the 2.7L model, you'll have a 4-speed automatic, while if you're for the powerful and ultra-thirsty V6 model, the gearbox you can expect is a 5-speed SUPER ECT with sequential shiftmatic. Also, you can expect numerous features offered on the new Prado such as KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), crawl control, Multi-Terrain Select, Pre-Crash Safety system, clearance sonar, radar cruise control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Anti-lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, SRS airbags, reinforced body, and the Multi Terrain Monitor.

The Price List:
2.7L TX 5-seater - 3,180,000 Yen
2.7L TX 7-seater - 3,330,000 Yen
2.7L TX L Package 5-seater - 3,620,000 Yen
2.7L TX L Package 7-seater - 3,770,000 Yen
4.0L TZ - 4,250,000 Yen
4.0L TZ-G - 4,900,000 Yen

Available colors: Super Whit II, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Dark Steel Mica, Black, Attitude Black Mica, Bronze Mica Metallic, Dark Green Mica, and Dark Blue Mica.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Back in 2007, Toyota launched the fully redesigned Land Cruiser (LC200) and gained the ultimate reputation as the "King of 4WD" among SUV fans from around the world. Crossing from the muddy dirt to the pavement, from the mountainside to the city side, nothing beats the king of sport utility vehicles. Much ado from that, it also sold from around the world as the Lexus LX 570 or a Land Cruiser V8 from around the globe. Just when you thought that, the original Land Cruiser is truly the SUV King of the world, wait until you will see its nimbler prince waiting to succeed the same way as its "father" did.













Introducing the all new, all powerful, Land Cruiser Prado and it is now ever better than its original Land Cruiser 200. In the previous generation, the Land Cruiser Prado sold in the U.S. as the Lexus GX and in the Europe as simply Land Cruiser. (Not to be confused from the Land Cruiser V8 this is in fact a Land Cruiser 200) The impression of the new Prado is like a tsundere, the exterior is aggressive but the interior is a gentle side because of its spacious yet luxurious amenities only an executive has to offer, like for example; a premium sound system, leather seats, optional navigation system, adjustable seats, cup holders, start/stop engine button and optitron meters.

From its so-called tsundere personality, the new Prado also comes with the optional third row seats giving this car a seven-seater capacity to bring more friends or family for the long trips ahead from your schedule. For the performance that carries the long tradition of the Prado history, there are two available engines to choose from; from the 2.7-litre 2TR-FE engine that carries 163PS at the fuel economy of 8.8km/L to the powerful 4.0-litre V6 1GR-FE engine that delivers 276PS at the fuel economy of 8.2km/L. The KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) and the "crawl control" feature found on the Land Cruiser 200 are applied to the new Prado to give this prince of sport utility vehicle a gene carried its royal heritage to the long tradition of the Land Cruiser history. For the first time in Prado history, the new version is equipped with Toyota's first Multi-Terrain Select that allows the driver to choose which option is suitable on the road ahead, for instance; tarmac, gravel, mud, whatever the Prado crossed ahead on the road ahead.

For the peace of mind, the new Prado is equipped with Pre-Crash safety system, clearance sonar, radar cruise control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Anti-lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, SRS airbags, reinforced body, and the world's first Multi Terrain Monitor (similar to Nissan's Around View Monitor) that seeks road conditions with the use of four cameras mounted on the new Prado.

INDEED IT IS:

Despite this next generation model is targeted by mostly middle-aged men in their 40s, the new Prado is truly the prince of SUVs as fans would love to speak about this new model. When it hits the world market either this one, a Lexus GX or simply a Land Cruiser moniker, it will do the same thing as its LC200 "father" did from the sand dunes to the city lights. Be prepared to want one.


Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation