Owners' opinion about the Prado with a gasoline engine

General impressions of the owners

Toyota Land Cruiser enjoys well-deserved popularity among motorists, since Japanese quality is difficult to over-praise. Despite the high price, the Pradik is recognized as a people's car.

A major advantage is the presence of an opening window in the trunk door. It is convenient to use it to report forgotten things or quickly get a first aid kit. The trunk is roomy, like most SUVs. Due to the trunk, you can install a third row of seats for passengers.

According to reviews of 2021, the Toyota Prado 2.7 gasoline has a serious drawback: when installing the third row of seats, the car does not warm up the interior enough, and the passengers sitting in the back may feel cold.

The interior in the budget package is trimmed with fabric. It is much more practical compared to leather.

Luxury models have leather interiors.

The station wagon body with a high ceiling allows passengers of any height to feel comfortable. Driving off-road in the front is more comfortable than in the rear, which is due to the design features of the suspension.

There is an outlet in the cabin that is designed for charging gadgets. It is convenient to use when going outdoors, hunting, fishing.

What kind of gasoline to fill in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J120

For factory engines of the Land Cruiser Prado body (J120) on which knock sensors have not previously been adjusted, it is recommended to use gasoline with an octane rating of 95 AI-95 to obtain the calculated specific engine power.

The ignition timing of the engine also allows you to drive on the minimum permissible gasoline AI-92, there will be no harm.

What happens if you fill with high-actane gasoline (AI-98/100)?

The engine of this Toyota model does not require high-octane gasoline. Such fuel will burn more calmly and worse in it, often ignoring the spark of the candle. In this case, the combustible mixture, not having time to burn during the power stroke, continues to burn with the exhaust valves open. Such processes at high operating temperatures and prolonged exposure lead to burnout of valves and exhaust seats. Engine performance indicators deteriorate, gasoline consumption increases, and wear on the piston group increases more than usual.

What happens if you mix 95 and 92 gasoline in a tank?

If you intentionally or mistakenly pour 95 and 92 gasoline into the Land Cruiser Prado tank together, you will get a mixture with an average octane number, but not for long. At first they will be mixed in the tank; in theory, there is no threat to the engine from such fuel. Further, bypassing diffusion due to different densities of substances, gasoline with a lower octane will end up at the bottom, and with a higher octane at the top. As a result, the substance in its entirety will not work; first the fuel pump will pump worse gasoline, and then better.

About consumption on the current mileage

The average age of a car in the back of a Land Cruiser Prado (J120) is 18 years. The mileage for the model released in 2003 is already about 425,000 km. Even taking into account the maintenance that has been completed according to the regulations, such cars are now experiencing a noticeable increase in gasoline consumption, in comparison with the capabilities of these models in 2003. The operating power of the engine of those years was initially designed for standard compression, which was already broken. The factory transmission also becomes more demanding on fuel consumption.

We calculated real fuel consumption in 2021 for such cars, taking into account mileage under normal operating and maintenance conditions. Fuel consumption now ranges from 11.5 to 17.5 liters per 100 km for modifications of the Land Cruiser Prado J120 produced in 2003 with a minimum power gasoline engine.

Other generations of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

How to reduce gasoline consumption

To start saving fuel, you need to understand the reasons for its increased consumption. The table contains practical tips and recommendations obtained from open sources.

