Rivals:
- Ford Explorer Sport
, petrol, 3.5 l (345 hp), 6-speed automatic, Sport, RUB 3,399,000. (hereinafter prices are indicated as of January 22, 2016) - Chevrolet Tahoe
- gasoline, 6.2 l (409 hp), 6-speed automatic, LTZ, RUB 3,840,000. - Toyota Land Cruiser 200
- petrol, 4.6 l (309 hp), 6-speed automatic, Luxe Safety, RUB 4,533,000.
Oil painting
I look at our heroes, and Vasnetsov’s “Three Heroes” appear before my eyes.
The focus, of course, is Ilya Muromets, our most revered hero - the Land Cruiser 200. In terms of sales volumes, this mighty all-terrain vehicle has been many times ahead of its competitors throughout its entire career, and after the recent restyling it has every chance of maintaining its leadership. Will Dobrynya Nikitich, that is, the fresh Chevrolet Tahoe, be able to defeat him? He also has many exploits and legends behind him, and the fathom in his shoulders is no less oblique. In its latest generation, it has become even larger, more powerful and, which is extremely important in these times, has an attractive price.
And on the other hand is Alyosha Popovich, aka Ford Explorer Sport. Not so stocky, but brave and daring in warfare. It is shorter in sprout, but in length and width it is not inferior to other heroes. Why isn't the engine V8? So his “turbo-six” produces as much as 345 “horses” - more than that of Ilya Lendkruzerovich!
Drill review
Appearance – Prado or Land Cruiser?
In 2009, a ready-made version of the Prado 150 SUV was presented at an exhibition in China. Then, for seven years, at factories in Japan, it was refined, modified, and polished. In 2013, a modern, restyled version was presented. The length of the body is 4760 mm, width – 1885.
As for the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 SUV, its brutal design is actually a legacy of the 100 version, which successfully debuted in 1997. The model turned out to be reliable, with high cross-country ability, with good driving characteristics for this standard size of SUV; it is not surprising that it was actively sold all over the world and brought in a decent income. And it was decided to develop the success with the 200 model, which debuted in 2007. Four years later, the first, light restyling followed, and in 2015, the current restyled version was released with an unusual combination of the radiator grille and headlights. The body length of the “two hundredth” is 4760 mm, width – 1970 mm.
Exterior, interior, characteristics of the LC 300
The SUV's design features a muscular style that subtly blends straight lines with elegance and sophistication. The massive radiator grille and expressive wheel arches emphasize the power of the car. The new product is equipped with LED optics and enlarged rear lights, and the optimized location of the side mirrors helps reduce noise levels.
The interior is decorated using expensive natural materials. The updated front panel, which houses a large display, flows smoothly into the center console with the main controls. The car is equipped with:
- four-zone climate control with air ionizer;
- multifunctional monitor on the dashboard;
- head-up display on the windshield; electric steering column; panoramic cameras;
- anti-theft system with driver identification by fingerprint.
The Toyota LC 300 is equipped with a 3.5-liter turbocharged engine running on 95 gasoline and developing a power of 415 hp. With. A 10-automatic transmission is installed as a transmission, which is a unique solution for cars in this segment.
Salon – Land Cruiser Prado or Land Cruiser 200?
The interior space of the Land Cruiser Prado 150 retains family features, while at the same time changes are constantly being made in connection with modern trends. Because of this, the layout of the organs on the front panel was even rearranged. Where the puck of the new Multi-Terrain Select adaptation system to various driving conditions catches your eye. The seats are quite basic and only moderately comfortable.
The main emphasis that Toyota engineers tried to bring to the Land Cruiser 200 is that it looks expensive and graceful, both externally and internally. This is expressed in the neon interior lighting that is pleasing to the eye, as well as in the use of correct geometric shapes to enhance the front panel. After restyling in 2015, ergonomics and build quality have significantly improved, a modern new generation multimedia system has appeared, the seats have become a little more comfortable, but they are still not the best in terms of comfort. You may recall that there is good demand for converting seats “to match Mercedes ones”, which we talked about here, and many Russian Toyota dealers have begun to actively promote this direction.
The Land Cruiser 200 can monitor road markings, automatically switch from high beam to low beam and back; since 2015, driver fatigue monitoring, road sign recognition, active cruise control, and a frontal collision warning system with automatic braking have been added.
"Cadillac Escalade"
The American full-size premium SUV is in its 4th generation (K2XL), produced since 2015. The design is similar to Tahoe, as it is built on the same platform.
