Comparing gasoline and diesel Toyota Prado - which one is better to choose?

In 1987, the design team of the Toyota automaker began creating a lightweight version of the heavy Land Cruiser SUV, the “70” model. The three-door body version of the car was a huge success around the world. Its successful continuation was a lightweight, comfortable car with five doors, which began mass production in 1990. The new all-wheel drive SUV of frame construction, with a reduction gear, rear and front solid axles, received the serial designation Prado.

Premiere of the new Toyota series 1990 – Land Cruiser Prado

Saving on fuel

How much do motors consume and which one is more profitable to operate?

It is unlikely that it will be a discovery for anyone that a diesel engine consumes less fuel over the same mileage. But there is another variable - the price of fuel. Let's take the average. One liter of AI92 gasoline costs 45 rubles. Diesel fuel – 49 rubles. Next, let's try to compare two engines with similar characteristics: gasoline 2TR-FE and diesel 1GD-FTV. These are in-line, 4-cylinder engines with a displacement of 2.7 liters.

Now some simple math. It turns out that if our Toyota Prado drives 100 kilometers around the city, it will use 621 rubles worth of gasoline. And diesel fuel costs 436 rubles. The benefit is obvious, but you should not draw conclusions based only on this criterion. There are other variables that will significantly reduce this difference.

Ratings

Diesel: 5.0, Petrol: 4.0

Drivers' opinions Owners' opinions

The first is expressed in uneven operation, accompanied by vibrations , knocking , decreased power and black smoke from the exhaust pipe. This can happen if the motor is heavily overloaded or subjected to thoughtless chip tuning . The reason is a cracked piston . In 2014 , Toyota engineers saved diesel from this disease.

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Fuel consumption

How often does an oil change need to be made?
In addition to the main fuel, a car also consumes oil, or rather, it needs to be changed from time to time. There are certain standards specified by the manufacturer. According to technical documentation, the oil in gasoline units needs to be changed once every 10,000 kilometers. For diesel engines, this figure is two times less - 5000 km. It turns out that servicing a diesel engine will cost twice as much.

However, Prado owners often neglect this rule, changing the lubricant in the same way as on gasoline models. We will not consider such moments, since we are based solely on the conditions of ideal operation.

Ratings

Petrol: 5.0, Diesel: 4.0

Prado 120 engines

The Prado 120 was equipped with 2.7 3RZ-FE, 3.4 5VZ-FE and 4.0 1GR-FE petrol power units. A 3.0 1KD-FTV diesel engine was also installed.

Motor 2.7

Reliable 4-cylinder 3RZ-FE 2.7 engine
The in-line 4-cylinder 3RZ-FE 2.7 appeared in 1994 and was installed on Toyota SUVs and commercial until 2004 . The piston stroke and cylinder diameter are the same here - 95 mm . This made it possible to make the efficiency and power indicators optimal.

Aluminum cylinder head of the 3RZ-FE 2.7 engine

The Prado 120 2.7 petrol engine is balanced by two balancers , the crankshaft has eight counterweights. two camshafts under aluminum cylinder head four valves per cylinder . Intake diameter is 37.5 mm , exhaust diameter is 30.5 mm . There are no hydraulic compensators, so every 40 thousand km it is necessary to check and adjust the valve clearances (at the inlet 0.15-0.25 mm , at the outlet 0.25-0.35 mm ).

Timing chain of engine 3RZ-FE 2.7

The timing belt drives a chain, which requires replacement no earlier than after 200 thousand mileage . The appearance of extraneous noise will tell you about its stretching. The ignition timing is controlled electronically by the ESA system . The Prado 120 engine produces maximum torque already in the lower rev range, thanks to the extended intake manifold.

The reliability of the motor is excellent. With proper maintenance, timely valve adjustment and oil changes, the engine will last a long time without major repairs. A resource of 400-500 thousand km is not the limit for it.

Powerplant 3.4 5VZ-FE

Gasoline engine 5VZ-FE
In 1995, it was time to retire the outdated ICE 3VZ-E . Its successor was the 5VZ-FE, which inherited a 60-degree V6 block. The cylinders in it were bored out, increasing the diameter by 6 mm , they housed new pistons designed for a compression ratio of 9.6 .

Toyota 3.4 5VZ-FE cylinder head

The cylinder head has become more modern with the DOHC system . The Prado 120 3.4 engine is equipped with an oil cooler . To increase traction at low speeds, the length of the intake manifold was increased. The graduation ceremony was also slightly modernized. In addition, the ignition system was changed, and the fuel injection was made phased . To tune Prado 120 engine , compressor kits . With their help, power increases to 245 horses and torque to 360 Nm .