Consumption	Cause	Description and Solution
&#9660 50%	Using HBO	The traditional method of saving fuel consumption is to switch the car to run on gas. Such re-equipment will significantly reduce fuel costs. At the same time, the noise level will noticeably decrease, the exhaust will be cleaner, and the engine will start to run much smoother.
&#9660 15%	Coasting	A situation when a car rolls by itself after acceleration or down a hill. When driving in gear by inertia, gasoline is consumed in minimal quantities to maintain engine idle speed. In this case, the driver just needs to release the gas pedal without turning off the gear; in this case, the fuel supply is completely stopped and the car moves by inertia. In this case, there is no need to turn off the engine, because starting the engine too often will only lead to excess consumption and additional wear on the starter and battery.
&#9660 10%	Movement behind the truck	Not a bad way to save gas when driving on the highway. Driving behind large cars at a distance of 3-5 meters helps the car not experience air resistance, thereby significantly reducing gasoline consumption. In this case, you will have to adapt to the speed of the truck; it is important to move smoothly, which also has a positive effect on consumption.
&#9660 10%	Cruise control	Using cruise control saves fuel when driving over long distances. The car will move smoothly, without jerking on the gas pedal.
&#9660 10%	Disabling the second axis	All-wheel drive typically consumes more fuel. On asphalt, it makes sense to switch the transmission to 2WD mode - this way the system will not use the units that transmit traction to the second axle and waste energy on them. On off-road or in winter, 4WD mode is more preferable both for safety and fuel economy due to the lack of slipping.
&#9660 10%	Extra weight	Why carry something unnecessary in the trunk. Excess weight always leads to increased gas mileage. By cleaning the bins in your car, you can save up to 10 percent of fuel.
&#9660 5%	Lightweight wheels	Using lightweight wheels with rims made of durable and lightweight forging can achieve savings in fuel consumption.
&#9660 5%	Narrow tire tread	Tire tread width affects fuel consumption. The narrower the tread, the lower the gas mileage.
&#9660 1%	Smooth start	Smooth start of movement. You need to start moving from a place calmly and confidently, avoiding sudden acceleration, since rapid acceleration will definitely increase fuel consumption.
&#9660 1%	Parking in the garage	Warming up a car in cold weather is not easy, and while it is warming up, precious gasoline is burning. A heated garage solves this problem, especially noticeably in winter.
&#9650 1%	1 cm disc radius	Driving on wheels with a larger radius increases consumption, for example: R19 instead of R17. The increase occurs in increments of 1 cm of radius + 1% to the flow rate.
&#9650 1%	Equipment in the cabin	The use of electronic equipment inside the car while it is moving. Any attachments: radio, video recorder, navigator, chargers in the cigarette lighter - all this increases the load on the generator and increases fuel consumption.
&#9650 1%	dipped headlights	Driving a car with the headlights on low beam.
&#9650 5%	High beam headlights	Vehicle movement with high beam headlights on. Do not use high beam headlights unless necessary, and keep an eye on the light switch during daytime.
&#9650 5%	Long stop	Running the engine for more than 5 minutes after stopping increases gasoline consumption.
&#9650 5%	Antifreeze temperature	Coolant temperature below design increases flow rate. Monitor the quality of the antifreeze poured in and its consumption.
&#9650 5%	Camber angles	Unadjusted wheel alignment during long-term use. Periodically call in for service and adjust the wheel alignment by pulling the rods and ends. Monitor tire wear; uneven wear may indicate poor tuning. A wobble in the steering wheel at high speed may also indicate this.
&#9650 5%	Headwind	Driving in windy weather when driving against a headwind.
&#9650 5%	Low tire pressure	Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure. (for every 0.5 kg/cm2.). Monitor the recommended tire pressure on the front and rear tires of your vehicle. Inflate the wheels with a pump in a timely manner.
&#9650 5%	Non-seasonal tires	Driving a car with tires that are out of season. If a car is shod with winter tires in May-June, then its gluttony will be many times higher than if the driver changed it to summer tires in time.
&#9650 10%	100 kg load	Every 100 kg of cargo placed in the body or trailer of a vehicle increases consumption by 10%. Do not carry excess cargo unless necessary.
&#9650 10%	Using automatic transmission	Land Cruiser Prado (J120) models with automatic transmission require more fuel than those with manual transmission. In addition to the operation of the box itself, the consumption is also increased by malfunctions associated with it. For example, when you frequently travel in a lower gear, when the transmission malfunctions and does not switch to a higher gear, where possible.
&#9650 10%	Violation of internal combustion engine compression	Wear of the cylinder-piston group ahead of time. Each reduction in atmosphere (compression unit) increases flow rate. Wear of the engine cylinder-piston group is a natural process and is considered normal. But there are cases of increased wear that occur under conditions of high temperature, low pressure and the presence of an aggressive gas environment. The way out of the situation is complex, from changing the oil to completely overhauling the engine and replacing parts.
&#9650 10%	Exhaust system failure	For normal operation, the engine needs not only clean air from outside, but also the ability to freely exhale exhaust gas through the exhaust system. If the cylinder head exhaust ports are sooty or the catalyst is clogged, creating resistance to the exit of exhaust gases, the engine has to spend more energy to release fuel combustion products. Consequently, to maintain operating power, the engine has to burn more fuel.
&#9650 10%	Using the air conditioner	Consumption increases significantly when using air conditioning in the cabin while the car is moving.
&#9650 10%	Bad roll	Overtightened wheel hub bearings. When replacing wheel bearings, the main thing is not to overtighten them after installing them on the hubs. It is better to have it replaced at a good service center where I know how hard the fasteners need to be tightened.
&#9650 10%	Spark plug gap	Incorrectly set spark plug gaps, as well as the use of old spark plugs. After 5-7000 kilometers, the previously set gap between the spark plug electrodes will increase (by 0.1mm). As a result, if you do not change the spark plugs in a timely manner or do not check the spark plug gap, this will lead to failure of the ignition system and increase fuel consumption.
&#9650 10%	Clutch problems	Worn clutch or poorly functioning clutch mechanism in your car. Have the clutch checked, adjusted or replaced at a service center.
&#9650 10%	Bad air filter	Failure to promptly replace the air filter or an unsuitable filter increases gasoline consumption.
&#9650 15%	Driving on a cold engine	Starting to drive a car with a cold engine. Always warm up the engine, even in the warm summer season.
&#9650 15%	Violation of gas distribution systems	Wear of the gas distribution mechanism, as well as unadjusted valve clearances. Monitor the main parameters of the gas distribution system: valve timing, fit of valves to the head seats, and wear of cams, camshaft bearings and distribution gears, condition of the gasket and cylinder head, gaps between bushings and valve rods, depth of valve recessing in the cylinder head seats.
&#9650 25%	Trailer	Driving with an empty trailer.
&#9650 30%	Roof rack with cargo	When the trunk placed on the roof of the car is loaded as much as possible. It is necessary to load such a trunk to a minimum; if possible, it will be more economical to transfer some of the things to the rear trunk.
&#9650 40%	Fuel line failure	Problems with fuel supply to the engine due to a faulty injector, fuel pump and other sensors and valves of the fuel system.
&#9650 45%	Engine control problems	Faulty engine management system. A situation in which the system, for one reason or another, is delayed in ignition, after which the response to the gas pedal at the beginning of acceleration becomes unpredictable, the exhaust becomes dirtier, and the engine is noticeably more voracious. First check the faults recorded in the engine management system memory.

