New TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO 120 - review of the road conqueror

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Published: 05/01/2018

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Not many cars, after their production was suspended, were able to not only maintain their popularity, but also increase it. Probably, the Toyota Prado 120 is one of the few exceptions to this rule. Residents of the CIS countries have a special love for cars.

It’s quite easy to verify this - just go out onto the streets of your city and take a closer look at the cars passing by. Among them there will definitely be several representatives of this brand. We’ll talk now about why this SUV has gained such popularity.

• Model features
• Model dimensions
• Exterior Features
• Exterior interior design
• Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120: which engine is better
• How much fuel will you need?
• A few words about dynamics
• Features of the brake system and power steering
• How does the car feel when driving?
• Choosing Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120

Model features

The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 first appeared back in 2002. The last car rolled off the assembly line in 2009. During this period, quite a lot of modifications of such vehicles were produced (in general, this figure exceeds 40). Then the Prado 150 and Prado 2021 were produced, while the 120th Toyota, which is based on three pillars of cars - comfort, cross-country ability and reliability - has not lost its popularity.

Options and prices

In the domestic market, the Toyota Landcruiser Prado 120 was supplied in only two trim levels:

• budget version “Luna”, the cost of which at the start of sales was 1.45 million rubles;
• “Sol” package with a price of 1.625 million rubles.

If the difference in price is no more than 200 thousand rubles. the premium version was distinguished by the number of seats (7 instead of 5), the presence of electrically adjustable seats, leather interior and xenon headlights. The more expensive version also received a sunroof and parking sensors. On the secondary market, both options cost almost the same - the cost depends more on the condition and year of manufacture.

Table 1. Main parameters of Toyota Prado 120 versions for the Russian and Ukrainian markets.

Model dimensions

The dimensions of the standard five-seater version are as follows:

• length – 485 cm;
• width – 187.5 cm;
• height – 189.5 cm;
• ground clearance - 22 cm;
• wheelbase – 279 cm.

The weight of the Land Cruiser Prado 120 is 1880 kg, the total weight is 2155 kg. At the same time, the car has a fairly good trunk - 586 liters. Thus, you can carry a lot of things in it, which is especially important for traveling out of town and for everyday life.

Exterior Features

First of all, a car is greeted by its cover. It is worth noting that in the case of the Land Cruiser 120, the designers decided to stick to classic solutions, which brought their brand quite a lot of popularity. Thus, this model is not much different from its counterparts. At first glance at the vehicle, it becomes clear that this is a formidable, heavy and reliable car. Inflated elements can be seen from all sides, which leads to a noticeable increase in dimensions. After the third update, the lines smoothed out somewhat and became smoother, which is consistent with the style of urban crossovers.

It will also be interesting to read: Toyota Land Cruiser 105 - a reliable jeep with a diesel engine

The front of the car is decorated with a massive radiator grille with powerful partitions. You can tell that the Land Cruiser Prado 120 is in front of you by the large headlights that actually extend onto the hood.

The rear of the car looks no less impressive. There are models with a spare tire on the trunk, but they are extremely rare, especially in our country. There is no point in talking much about the body, because there are practically no shortcomings here, and there is no point in praising its advantages - it is better to see for yourself and be convinced of the excellent style of this car model.

Exterior interior design

First of all, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 was conceived as an all-terrain SUV that is not afraid of any obstacles. But since the first generations did not give the expected result, the car was somewhat redirected towards the executive class. This can also be seen in the interior of the car.

The car's interior is quite original. It differs in many ways from the usual Japanese vehicles. First of all, this is due to the involvement of European designers to create the interior of the car. As a result, we got a more classic version that is familiar to all of us.

Everything looks quite nice inside. On the one hand, the solidity of the interior leaves no doubt, on the other hand, there is a minimum of excess, only what is necessary. This approach allowed us to make this model so beloved by all of us. Since many modifications of the car were produced, the upholstery is very different, but there are two most common options: leather and velor.

It is especially worth emphasizing that the Land Cruiser 120 has an impressive interior. Thus, it is quite comfortable to be in it both for the driver and front passenger, and for people in the rear seats - there is enough space for absolutely everyone, and there is still some left (especially in the five-door model).

In the cabin you can find a lot of useful equipment that makes driving more comfortable and safe. Among the main advantages of the model it is worth emphasizing:

• radio with built-in CD changer;
• high-quality speakers, of which there are as many as 9 pieces;
• power steering;
• the presence of a heated mirror function;
• electric windows;
• climate control system;
• air conditioner;
• presence of a temperature control panel in the cabin.