The most common problem with 5VZ-FE is overheating . connecting rod liners wear out prematurely . Resource 300-400 thousand km .

Engine noise and ride comfort

Which engine is more comfortable to drive?

Due to technical features, the diesel engine has to be made larger. Comparing the same models 2TR-FE and 1GD-FTV, we see that the car with the first engine weighs 2850 kilograms, and with the second – 2990 kg. The diesel model is almost 150 kilograms heavier. In addition, the 1GD-FTV will produce much more noise and vibration is inevitable. As the owners of the Toyota Prado car note, the feeling in the diesel version is similar to that of a tractor. Of course, a high-quality car partially dampens these vibrations and hides the roar of the engine, but they are still noticeable.

A gasoline unit is much more comfortable to drive. It is quiet, does not vibrate, and during acceleration maintains its position on the cushions without trying to break away. In terms of comfort, a gasoline Toyota is more attractive both for the driver and for others. Moreover, this is not related to the manufacturer or any design errors. This is how all diesel engines behave. This is their feature and one of their main disadvantages.

Ratings

Petrol: 5.0, Diesel: 4.0

Selection of configuration options

For those who do not have 3.6 million available for a car, the Prado 150 will be an adequate alternative, because the differences between the Land Cruiser 200 and the Prado 150 are not global. And yet, the Toyota guys are great in the fact that they reconfigured the operation of the gas pedal when moving in a straight line, before you had to constantly press the gas pedal all the time, press it, release it, press it, release it, perhaps this has something to do with the throttle valve.

Dynamics and top speed

Which Kruzak is faster and more dynamic?
Car owners have such a concept as “the engine stalls.” This is what they say when, when you press the gas, the car does not take off, but seems to hit an invisible wall. Acceleration occurs, but very slowly and reluctantly. This is due to the characteristics of the machine and the ratio of the weight of the entire structure to the power of the motor. For convenience, we will again consider the 2TR-FE and 1GD-FTV engines, since they are of the same volume:

It would seem that the winner in the nomination is obvious: diesel is better in terms of parameters, and it is worth choosing it. But you also need to take into account the behavior of the car in real conditions, and here everything changes dramatically. It is more difficult for a diesel engine to change mode. If he starts to accelerate, it is better not to interrupt him. In city conditions, this is a disadvantage, since you constantly have to maneuver. The gasoline unit behaves much more confidently. Yes, a diesel engine is more powerful, will reach the coveted hundred speed faster, and will have higher speed, but these aspects are only relevant for driving on the highway. In general, it would be more correct to leave a draw here.

Ratings

Petrol: 5.0, Diesel: 5.0

History of creation and production

The first, somewhat angular in appearance, with high rectangular windows and a low, squat engine compartment, the car looks very unusual from the heights of past years. The secret is simple: the designers did not design it as an SUV at all. It entered the world market in the form factor of an all-weather family car - an all-terrain vehicle on wheels. The assembly site for Prado SUVs is Toyota's engineering mecca, the Tahara Plant assembly line in Aichi Prefecture.

• First generation (1990-1996).

Inside the car, on three rows of seats, in addition to the driver, seven more passengers could comfortably accommodate. The level of comfort was unprecedented for cars of those years. In addition, the engineers provided the Prado with excellent cross-country ability. It is quite logical that such a massive car should have been equipped with both gasoline internal combustion engines and diesel engines. The design turned out to be so successful that for five years the SUV was sold in different countries around the world without a single design change.

• Second generation (1996-2002).

As in the first series, three- and five-door cars rolled off the assembly line. But their Prado 90 design now did not even remotely resemble the contours of the model’s founder. Aggressive marketing of Mitsubishi Pajero forced Toyota designers to work fruitfully. The shape of the frame based on the 4Runner platform has undergone major changes. Instead of a continuous axle, an independent suspension was installed at the front. Blocking units for two differentials were added to the all-wheel drive mechanism with reduction gear - the center differential and the rear cross-axle differential. The engine range has been expanded with a turbocharged diesel unit producing 140 hp.

Magnificent body design of the 3rd generation Prado

• Third generation (2002-2009).

The body design of the third generation Prado 120 was carried out by French specialists from the ED2 studio. Five-door modifications reached the Russian market at the beginning of the new century. But buyers from other countries, as before, were also offered a three-door version. The main components of the car have undergone structural modernization:

• frame;
• front suspension;
• body.

Among the new products, we can note the appearance of an air rear suspension, adaptive shock absorbers, an assistance system when moving up and down a road grade, power steering, ABS, and an electric rear-view mirror. The drive concept and transmission of the car have not changed. Users were offered a choice of automatic (4x) and manual (5x) gearboxes.

