Toyota Prado Review, For Sale, Colours, Specs, Interior & Models

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• White smoke is coming from the exhaust of my Toyota LandCruiser Prado diesel

  White exhaust smoke in a diesel engine is usually the result of a fuel system problem. Possible causes are dirty, worn or leaking fuel-injectors, but a modern common-rail diesel fuel system is pretty complex, so a scan of the vehicle might be a good idea too.

  Some owners of these modern diesels have been reporting very short injector lifespan, although some workshops seem to get good results with ultra-sonic injector cleaning. Even then, the problem can recur, and some mechanics reckon brand-new injectors are the only way to go.

  Don’t rule out a problem with the engine’s internal seals, the turbocharger and the DPF system, either, as these can all contribute to smoke of various colours at various times.

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• I have ordered a new Toyota Prado VX. There is a six-month wait before it arrives. Should I wait for the new model or order now?

  If you ordered your Prado today, the waiting time would be closer to 15 months based on reports doing the rounds. But cancelling your order for the current model and ordering the new version would probably mean an even longer wait. The global shortage of silicon chips has meant many manufacturers (Toyota among them) are having a heck of a time building enough cars fast enough. There’s no reason to suggest that an all-new model will get around this problem.

  If you take the car you’ve already ordered and then want to trade up to the new version, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting rid of the first one as the second-hand market for these models is very strong (some buyers are paying more than the brand-new price for a second-hand car in some cases).

  As for black, it’s actually not the best colour for resale on a four-wheel-drive. Those that live in warmer climates will know that black paint is seen as a hindrance to keeping the car cool inside. And if you do use the car off-road, the black paint is much more likely to show scratches and scuffs of the sort picked up on bush tracks and trails.

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• How can I fix the Apple CarPlay in my Toyota Landcruiser Prado VX?

  Poor Bluetooth quality and other connectivity issues have plagued Toyotas for years now. For a while there, it seemed as though Toyota might have gotten on top of the problems, but as your experience shows, clearly there are still issues.

  In the first instance, you need to allow Toyota to try everything it can to make things right, including waiting on an upgrade to the Bluetooth system that will work for your car. Of course, that leaves you in the lurch in the meantime. When Toyota finally admits that they can no longer help you even though this is clearly a warranty claim, that’s when you need to call in the ACCC as, at that point, you’ve paid for something you haven’t got. Perhaps Toyota will agree to cover the cost of an aftermarket head unit (or a different brand of phone) that actually works in the Prado. In any case, something’s got to give or the vehicle is of no use (or at least limited use) to you in your line of work. Right now, there’s a class action in the USA for this exact problem. Although this legal action won’t apply to vehicles sold in Australia, it illustrates the depth of the problem. Sources also suggest Toyota has switched out some head units in US-market cars, so perhaps that will be extended to here.

  It staggers me that a huge company like Toyota can’t get something as simple as Bluetooth connectivity right when pretty much every other car-maker around the world has this stuff sorted out. It’s not as though the Apple phone is an uncommon consumer choice, is it? In 2022, hands-free phone operation is a major selling point and to not have it (despite paying for it) is far from acceptable.

  You have obviously taken this up with your dealer, but have you contacted Toyota’s customer service department at head office? You might make more progress going straight to the source rather than being fobbed off by a dealer.

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• Can you adjust the driver's seat height in a 2006 Prado GXL?

  The short answer seems to be no. Back then, Toyota required you to spend up big and buy the VX version of the Prado in order to get a height-adjustable driver’s seat. It seems a bit odd that this feature was not included on lesser Prados, but at least you could adjust the height of the steering column as some form of compensation.

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