Toyota PH upgrades the LC Prado’s diesel heart

Since it started in 1984, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has always been offered with a 3.0L diesel engine, among others, and that’s been a staple of the nameplate for 36 years.

In June 2015, Toyota swapped out the old 3.0L KD-FTV diesel engine with its newer and more advanced 1GD-FTV diesel engine in order to give the Prado more power and torque, along with its many new features.

It took a while but Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) just recently (October 2020), very quietly brought in the Prado with the new diesel engine so we give it a once-over to see what it offers the SUV-buying market.

Let’s put the spotlight first on its biggest improvement, the 1GD-FTV 2.8L engine. It is equipped with Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion (ESTEC) that reduces cooling loss using a new combustion chamber shape that increased air utilization in the cylinder through optimizing the in-cylinder fuel distribution. This has allowed it to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 15% compared to the previous model and to achieve a maximum thermal efficiency of approximately 44%.

It is a straight-four common rail diesel engine with a variable nozzle turbocharger (VNT), chain drive and intercooler. Despite its late arrival to the Philippines, this engine was actually first used in the Prado before it trickled down to other models like the one in the Innova, the Fortuner, the Hilux, and even the Hiace.

This engine was also the first from Toyota to use several advanced technologies. It has the automaker’s first-ever urea Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system that can eliminate up to 99% of emissions of NOx (nitrogen oxide) that allows it to reach Euro 6 emission standards. Plus, it gets a new turbocharger that is 30% smaller than its current equivalent, and features a newly developed turbine that improves efficiency, and a newly developed impeller that provides instantaneous acceleration response and produces maximum torque over a wide range of RPM.

Despite being smaller in displacement compared to the outgoing KD engine, maximum torque is improved by 25% and low-speed torque improved by 11%. Fuel efficiency receives a 15% boost. The output of this engine in the Prado is 201hp and 500Nm of torque. It is sent to a full-time 4x4 drive layout via a six-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift system.

Under the body is a double wishbone independent front suspension with stabilizer, a four-link-type rear suspension with stabilizer, a kinetic and dynamic suspension system, ventilated front and rear disc brakes, a rack and pinion steering system with power assist, and 18-inch wheels with 265/60/ R18 tires.

It measures 4,840mm in length, 1,885mm in width, 1,890mm in height, has a wheelbase of 2,790 mm, with a ground clearance of 215 mm, and can seat a total of seven passengers.

Exterior features include LED (light-emitting diode) projector-type headlamps with auto levelling and LED clearance lamps, headlamp cleaners, LED front fog and driving lamps, daytime running lamps, LED taillamps, rear fog lamps, front and rear color-keyed bumpers, chrome front grille, color-keyed door outside handle, color-keyed outside rearview mirror with side turn lamps and heaters, rain sensing wipers, illuminated side and rear steps, roof rails, rear spoiler, rear windshield wiper, and rear glass hatch defogger.

To get in, the Prado allows the driver to simply keep in the key in the pocket or a bag and just reach out to the handle to unlock the doors.

The seats are covered in leather. The driver’s seat is eight-way power adjustable and comes with seat ventilation, the passenger’s seat is four-way power adjustable and also comes with seat ventilation, the second row comes with a 60:40 split folding features with armrests and adjustable headrests, while the third-row comes with a 50:50 split and power-fold features that puts it flat on the floor.

It has a four-spoke leather steering wheel that’s power tilt and telescopic adjustable, and comes with audio + MID (multi-information display) + Bluetooth controls. 

The instrument panel center cluster has leather with stitching on it as well.

Other interior features include front map lamps, two map lamps in the second row and two map lamps as well in the third row, leather shift knob and boot, console box with tray and cooling ventilation, a sunglasses holder with conversation mirror, two front cup holders, two second row cup holders, two third row cup holders, driver vanity mirror with lamp, passenger vanity mirror with lamp, molded door trim with leather and pockets, and an electrochromic rearview mirror.

It also comes with power windows, power door locks, power outside rearview mirror with power-retract feature, an Optitron combination meter with MID, a back monitor, a clearance and back sonar with an eight-sensor system (two in front, two at the rear, and one in each corner), a 12V accessory power outlet in front and at the deck, dual auto climate control system with rear independent controls, a vehicle security system with immobilizer and alarm, a push-to-start system, cruise control, a six-speaker system using a display audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a navigation system.

Safety features include driver + passenger + driver knee + front side + curtain side SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags, ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) and BA (brake assist), VSC (vehicle stability control) with trailer sway control, traction control, hill-start assist control, downhill assist control, two three-point ELR (emergency locking retractor) seatbelts with force limiter and pretensioners, one three-point ELR seatbelts and two automatic locking retractor (ALR) in the second row, two three-point ELR seatbelts in the third row, a front active headrest, child-proof locks, a light control system, an LED-type high mount stop lamp, an emergency stop lamp, side door impact beams.

The Prado body comes in either Super White, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, and Attitude Black Mica.

The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2.8L Diesel AT is priced at P4.170 million.

Photo from Toyota Motor Philippines