• Fourth generation (2009 – 2018).

The new platform has been rolling off the Tahara Plant assembly line for ten years now. And it’s too early to talk about stopping the production of an SUV, which is becoming more and more modern every year. The new car has more design than engineering innovations. If the appearance is gradually getting rid of sharp angular transitions in favor of soft rounded shapes, then the interior design, on the contrary, has become distinguished by correct geometry.

Rear view camera installed in Prado 120

The 2013 restyling added a large number of intelligent innovations to the car:

• 4.2-inch LCD monitor on the dashboard;
• separate headlight control;
• adaptive suspension (for top versions);
• rear view camera;
• engine starting system without an ignition key;
• kinetic suspension stabilization system;
• trailer sway control program.

This list can be continued endlessly. For various categories of buyers, the creators of Prado have prepared four basic versions of trim levels - Entry, Legend, Prestige and Executive.

Depending on the type of suspension on the car, the driver of a modern Prado SUV has a large selection of driving modes:

• three standard – ECO, NORMAL, SPORT;
• two adaptive – SPORT S and SPORT S+.

Each mode has an individual set of settings for the functioning of the steering, gearbox and shock absorbers. The car's creators have almost achieved their goal.

The creators of the Prado achieved their goal: the new SUV is as close as possible in its characteristics to the flagship Land Cruiser 200.

Power and maneuverability

Which engine performs better off-road?

Based on the table from the previous comparison, we can conclude that diesel is better, especially when it comes to the highway. But it is also relevant for off-road use. After all, Kruzak is an SUV, and if you decide to conquer virgin lands, then diesel will have no equal here. Due to the high torque and greater engine power, it is capable of pulling a fairly heavy car out of almost any quagmire.

At the same time, by increasing the load, the diesel engine practically does not change fuel consumption. While the engine will begin to consume much more gasoline. Let's add here the resistance of diesel engines to water. Thanks to the design features, they are not afraid of even significant immersion. It turns out that if you often use your Kruzak outside of smooth city roads, it is better to choose a diesel engine. You will win on fuel, power and cross-country ability.

Ratings

Diesel: 5.0, Petrol: 4.0

Owners' opinion

Experts are confident that soon the question of what is better to buy, Prado gasoline or diesel, will be resolved by itself. The engines are being improved, eliminating shortcomings and becoming technically closer to each other, and, probably, in a couple of years the differences between them will remain only symbolic.

Reviews from owners vary: some like the power of the gasoline unit, others prefer not to throw money away due to high consumption.

Oleg Gorobchuk (35): “On the advice of a friend, I took a diesel. In our latitudes, the temperature rarely drops below -5 in winter, so fuel does not freeze. Yes, and you can also buy a winter diesel engine. I drive a lot and have never broken down, so the car is a pleasure. I’m not going to growl the engine and drive - I’m happy with a calm ride.”

Svyatoslav Kiselev (49): “The car should be taken by those who are ready to invest in it. First I had gasoline. If problems arose, he overhauled the engine himself and flew on the highway, but in the city the cruiser ate like crazy. After the second restyling, I took the diesel version. I started saving on fuel, but a year later I ended up having to repair the engine. I gave away almost half the cost of the car.”

Dmitry Voronov (29): “I live in Siberia - a cruiser in the snow is just right. Diesel would not withstand frost, so the choice was obvious. I bought the car in 2009 and it still runs like new. I rarely drive in the city, and my highway consumption is not much different from what everyone thinks is an economical diesel engine.”

Reliability

Which engine is more reliable?
The reliability of diesel engines is legendary, and with good reason. Despite the complex design, these motors are much more unpretentious and can withstand the most severe loads. Even those that were not provided initially.

Gasoline engines are more gentle. They should be handled carefully and carefully. Accidental impact, overload and other troubles can cause serious damage that cannot be repaired on your own. Let's add the security aspect here. As you know, the ignition temperature of diesel fuel is much higher than that of gasoline. Therefore, if your fuel hoses are torn, ignition of the diesel engine is practically excluded.

Ratings

Diesel: 5.0, Petrol 4.0

Repair and maintenance cost

Which is more profitable in terms of maintenance?
A diesel engine is reliable and has many more operating hours compared to a gasoline engine. But breakdowns happen to everyone sooner or later, and this is where the difference becomes obvious. Repairing a diesel engine will cost much more. In addition, not all workshops undertake servicing of such motors. If you look at reviews of car owners on the Internet, it becomes clear that the difference in prices is simply huge. Often the gap is 2-3 times.