Opinions on technical characteristics

Reviews about the Prado 2.7 petrol are contradictory. And if the driver claims that an SUV with such characteristics does not handle well, then he has never driven it. The car copes with city driving 100% and travels on the highway at a speed of 120 km/h without any problems. Considering that on most highways the maximum permitted speed is 100 km/h, then the engine power is quite enough. 163 l. With. not enough for a loaded car: it goes uphill with difficulty. Acceleration to 100 km/h is carried out in 13.9 seconds according to the passport, and according to reviews - in 13.6. You can make tuning in the cabin by installing a chip that will increase dynamics and power to 184 hp. With.

Diesel has 177 hp. s., therefore develops greater speed. It is more profitable for use in off-road mode. The turbodiesel accelerates to 100 km/h in 11 seconds.

The 2.7 petrol engine for the Toyota Land Cruiser has positive reviews. This is a durable motor that still has no equal in the automotive market. This modification has 1 battery installed, while the turbodiesel has 2.

Reviews about the Prado 2.7 MT in 2021 do not speak in favor of this modification, since the gearbox is 5-speed, and the automatic transmission is 6-speed, and this is the main advantage. The automatic version is more convenient for the city and off-road.

Review of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 4.0 (2010)

Greetings to everyone who has visited this page!

I will also leave my review about this car.

Purchased in 2010. 4 liters. Luxury package 7 seats.

There were so many cars and you could always tell a lot of interesting things about them, but here...

I catch myself thinking that there is nothing particularly interesting to write. It’s, you know, “the best ruler is the one the people don’t know about.”) I’ll list the shortcomings that, in my opinion, exist. Although, objectively, they are small and not so important.

So, what we didn’t like and don’t like:

Music. The sound is clear, but the absence of a subwoofer blurs the picture.
The front wings are located quite high at the edges. I can not see anything. However, it’s a matter of habit, of course, and parking sensors (can be switched off) help.
The leather on the front seat is rubbing quite actively. Although, not too critical.
Disgusting built-in navigator. He sees the street and the house, but hulls and fractions are completely unfamiliar concepts to him.
Service interval 10,000 km.

Everything with shortcomings)

What I like:

Appearance.
Reliability. During all this time, not even a single light bulb burned out.
Dynamic characteristics. It’s fast enough and when overtaking, even from a speed of 120-140, you don’t have to worry too much about its completion.
Good low and high beam. I can confidently say that it is one of the best in its class.
A good and convenient thing is the refrigerator in the cabin. It helps a lot in hot weather. Moreover, the 0.33 bottle cools down in five minutes maximum) It’s a pity that it’s too small.
Air suspension settings help. On the highway I always switch to “Sport” mode, but on the country roads it’s better to keep it in “Comfort”.

The Prado has air only in the rear. There is also a trick to “raise and lower” the body. I can say that I have never used it, since the ground clearance is sufficient even without it.