The frame Escalade is offered in 2 wheelbase options. The car is equipped with a V8 L86 combined with an automatic transmission:
- 6-speed on the first cars;
- 8-speed since 2015;
- 10-speed from 2021.
Escalade comes with selectable all-wheel drive. The front suspension is independent, the rear is dependent. Electronic components include adjustable suspension, seat control, and security systems. Salon – 3-row 7-seater standard.
The price is 4.49–6.55 million. This covers the price of the Land Cruiser and the base LX 570.
The Escalade is similar to the Tahoe, but is a more upscale SUV with more advanced features. Compared to the Land Cruiser, this is a larger road SUV.
Trunk volume of Prado or Land Cruiser
Luggage compartment of Land Cruiser Prado 150 in 5-seater version
The trunk volume of the compared cars also differs. Thus, the Land Cruiser Prado 150 can be purchased with a luggage compartment volume that varies from 600 to 1900 liters in a five-seater version. And if we are talking about an SUV that can accommodate 7 people at the same time, then the volume range is from 100 to 1800 liters.
Luggage compartment of Land Cruiser 200 in 5-seater version
For the Land Cruiser 200, the trunk volume declared by the manufacturer is 259 liters in a seven-seater version, 700 liters in a five-seater version and 1431 liters with the middle and rear rows of seats folded.
Owner reviews of Tahoe
On popular sites, most users give the Tahoe a rating of 4.6-4.8 out of 5:
- They note comfort on the roads, even during long trips on uneven, patched asphalt.
- They also praise the radio with speakers, the air conditioning system and the video monitor for passengers with the ability to connect headphones.
- Many Tahoe owners remove the third row of seats to increase trunk space or leave one seat there. The rear view mirror system does not cause any problems; given its size, this car is easy to navigate.
But the most positive reviews deserve the control, acceleration speed and capacity of the car - in the Tahoe all passengers are comfortable and comfortable.
Engine – Test drive Land Cruiser
In Russia, the Land Cruiser Prado 150 is sold with 3 engine options:
- Gasoline 4-cylinder unit 2TR-FE with a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 163 hp. at 5200 rpm, torque 246 Nm at 3900 rpm
- Petrol V6 engine 1GR-FE with a volume of 4 liters and a power of 282 hp. at 5600 rpm, torque 387 Nm at 4400 rpm
- Turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine 1GD-FTV with a volume of 2.8 liters and a power of 177 hp. at 3400 rpm, torque 450 Nm at 1600-2400 rpm
The best dynamic qualities are expectedly demonstrated by the 4-liter gasoline engine. For example, acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes 8.8 seconds - 5 seconds faster than with a 2.7-liter engine, but it is also the most voracious. In terms of speed characteristics, the 2.8-liter turbodiesel is only slightly superior to its 2.7-liter gasoline counterparts, despite slightly more power and significantly higher torque, and it is also much noisier. But with it, the Prado goes much better off-road, which is quite important for this model.
As for the transmission, for Land Cruiser 150 buyers from Russia, a 5-speed manual transmission is only possible in combination with the base 2.7-liter gasoline engine, it can also be coupled with a 6-speed automatic, which is standard for all other options .
Excellent off-road capability is ensured by the following set: a steel spar frame, a continuous rear axle, permanent all-wheel drive with a low-range range and locking center and rear cross-axle differentials, plus a new system for adapting to various driving conditions Multi-Terrain Select and off-road cruise control Crawl Control and etc.
When compared with the Prado, the higher class Two Hundred has less choice in terms of options, but the engines themselves are only V8 and naturally more powerful.
- Gasoline unit 1UR-FE with a volume of 4.6 liters and a power of 309 hp. at 5500 rpm, torque 439 Nm at 3400 rpm
- Diesel turbo engine 1VD-FTV with a volume of 4.5 liters and a power of 249 hp. at 2800–3600 rpm, torque 650 Nm at 1600–2600 rpm
It is worth noting that with a gasoline engine, the Land Cruiser 200 is more interesting in terms of driving parameters and combination with an automatic transmission, but the diesel engine is noticeably more powerful and more economical. By the way, the main fuel tank has a volume of 93 liters, and for an additional fee you can install an additional one of 45 liters. The transmission is exclusively a 6-speed automatic.