It turns out that diesel repair is more expensive, but at the same time it needs it much less often. A gasoline engine will break down more often, and ordinary maintenance will not harm it. But it’s inexpensive and won’t put a big dent in your budget. On average, the value over 10 years of operation will be approximately the same, but you should understand that for one service visit on a diesel engine you will have to pay a much larger sum at a time.

Ratings

Diesel: 5.0, Petrol: 5.0

Diesel engines Prado 150

Until 2015, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 was equipped with a 3.0 1KD-FTV four-cylinder diesel engine.

In 2015 it was replaced by a modern 2.8 liter diesel engine. 1GD-FTV.

Diesel engine Prado 3.0

In order to answer the question of what is better than Prado diesel or gasoline, first let’s take a closer look at the disadvantages and advantages of diesel engines.

The 1KD-FTV cast iron cylinder block , two balancing shafts, and a forged crankshaft with eight counterweights. The block is covered aluminum valves two camshafts .

The piston stroke is 103 millimeters and its diameter is 96 mm . Timing drive - belt . According to recommendations, it is worth adjusting the valves approximately every 40-50 thousand kilometers , but according to statistics, you can last several times longer. The engine is equipped with pump system . ICE turbocharger .

Diesel Prado 2.8

A cast iron cylinder block is also used here . Some types do not use a balancing mechanism, such as those found on the Hilux. But it is available on other engine models, for example, on those found on Prado SUVs and Hiace trucks. The drive is a chain , and the entire mechanism is located at the bottom of the block. The block head is made of aluminum alloy.

For a long time, the 1GD-FTV did not create problems for the owners, but soon it became clear that some shortcomings that are inherent in many such engines. This is for example:

It is recommended to use original engine oil , and in combination with the use of high-quality fuel and regular technical inspection it will help increase the service life of the engine.

Operation in cold weather

Which engine performs better in winter?

The main disadvantage of diesel fuel is its poor frost resistance. It is a lean fuel with a high flash point. Due to the low octane number, it thickens when frozen. This process begins at approximately -5 degrees. Complete freezing occurs at -15 degrees. This is a huge problem for all diesel owners and is difficult to fix. Of course, now there are special additives that eliminate this problem, but so far little has been studied about the harm they cause to the engine. In addition, this is already a third-party invention, and we will not consider it.

Toyota Prado is equipped with a special glow plug. This module heats the diesel fuel before starting the engine. But if you forgot about it, then one winter morning you may be faced with the fact that your Kruzak simply won’t start. Dancing with a tambourine and long minutes of waiting begin. Here the diesel engine definitely loses to the gasoline engine, which does not suffer from such problems.

Ratings

Petrol: 5.0, Diesel: 4.0

Diesel engines Prado 150

Until 2015, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 was equipped with a 3.0 four-cylinder diesel engine.

This is an in-line 1KD-FTV unit with two overhead camshafts and direct fuel injection, producing 173 hp. and torque 410 Nm.

After 1KD they replaced it with the modernized 1GD-FTV. The new diesel engine had a smaller volume ( 2.8 liters ), but improved performance: 177 horses and 450 Nm of torque.

Diesel engine Prado 3.0

In our country, the Prado 150 with a 3-liter diesel engine is often found. Let's talk about it in more detail.

In 2000, 1KD-FTV was released to replace the outdated 1KZ The new internal combustion engine is, in fact, a deeply modernized version of its predecessor. Installed on Toyota SUVs and minibuses .

The rebuildable cast iron cylinder block has two balancer shafts and eight counterweights on a forged crankshaft. The three-liter volume is set by pistons with a diameter of 96 mm and a stroke of 103 mm . Above the block is an aluminum head that contains 16 valves and two camshafts . The diameter of the valves responsible for the intake is 32.2 mm , for the exhaust - 27.8 mm , the stem for all is 6 mm .

The three-liter Prado 150 engine does not have hydraulic compensators . The manufacturer recommends adjusting the valve mechanism every 40 thousand km. In practice, gaps rarely go beyond the permissible values, but they still need to be checked ( intake 0.2-0.3 mm , exhaust 0.35-0.45 mm).

The timing system is driven by a belt . It is changed at least once every 150 thousand km . Denso fuel injection pump with common rail .

The turbine installed on the 1KD-FTV has variable geometry and an intercooler .

Of the problems that the engine throws up, only two are the most common .

The total service life of 1KD-FTV often exceeds 400 thousand kilometers ; the resource of the injection pump , injectors and turbines averages 200 thousand .

Diesel Prado 2.8

1GD-FTV, which appeared in 2015 replaced the 1KD-FTV, which was obsolete by that time . The turbocharged engine was intended for large SUVs and minibuses Toyota company . Unlike its predecessor, driven here by a chain .