Off-road it is not inferior to Pajero. Although, from the moment of purchase it gives the impression of a more fragile and delicate “toy” (despite the frame design). Both go VERY well in the snow. I don’t have much operating experience with mud and I can’t really say anything.

Summary:

There are fewer and fewer real SUVs with excellent cross-country ability, charisma, good interior and appearance, capable of performing well both on and off the road... The vague new Grand Cherokee, the crossover Explorer, the glamorized Patrol... they all left this niche. There are very few of these cars left...

So, in terms of price-quality-prestige ratio and so on, I think this car is VERY worthy. Although the price over these two years has risen to almost 3 million. And this is too much, in my opinion. On the other hand, if you look at the Kia Sportage-2 with a price of almost one and a half and some Hyundai SUV for 2 lemmas, you more or less agree. But this is a separate topic of roads, taxes, gasoline prices and other things...

Yes, I almost forgot, keep in mind when purchasing about 150 rubles. from a horse.

Regarding insurance. Very humane. Unlike, say, 200. In the first year it cost about 120,000 rubles. Which isn't much in comparison.

Fuel consumption:

On the highway the computer produces about 12-14 liters. Average speed is from 100 to 135 km. at one o'clock.
In the city it consumes about 20 liters. So that the computer does not write about its 16-18 liters. And this is during a quiet ride.

If you have any questions, write! I will be happy to answer.

If I missed something important, sorry. If you have any comments, I will add them.

Good luck to everyone on the roads!))

Operation and reliability

Owner reviews can tell you a lot about the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2.7 petrol. The car is equipped with air suspension, which ensures safe driving under any road conditions.

The Japanese build quality is not satisfactory. The car is made to last and will serve the car owner for a long time with proper care.

In operation, according to drivers, the SUV is expensive, and this is the main disadvantage of the Pradika. Fuel consumption on the highway on gasoline reaches 15 liters, while driving within the city limits consumes up to 20 liters. Considering the cost of gasoline, it turns out to be quite expensive. Diesel fuel will be more economical in this regard.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120

in principle, the dynamics of 2.7 are comparable to 1.6 of a regular car, which more than half of car enthusiasts drive, so it’s quite normal, another question is that from such a car and for that kind of money you initially expect more, but if you switched from a regular car, you can’t say that it doesn’t drive and you can’t say that you won’t overtake anyone on the highway, having gotten used to the precise overtaking of a 1.6 or 2.0 crossover, the ride is quite adequate. Among people who have the opportunity to choose, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is very popular, its technical characteristics, fuel consumption, comfort and practicality attract fans all over the world.

Repair and service

Prado requires high-quality and timely maintenance, which is expensive. If the car was purchased at a dealership and is still under warranty, then this is a big plus. Despite the excellent quality, TLC has weaknesses:

The injectors will require replacement after approximately 60 thousand mileage.
The coolant begins to leak after 150 thousand. The cost of repairs is 20,000 rubles.
The transfer case actuator on the 150 series fails during regular off-road use.
The body position sensor gives an error of 100 thousand.
The starter will require replacement after 100 thousand.
The air suspension can quickly fail if the car is driven aggressively in off-road mode.

According to users, the paintwork on the body is a let down. The hood and roof are especially affected. Small cracks and chips form on them.

Annual maintenance with changing the oil, cabin filters and other components extends the life of the car and prevents more serious breakdowns. Pradika has sufficient resources, which allows the machine to be used for many years.

Fuel and consumption

The actual fuel consumption of a car differs significantly from that stated in the passport. In the PTS, the manufacturer puts the mark at 10 liters on the highway and 13 liters in city driving mode. But in fact, gasoline consumption is 15 liters on the highway and 20 liters in the city and depends on driving style.

Reviews about fuel consumption when driving on the highway on the Prado 150 2.7 liter are similar. Drivers say that they fit within the stated 11 liters on gasoline.

Diesel is more economical: the stated consumption is 7 liters on the highway and 10 liters in the city. In reality, these figures are 10 liters in the city and 13 liters on the highway.

Fuel consumption varies depending on road conditions, surface conditions and time of year. In winter it is definitely greater than in summer.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 series Model features

As many reviews here say, the car radio is outdated, some functions are missing that even the new RAV4 is equipped with, such as xenon, rain and light sensors, in general it is quite surprising, considering that the car is not cheap and was released in 2007. Place of production Kamigo Plant Japan Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia Indonesia Engine type petrol Supercharged no Power system MPI injector Cylinder configuration R4 Valves per cylinder 4 Timing type DOHC Timing chain drive Cylinder block cast iron Cylinder head aluminum Displacement 2693 cm Cylinder diameter 95.