As for a car of that time, the functionality is more than good, it’s not for nothing that the car is still chosen today, because not every current competitor can boast of all these options.

At the same time, the instrument panel is located quite conveniently. As a result, it is easy to control all the main vehicle systems; you don’t have to search for buttons for a long time, which does not distract the driver from the most important thing - keeping an eye on the road. Despite the absence of a multimedia screen, the control process is already clear, although in the case of some models it may take a little time to master the features of the car.

It will also be interesting to read: Toyota Prado 150 is in demand in the secondary market

Should I take a used Prado 120 or a Prado 150?

#1 OFF SITE Tramp

Tramp

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• Name: Rolf
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Posted 13 June 2014 — 20:55

Please tell me what to buy: a used Prado 120 or a used Prado 150? On principle, I don’t want to buy a new one, but there is a choice of fairly fresh Prados, both of them. I have repeatedly heard the opinion that 120 is more reliable, more thoughtful and balanced, but I doubt it, especially since 150 costs more. Thanks for your opinions.

#2 OFF SITE Vall

Vall

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Posted 13 June 2014 — 21:06

Please tell me what to buy: a used Prado 120 or a used Prado 150? On principle, I don’t want to buy a new one, but there is a choice of fairly fresh Prados, both of them. I have repeatedly heard the opinion that 120 is more reliable, more thoughtful and balanced, but I doubt it, especially since 150 costs more. Thanks for your opinions.

You know, the 150 is very specific in design, and the 120 is very common, and even among the leaders among car thieves... Personally, I would take the 120 - there are a lot of spare parts, simple as a “door” and reliable as a tank!

#3 OFF SITE orest

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Posted 13 June 2014 — 21:23

150 is better, brothers, first of all it’s new, but otherwise the mileage will be small.

#4 OFF SITE BOX4x4

BOX4x4

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Posted 13 June 2014 — 21:40

150ka is two heads higher in reliability of the fuel pump and injectors. Verified. Body design, not for everyone.

• Shyrik and Tsapik like this

#5 OFF SITE Tsapic

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Posted 13 June 2014 — 21:44

Maybe not entirely on topic, but I also had a similar problem! I couldn’t decide, Prado or Disco. I don't want to offend anyone! I picked up Discovery 3 and I don’t know any grief! This is my second year riding. In terms of minced meat and all sorts of gadgets, there is more than the Prado... Reliability is also good, mileage is 130 tons. No problems! In terms of driving performance, in my opinion, it is even better than the Prado, it rides smoothly and softly, and when leaving the asphalt, it also does not herd the rear. Alternatively, think about it. Toyota drivers, don't be angry

#6 OFF SITE River

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 13:44

There were 120 and 150. On the 150 during ownership I managed to change: stabilizer bushings, twice, hub bearings, replaced the pump, steering rod (through my own fault). We bled the brake system twice, but the brakes remained very weak. By the way, not to mention the many crickets and creaks throughout the cabin, at 120 there was silence. I’m still not used to the appearance of the 150 - the shape of the car is strange, to say the least, it doesn’t look courageous as a jeep is supposed to, but rather something amorphous.

In general, I closed the issue with the Prado and took another good premium car.

• Vrubel and Vall like it

#7 OFF SITE Hitch

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 15:43

The 150 and 120 are two completely different cars in terms of comfort, handling and all sorts of options. I drive a 150 and am happy as an elephant. Indeed, every 30 thousand all stabilizer bushings are changed (some are changed every 15) and the car is always assembled and pleasant. They cost pennies, but they radically change the behavior of the car. For 65 thousand I didn’t do anything outside of service.

I have experience of frequent use of the 120 and from this I can say that the difference with the 150 is very noticeable. KDSS, which is in the 150k, has greatly changed the machine.

They were talking about disco here, I also considered it as an option before purchasing, but didn’t take it for the following reasons:

- much less space for rear passengers

— the seats in the first row (driver/passenger) seemed very narrow to me

— Toyota is closer in spirit

Based on the 150th and 120th, I can also say that 4.0 petrol is pretty bad, but the consumption... The 3.0 diesel drives ok, not a vegetable, but not a car either, a little noisier, but quite economical. As for 2.7, I would recommend passing by

#8 OFF SITE Vodo

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 20:43

Take a Lehus 470 and you will be happy.

#9 OFF SITE runner

runner

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 20:49

There are all cars and Prado 120, Prado 150 Restyle, Gx. I'm happy with every Gx driver. Minus fuel consumption.

