New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 250 Spotted With Customer Even Before Launch

Toyota recently launched the new-generation Land Cruiser Prado globally. Land Cruiser and Prado are names that need no introduction, as they are well known among off-road enthusiasts around the world. A few days ago, we saw a video of a trailer transporting several new-generation Land Cruiser Prado SUVs. The Prados were on their way to Nepal when the trailer was spotted. However, it looks like, apart from the SUVs on the trailer, India has already received its first Land Cruiser Prado. Videos and images of the SUV have started surfacing online.

The video has been shared by Shivraj on his Instagram page. The video mentions that the SUV was spotted in Punjab, which is not surprising. The Land Cruiser Prado and other SUVs are extremely popular in this Indian state, so it is no surprise that the first Prado was spotted in Punjab.

In the video, we see the SUV being reversed out of the parking lot of a restaurant or café in Punjab. The exact location is not known. The SUV is finished in a white shade and is registered in Maharashtra. The short clip only shows the LC Prado being reversed and then ends. The comment section suggests that the SUV arrived in India in the first week of February.

We also have an image showing the Land Cruiser Prado on the roads of Punjab. The current-generation Land Cruiser Prado is called the Prado 250 or JC250. The SUV features a boxy design, giving it a utilitarian and rugged look. It has a large front grille with Toyota branding, rectangular headlamps with LED lights, LED fog lamps on the bumper, and a rugged-looking skid plate at the front.

The JC250 is actually sold as Toyota’s flagship SUV in some markets where the more expensive LC300 is not available. The Prado 250 is 4,920 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,870 mm tall. The SUV is slightly larger than the previous generation model, and Toyota claims that the JC250 is significantly more capable off-road compared to the outgoing model.

The SUV is based on a new platform that offers improved stiffness and rigidity. The Prado 250 also comes with increased wheel articulation, an upgraded Multi-Terrain Monitor interface, and key improvements to the off-road driving modes. Toyota is also offering a disconnecting front anti-roll bar, which can be disengaged via a switch on the dashboard to allow for maximum wheel articulation on particularly challenging off-road courses.

The cabin of the Prado 250 has also been revised. It features a touchscreen infotainment system, a fully digital instrument cluster, a chunky-looking steering wheel, plush leatherette upholstery, multi-zone climate control, and more. Regarding the engine and transmission, the SUV is offered with a 2.8-litre mild hybrid turbocharged diesel engine and a 2.4-litre hybrid petrol engine.

We are not sure whether the SUV seen here is the diesel version or not. The diesel variant generates around 201 Bhp and 500 Nm of peak torque. The SUV is available with both manual and automatic transmission options. As the Prado is marketed as an off-road SUV, it comes with a 4×4 drivetrain as well.

Toyota has not made any announcements regarding the launch of the Prado 250 in India. The SUV seen here is a private import, and the owner has likely paid a huge amount in duties to get it registered. If Toyota ever launches the Prado 250 in India, it will be positioned below the LC300 and is expected to be priced at around Rs 1.5 crore or more.