All-wheel drive on the Land Cruiser 200 with a Torsen center differential integrated into the transfer case, it divides the torque in a ratio of 40:60 to 50:50 - if necessary. There is also a system for adapting to various driving conditions Multi-Terrain Select and off-road cruise control Crawl Control, in addition, forced center locking, range control, but rear differential locking is not provided even for an additional fee.
Infiniti QX80
Full-size SUV, known until 2013 as the QX56. Now presented in the 3rd generation 2010 (Z62) after the second restyling in 2021. It is a luxury version of the Nissan Patrol Y62.
For this car with a frame integrated into the body, the only technical configuration available is a V8 VK56VD and a 7-speed automatic transmission. Drive – plug-in full. Electronics include control of landing, body position, and security systems. Salon - 3-row with 7 or 8 seats.
The cost ranges from 4.49 to 4.895 million. This is cheaper than the initial configuration of the 200 series.
In terms of technical characteristics, the QX80 is identical to the Patrol. This model is a more powerful and faster SUV, matching the finishing and equipment of the LX 470 at a lower cost. However, the QX80 also has less off-road capabilities.
Prices – Test drive Cruiser Prado
The cost of various Land Cruiser car models directly depends on the selected configuration, as well as the package of additional options. At the moment, the basic Land Cruiser 150 Classic with a 2.7-liter gasoline engine and a manual transmission can be purchased at dealerships at a price of 1 million 939 thousand rubles. The version with an automatic transmission also comes in the more expensive Standard configuration, and costs from 2 million 614 thousand rubles. The cost range for basic options for 4-liter Prados is from 3 million 156 thousand rubles to 3 million 848 thousand rubles. Turbodiesel cars cost in the range from 2 million 915 thousand rubles to 3 million 601 thousand rubles (excluding additional options).
How will the top-end Lux equipment differ from the basic Classic: Engine start with a button (key card), Leather interior, Electric front seats with memory of parameters in the driver's seat, Climate control (not just air conditioning), Sunroof, Rear view camera, Blind spot monitoring system, Standard premium audio system with CD and MP3 support, Standard navigation system, Cruise control (passive), Standard parking sensors, Heated mirrors, Heated seats and steering wheel, Xenon headlights, Light and rain sensors, Folding rear seat, Preparation for phone (hands free / bluetooth), Adjustable ground clearance, Rear differential lock, Hill start assist system, Downhill assist system, Turn Assist system (reducing the turning radius by braking the “inner” rear wheel), Multi-terrain system Select, Tire pressure sensor, Alloy wheels, etc.
You can now buy a petrol Land Cruiser 200 in the base price range from 3 million 983 thousand rubles to 5 million 234 thousand rubles, diesel - from 4 million 126 thousand rubles to 5 million 365 thousand rubles.
How will the top-end Executive package differ from the base Comfort: Leather interior, Electric front seats with memory settings in the driver's seat, Seat ventilation, Sunroof, Rear view camera, Standard premium audio system with CD and MP3 support, Standard navigation system, Adaptive cruise control (instead of passive), Heated mirrors, Heated seats, Fog lights, Blind spot monitoring system, Electric trunk, Preparation for the phone (hands free / bluetooth), Adjustable ground clearance.
Both Toyota Land Cruiser, both the 200 model and the Prado 150, are pronounced SUVs - they don’t feel very good on asphalt (compared to new-fangled crossovers), but they perform well on rough roads and off-road. In addition, both are distinguished by excellent reliability. Prado is smaller in size, much livelier in driving performance and much more affordable. But “Dvuhsotka” has higher comfort and status. Both models are characterized by high liquidity on the secondary market. Decide for yourself which one is better to choose from this pair; I hope my small comparison of a number of parameters turned out to be at least a little useful. Happy shopping!
Mercedes-Benz GLS
The GLS is a full-size crossover that is the flagship of the company's off-road line. The third generation (X167) was released in 2021.
The car has a supporting structure. It is offered with turbocharged R6s: diesel OM 656 D 29 R SCR and petrol M 256 E 30 DEH LA, combined with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The drive is full permanent. Suspensions are independent.
The list of electronics includes systems:
- chassis control;
- parking assistant;
- autonomous driving;
- security.
Salon – standard 7-seater.
The cost is 6.9–8.8 million. The initial version of the GLS is more expensive than both the 200 series and the LX 570.
The GLS is close to the Land Cruiser in size, but differs in design and concept.
As a premium car, it is characterized by high quality and rich equipment.