#10 OFF SITE Hitch

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 21:12

There are all cars and Prado 120, Prado 150 Restyle, Gx. I'm happy with every Gx driver. Minus fuel consumption.

+10500

#11 OFF SWAG SITE

SWAG

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 21:43

I’ll put my two cents in. I test drove the 150, I came for the test in my FZ Cruiser (also 120). I rode a diesel, the reception is of course weaker, but the ride is better due to the lengthening of the base by 15 cm, if I’m not mistaken. But it’s not for everyone. .

#12 OFF SITE BOX4x4

BOX4x4

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Posted 14 June 2014 — 22:50

Well, if it’s so hot, I’ll note the following and the most painful thing. The 120 current with the D4D engine has a problem with the injectors (three types, 250 Euro each) and the fuel injection pump, which no one repairs. The 150 has a pump that lasts almost forever, and it costs pennies. He presses himself into the ramp and that’s it.

#13 OFF SITE mara

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Posted 15 June 2014 — 10:52

I’ll put my two cents in. I test drove the 150, I came for the test in my FZ Cruiser (also 120). I rode a diesel, the reception is of course weaker, but the ride is better due to the lengthening of the base by 15 cm, if I’m not mistaken. But it’s not for everyone. .

The Prado has a smooth ride in front of the FJ due to the Prado’s greater weight by almost 400 kg.

#14 OFF-SITE runner

runner

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Posted 15 June 2014 — 15:44

The Prado has a smooth ride in front of the FJ due to the Prado’s greater weight by almost 400 kg.

It turns out that if four people sit in a fj it will be as soft as a prado

#15 OFF SITE Vall

Vall

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Posted 15 June 2014 — 18:02

And Fujik is already very soft. And in general, I was choosing between Prado 120 and Pajero Sport NEW, but bought FJ

#16 OFF SITE SERGO

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Posted 16 June 2014 — 11:56

I’ve driven both an FJ TTSE and a Lexus GX470, now I’m driving a Prado 150 D4D and I really like it, including its fuel consumption.

#17 OFF SITE Dima Offroad

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Posted 16 June 2014 — 12:22

I have a friend who has completely disassembled the 120 more than once, and recently dismantled the 150, and so, he claims that the frame in the 120 is much more powerful and stronger than in the 150.

I drive the 120 myself - only positive reviews, a very reliable and strong car.

Post edited by Dima Offroad: 16 June 2014 — 12:24

#18 OFF SITE korch

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Posted 16 June 2014 — 12:25

And I will vote for 150. Only diesel, of course. The machine is not outstanding in terms of design and is technically already outdated, but it is very reliable and for the money it is very balanced in terms of consumer qualities. If “show-off” is not important, but you need a trouble-free car, this is it.

#19 OFF SITE Ruzniy

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Posted 16 June 2014 — 12:25

I have a friend who has completely disassembled the 120 more than once, and recently dismantled the 150, and so, he claims that the frame in the 120 is much more powerful and stronger than in the 150.

I drive the 120 myself - only positive reviews, a very reliable and strong car.

I confirm that this is true, it seems that the next Prado model will already be frameless with a monocoque body.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120: which engine is better

During the period of car production, there were quite a lot of different configurations, which, first of all, differed in their power unit. As a rule, in the CIS you can see 4 variants of a gasoline engine, a diesel engine or a turbocharged diesel engine. At the same time, the following models are most widespread in Russia:

• volume 2.7 liters, petrol. Power reaches 163 horsepower. Comes paired with both manual and automatic transmissions;
• volume 4.0 liters, petrol. The power here is 282 horses. The most recent versions worked exclusively with automation;
• volume 3.0, turbocharged diesel. It has a power of 173 horsepower. Modifications with automatic or manual transmission are available.

At the same time, there were no official deliveries of diesel to the CIS countries, since the manufacturer considered the climatic conditions of our country too harsh for this engine. At the same time, this did not prevent such a modification of the engine from entering our country. Any modification of the Toyota Land Cruiser 120 is equipped with all-wheel drive.

Blocks under the hood

Location

General layout of blocks under the hood

Purpose

1. Relay block No. 1
2. Fuse and relay box
3. Relay block No. 2
4. Headlight wiper relay
5. Stability control control unit (without VSC)
6. Relay block No. 3 (left-hand drive)
7. Relay block No. 3 (right-hand drive)

Fuse and relay box

It is located on the left side next to the battery.

