Prado's

Looking at getting a prado. Price range is $15-$18K so hoping for an early 2000's shape (circa 2004/2005 I guess). Will be my daily drive and I like a good takeoff so i'm looking at petrol, they all seem to be V6s which is fine. Currently driving a GTI golf so aware it'll cost more to run and won't be as powerful, thats fine. Mummas gotta sacrifice for the kiddies (again)
I've googled and can't really wrap my head around the TX/VX models - can someone give me a bit of a "dad" run down, what to look for, what model is a dud or what the difference is. Is it just specs? TX base model and VX higher spec? Are the petrol ones generally thrashed? Is buying from a dealer better for these for the sake of a warranty?
Edited to add: forgot my manners, thanks in advance :)

Buy a Highlander instead. You will get a 2009-2011 for that money.

3.5 petrol V6. Reliable.

Need a 7-8 seater that can tow. Also need lots of space, prado looks bigger than a highlander. And I prefer the look of the prados. But thanks i'll compare again just to make sure

The Highlander is a way better 7 seater than the Prado (or any of the other truck based 4wds) - much more spacious and comfortable. Can tow a reasonable amount too.

They look smaller, and the middle seat in the back/2nd row looks pretty unusable for anyone who isn't an anorexic

My boss has got a VX Prado, leather heated seats, no key just a smart fob thing that you keep in your pocket. Pretty impressive looking bosses' truck!

When you start it up it sounds, rides and handles like what in reality it is - a rough as guts 4x4 farm truck that has been the vehicle of choice for the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan to cut the roof off and mount a rocket launcher on for over 30 years.

Get a double cab Ford Ranger or a Mazda BT-50 with a canopy, you'll get a younger car for the same money, the driving experience is similar, the interior will be more durable with a young family, and you'll have a tray that you can throw a dog or a sack of cement into without having to worry about it!

What highlander generation are you referring to?
The first gen (2000-2007 circa) is a smaller vehicle yes. The second generation on (post 2007) is a large vehicle. Considerably more comfortable and much roomier than a prado. Especially in the second and third rows, the highlander puts the prado to shame. The highlander can tow up to 2000kg, whereas the prado you’re looking at tows up to 2500kg. The prado certainly is a great vehicle if you need a capable off road vehicle but the highlander suits more people and is a much more refined offering

And as for the specs-

RV, SR, SR5, GX, VX, VX limited are all NZ new models VX limited is the highest spec although in the generation you are looking at the limited didn’t exist and therefore the VX is the top.

Others like TX, TZ are all Japanese imports, TZ is the highest spec

What are you going to buy brand new, for even twice the price that will compete mals? A Holden that will be worth 50c in two years time?

I have a 1998 prado for a work truck in building game.
I paid 10k, 142,000 ks
2.7 petrol, they told me it would be sluggish but i find it more than ok,
Best work truck ive ever had

The v6 120 Prados are very thirsty on the fuel .
In Aussie the 4d4 diesels have had problems with the injector seals.
Pays to check the oil pick up while servicing. Lookup the sump drain hole
As they can get carbon in the oil.
Common for rust under the rear door seal.
If the dash hasn’t cracked yet it will do.
Toyota Australia have be replacing the dashboard on some Prados some free
Some for the cost of fitting.
I payed about $600 for a new dash in nz Toyota covered the cost of the panel.
Over all they are a good truck all round.

The Prado is a great vehicle, I think they do look better than the highlander, the one I had was a 1999 diesel, mint condition,you could eat your dinner off the engine it was spotless, 140k on the clock, diesel, I had it for 4 years, sold it to my boss as he wanted a eight seater for his family at christmas over from Fiji, I sold mine 2.5 years ago to him for 10k which was cheap( worth approx 13k then), I bought a brand new Ranger Wildtrack so a bit different vehicle which is fantastic, If I sold the ranger( which I am not ) I would replace it with a late model Prado. So yes I think they are very good but you do pay a bit more for quality. Each to their own.

Xtrails aren’t 7 seater are they? I have no desire to tick up. Well actually I do but I don’t want to. And if I had $40k to spend, it wouldn’t be either a prado or xtrail. Xtrails are good cars but don’t suit our requirements

I probably should’ve mentioned, we need 7 seats. Also need a large exterior as we have 2 x roof top tents. Hence the prado. Had a patrol which we’ve sold, now I have to sell my car for something similar that can
Take 2 roof top tents
7 seats
Petrol - or at least a bloody decent take off for a girl racer
Not look like a mum car
A 4WD capable
Able to tow a boat - it’s just a 14ft fyran
Able to take a 4 carrier low lying bike rack thing

Any suggestions then? Without financing, and that meets most of our requirements?

Yes definitely do that. You should be pleasantly surprised.

In short, Prado's are good, but low range, full frame SUV's carry a massive price premium in the used market, especially diesels and ones with Toyota badges. As such with a $15k budget everything is going to be old and high mileage. Good news is that when you are done with it, somebody will likely still offer you a good chunk of coin for it.

Note that with all full frame SUV's, the frame cuts into cabin space, so the interior is not as big as the exterior size would suggest.

The key question is if you need / are willing to pay for the off road chops of a full frame, low range style 4x4. If not, a large soft SUV will offer better space, value, comfort etc. They pritty much all offer a 1500kg - 2000kg tow rating too.