The Prado 150 diesel 2.8 engine has a cast iron cylinder block . Hidden inside are light alloy pistons with a polymer coating on the skirt, connected to the connecting rods with floating pins . The cylinder head is made of light aluminum alloy. The spark plugs are located between the vertical nozzles . Oil channels are made in the plastic head cover .

Prado 150 engines are known for their reliability , but each of them has its own illnesses . For 1GD-FTV engine:

The average resource before major repairs is 250 thousand km .

Environmental friendliness

How many harmful emissions do engines produce?
Since diesel fuel is a lean fuel, it emits fewer harmful substances when burned. Diesel engines are considered more environmentally friendly, but it should be understood that this applies to high-tech engines used in Toyota Prado. For example, ship diesel smokes very heavily, but the fuel used is different.

Analyzing the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, it would be more correct to consider 4 types of engines, two gasoline and two diesel:

The most environmentally friendly is 1GD-FTV, which runs on diesel fuel. It produces the least emissions. As you can see, gasoline units are dirtier. True, there are some nuances here. If a diesel engine has any problems with the injectors, the fuel begins to burn incompletely, as a result of which the car produces such exhaust that its level of pollution leaves even a 6-cylinder gasoline engine far behind.

Ratings

Diesel: 5.0, Petrol: 4.0

LC Prado petrol engines

Petrol engines LC Prado 150: 2.7 2TR-FE (left) and 4.0 1GR-FE (right)
As standard, the SUV is equipped with a 2TR-FE engine. This is 4-cylinder twin-shaft in-line engine with a power of 163 hp.

The second petrol engine of the Prado 150 is v-shaped . The working volume of the 6-cylinder 1GR-FE is 4 liters and the power is 282 hp.

After the 2021 restyling, the 4.0 engine was derated on the Russian market, now its power is not 282, but 249 horsepower.

Petrol 2.7

Engine Toyota 2.7 2TR-FE
The youngest engine in the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado line is installed only on the simplest configurations . The 2TR-FE is durable and economical, but it has difficulty accelerating a two-ton SUV. Introduced in 2003 , the motor is still in production.

Engine block 2TR-FE

The traditional cast iron cylinder block is balanced by two shafts . The design is time-tested and reliable. But the cylinder head is more modern. It has a VVT-i system.

2TR-FE engine cylinder head (link to image source)

Thanks to hydraulic compensators, you no longer need to worry about adjusting the valve clearance.

The unit has a lightweight plastic intake manifold and an electronically controlled throttle valve. Thanks to the settings of the control unit, traction at low speeds is improved and fuel consumption is minimal.

In 2015, the Prado 150 2.7 engine was equipped with the Dual-VVT-i system and the compression ratio was raised to 10.2 .

In general, the reliability of the engine is beyond doubt. A problem with the engines of the first years of production was a leaking front crankshaft oil seal. Another feature is excessive vibrations at idle in frosty weather. The problem is treated by replacing the lubricant in the automatic transmission .

Petrol Prado 4.0

Engine 1GR-FE (link to image source)
The GR series has almost twenty years of history . The 1GR-FE is a four-liter V6 with a 60° .

liter engine is installed on Toyota SUVs . It does not have high revs, but it has good torque. Cast iron liners are pressed into the aluminum cylinder block . Early engines had a heavy piston group and the same crankshaft, as well as Dual VVT-i. Maximum power was 249 hp.

Aluminum cylinder block 1GR-FE

Then in 2009 the internal combustion engine was modernized . Lightweight pistons, a new intake, and a modified cylinder head were installed. Power increased to 285 hp. But in 2017, the Prado engine was derated to the previous 249 horses , in order to reduce the tax rate for owners.

Let's talk about the weak points of 1GR-FE:

1. on older units when overheating may blow the cylinder head gasket;

   
   Cylinder head gasket set 1GR-FE

2. Clattering and chattering noises during engine operation are considered normal;
3. lack of hydraulic compensators, valve adjustments have to be done every 100 thousand mileage.

Overall the motor is reliable. With proper operation and timely maintenance, its service life is more than 300 thousand km.

Total expenses

Which motor is more profitable to choose from a combination of factors?

Now, having considered all the cost factors, we can draw certain conclusions. Let's take the main expense items and try to figure out what is better to choose, gasoline or diesel:

Total draw. In general, the mounting of both motors will be approximately the same. Accordingly, the choice should be based not on economic, but on technical considerations, which we discussed in this article.

Ratings

Petrol: 5.0, Diesel: 5.0