New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J250 – First Look Review

Toyota announced the addition of the ‘J250’ series to the Land Cruiser lineup. Most motoring influencers call this new model a refreshed version of Pardo, but it is not. Let’s look at how the J250 differs from the Prado and its unique features.

Design Philosophy

The Land Cruiser J250 is compacter than the previous Prado, with an overall reduction of 8 cm in dimension. Since it has an extended wheelbase, it is more spacious than the older one. It features an impactful ‘TOYOTA’ logo, just as we saw earlier in the 70 series. At a glance, it has muscular looks and a powerful road presence, enhanced comfort, and increased passenger capacity, giving it strong competition to Suzuki Jimny and Mercedes G-Wagon.

Exterior

Starting from the front, it has a boxy bonnet, DRL lights, and halogen lamps paired with metallic grey garnish and a plastic skid plate at the bottom. On the side profile, there is a continuous running character line, footrest, roof rail, and visors, which further contribute to its boxiness. 18-inch blacked-out rims bring a dark look, while tilting quarter glass brings a softer image to give you leeway for enjoying the weather.

I believe automakers are quite inspired by vintage vibes, as we can see an old-school exhaust, Defender-style taillights, diffuser, and split spoiler at the rear end. Meanwhile, you can enjoy smart entry and auto boot for swift access to the cabin.

Interior

In comparison with the LC and Prado, J250 follows a pretty straightforward interior. With a 7-seater passenger capacity and soft leather on dash it looks premium yet minimal. Finally, Toyota has moved to a 14-inch large multi-media screen, now even the previous cluster panel is replaced by a digital one.

Further, it has AC knobs and a separate climate control for rear passengers, a 360-degree camera with an underground view, charging and HDMI ports, a sporty gear knob, traction control, a handbrake button, a 4X4 option, and a host of ADAS functions. It also comes with 9 airbags and a JBL sound system for music lovers.

Engine And Performance

The JC250 comes in three engine options: 2.7 L non-turbo, 2.4 L Turbo, and 2.8 L Turbo Diesel. Similar to the transformation pattern of a V8 Land Cruiser to a V6, this 2.4 L engine tries its best to bring out maximum performance.

Delivering 164 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, this model is a perfect option for off-roaders who need a stable but softer suspension strong enough to tackle bumpy rides comfortably.?