35 Years of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

MANILA: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, one of the most sought-after cars from the Japanese maker, has turned 35 this year. The car was originally launched in 1984 under a different name. It has received its current name in 1990. The vehicle is designed as a light-duty version of the 70-series Land Cruiser. 

After its launch in 1984 under the name Land Cruiser II, Toyota released another version in 1990. That model basically was a heavily facelifted version of the previous one. The front end had a softer look. The company had also improved on-road rides as well as manners with a few tweaks on the chassis. The car had an upright and boxy design.

Toyota launched another version of the Land Cruiser Prado in 1996. This version of Prado was the first one that was sold in the Philippines. 

The third generation of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado launched in late 2002. By that time, the car had been established as a luxury SUV in the market. In addition to that, this was the time when a Lexus-badged cousin spawned from it, which is now called the GX. This model provided improved on-road handling. It was much larger than previous generation models and had a 4.0-litre V6 engine along with 3.0-litre D-4D turbodiesel mill.

The Prado that is available in the Philippines market right now is in its fourth-generation. In the history of the product, it is the longest-running model. It was launched in 2009 with a brand new chassis, interior, exterior, and suspension. 

In the last ten years, the car has seen three distinct looks. Till 2012, it had squarish headlights along with a slim grille. Then it shifted to a front end that had a more aggressive look along with a much larger grille and teardrop headlights. In 2017, the model has received another facelift. Now, it comes with sleek and wraparound headlights, a revamped cabin, and a bolder grille. 

Also Read:- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: All a buyer needs to know