You are going to struggle to fit two roof tents on a prado. A fedon crows nest is 1.2m long, weights 54kg (excl bars/roof rack), and recommends a dynamic load rating of 75kg for a single installation. I think the pardo has a 100kg roof load limit, so your roof will be overloaded with two tents. Also they will overhand the front and rear windscreens. Normally you only see twin roof tents on utes. Here is what a LC70 (200kg roof rating) with two roof tents looks like:

https://www.carhire-uganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Double-roof-top-tent-car-carhire-uganda.jpg

With regards to 7 seat, note that pretty much across the board that the 3rd row in SUV's is only really suitable for small to medium children. If you want adult size people (even small adults) in the third row, you would be best served by a MPV or van.

Petrol - good news if you want a petrol is that they are relatively cheaper and easy to find. The 4.0L in the J120 prado makes 179kW & 376Nm so should go just fine (not as good as a GTI golf of course), and should be much more refined than the diesel. Bad news is that it will cost a lot to run. Claimed consumption is 13.6 L/100km (91 ron). Apparently owners have reported fuel consumption as high as 18L/100km. I would expect you to be up there with the latter number if you have a pair of roof tents on the roof all the time. In general diesel is well preferred, and people are willing to give up acceleration (diesel does pull fine up hills etc) for lower fuel use.

Not look like a mum car - I don't know where you are based, but these days a large SUV does look very much like a mum car. Far more common than people movers these day. Possibly something like a commercial style van would give a different look.

"A 4WD capable" - As above - depends what capiablity you need. If you just want 4wd to get past chain restrictions, you don't need low range. On the other hand if you are doing technical 4wding, deep mud etc, low range is important.

Tow boat - a 14ft tinny will be under 700kg. Basically any suv or people mover will tow this.

4 bike carrier - pritty much the same as above. With two roof tents, 7 people and 4 bikes on the rear, you might have to start looking at rear suspension helpers etc to stop the tail from riding too low. Thats a lot of weight.

As a closing note, basically all of the 7/8 seater SUV's have minimal luggage space with the third row in use.

You cannot compare the xtrail and the prado in just about any apples with apples type comparison. The third row of the prado while not class best is useable. The third row of the xtrail is hideous. And yes I have been unfortunate enough to sit in one thankfully for only a short period. I am a big Nissan fan (having owned many) but the only thing worse than the uninspiring, droney, dreary lacklustre drive of the xtrail is the third row seat. I thought the Tiguan all space and outlander third rows were bad, in comparison to the xtrail they are nearing roomy!

OP really should look hard at the highlander. Probably the best option for them

Thanks, thats incredibly helpful. Quite keen on the look of the Lexus LX470. Have always preferred a 100 series over prado for sure but thought petrol were prone to problems/overheating so i think i need to relook at those two!

My thought for you is a bit left field. It looks to me like the 4x4 capability is for boat launching. So why compromise every other use for the vehicle for that one single purpose?
Im thinking that for all of your needs a good size people mover is going to do everything else including towing the boat. its also got the advantage that it wont need to be sold when the little darlings are at adult size and needing more leg room.
It is a cycle I see on a regular basis. First the singles with their nice cars. Then together with kids they go semi sensible so 4x4. Then a year or so later up to a people mover. THEN when the older kids have flown the coop back to a semi cool station wagon.

OP want's to carry 7 people, along with two roof tents, and either 4 bikes on the back or towing a trailer. I don't think the 446kg payload of the 2018 AWD X-trail 7 seater will cut it.

To be fair, the 665kg payload of a 2018 prado (not sure what the J120 payload) may also be a bit lean too.

Frankly I don't think dual roof tents are going to happen with any of the soft suv's.

I think the Hilux & imax can take 125kg so two roof tents should fit inside that.

At least the 70 and 100 series cruisers are rated for 200kg of roof load. As above I think the Prado is only rated for 100kg so will be overloaded with two roof tents.

I imagine over 100kg on the roof is going to make any car handle really bad too.

My suggestion. go the prado. outstanding engineering and tell me anything with a better resale. why. because they are so good. if they went. they wouldn't. I have had mine for 12 years. purchased for 18k. would still get 10/11k. only done yearly filters/oils and brakes/tyres. that's it!. The turning circle for parking is fantastic. my advise. take a petrol one and a diesel one for a drive. and plant both. dont assume diesels cant get a move on. I love my diesel prado. and would get another in a heartbeat. (if someone steals or crashes this one)

Highlanders definitely not practical, the middle seat is horrendous. The lexus would've been perfect but sadly our budget has dropped to 14/15k - didn't realise how little my car is worth dammit. Almost seems stupid as i'd be selling my newer lower kms' car for an older/higher kms car. Dam kids.
Roof top tents wouldn't be on it all the time, like for a few weeks max over summer probably. The 4x4 capability is cause we sometimes go off roading, but again, not often and that's not a huge deal. Happily compromise on both of those two but i like the look of 4wd's as opposed to people movers.
Had to laugh at kabanz, basically us in a nutshell. We've had the cool v8 wagon, sedan, ute, 4wd (had a patrol and safari), now looking for something similar but restricted on budget. Def don't want a people mover like estima/carnival/territory. I'm not ready to be that mum yet. But thanks for all the tips all!

Totalimp--Im wanting to bet ya a chokkie fish that youll be buying a people mover sooner rather than later.

I'll keep that in mind, you'll be the first to know if i do