Example of a circuit from a block cover

Scheme

Decoding

Relay block 1

• R1 - Starter (STA)
• R2 - Glow plugs (GLOW)

Relay block 2

• R1 - Air suspension (AIR SUS)
• R2 - Dimmer (with daytime running lights)

How much fuel will you need?

If you are thinking of purchasing a Land Cruiser Prado 120, the fuel consumption specifications for this model look like this:

• on the highway - 11.1-11.2 liters of diesel or 17 liters of gasoline;
• in the city - 7.9-8.0 liters of diesel or 10.2 liters of gasoline;
• combined cycle - 91.-9.2 diesel or 12.7 gasoline.

The figures are not small, but if you take into account the dimensions of the car and the power of the engine (after all, a volume of 4 liters requires its own), then the consumption is more than acceptable.

Old Prado as it is

The 90th Prado is the second generation of the model and has been produced since 1996. Its appearance already has general trends characteristic of the design of many SUVs of those years, including the usual Land Cruiser and Patrol. By the way, the Land Cruiser Prado and the Land Cruiser have nothing in common, except for the name, since the Prado was created on a completely different platform, and the additional words “Land Cruiser” were specially introduced exclusively for the European market. But let's get back to looking at the car.

The Toyota Prado interior, according to drivers, has the following advantages:

• First of all, it's its size. The interior is truly spacious, although it has not lost its main purpose - to provide passenger comfort;
• Owners also speak well of the driver’s seat. Firstly, it does not overload the back during long trips, and secondly, it guarantees excellent visibility due to the high seating position;
• the informative dashboard also earned praise from our compatriots;
• Motorists also appreciate the fact that the interior is rich in various niches, drawers and other recesses for small things.
• All drivers, without exception, recognize the high quality of technical devices with which the Prado 90 is literally crammed.
• Separately, we should dwell on the issue of transforming the rear seats. Motorists admit that the second and third rows fold quickly and conveniently, but there is one drawback: the mechanism that ensures the folding of the seats wears out very quickly and therefore requires periodic replacement.

The Prado 90 cruiser is available with the following units:

• diesel 125-horsepower 3-liter engine;
• the same engine, but more powerful - 163 hp;
• gasoline engine with a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 150 hp;
• finally, a 178-horsepower 3.4 liter engine.

Of all these units, the most widely used in our country are the 163-horsepower diesel and 3.4-liter gasoline units. The first has the following advantages:

1. sufficient power reserve for such a car;
2. relatively low consumption of 11 liters in a mixed cycle;
3. incredible reserve of torque;
4. unpretentiousness in maintenance.

As for the gasoline engine, its advantages include almost the same features, except that the consumption here is slightly higher: 18 liters in the city and 13 liters on the highway.
Directly in motion, the car is distinguished by tight steering, average noise insulation and decent suspension stiffness. In general, if we talk about the handling of the Prado, then this parameter leaves very conflicting opinions among the owners, since the front independent suspension is perfectly capable of active maneuvers, but the rear one lags significantly behind in this regard. Regarding possible problems and maintenance, car enthusiasts note that the Toyota Prado has only two most vulnerable and problematic areas:

• Front gearbox, which simply wears itself out if the mileage is long enough;
• The steering rack appears to be in need of repair due to exposure to domestic roads.

Drivers say that a complete replacement of these two parts costs approximately 3 thousand US dollars, and therefore consider this a significant drawback of the car. Otherwise, servicing the Prado does not entail serious expenses. The estimated cost of this “iron horse” on the market is about 600 thousand rubles. Experience has shown that the price for the car was quite adequate and fully consistent with its capabilities.

A few words about dynamics

At the same time, the technical characteristics of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 make the car suitable for driving on any road surface. The car feels good both on the highway and in the city. The car can be equipped with a four- or five-speed automatic transmission, as well as a manual transmission. For our roads and Europe, only cars with permanent all-wheel drive were produced. If you come across a car with a plug-in mode, then most likely it migrated from the Emirates. On all Toyota Prado 120 models, the rear suspension was made semi-independent, the front - independent.

It will also be interesting to read: The most anticipated new crossovers of the 2018 model year

The 4.0-liter gasoline engine has the following performance indicators:

• maximum speed – 180 km/h;
• acceleration time to 100 km/h – 9.5 seconds;
• torque features - 249 at 5200 rpm.

A look at the Land Cruiser from the driver's seat

The driver's seat has a fairly high seating position, which provides excellent visibility. The leather multifunction steering wheel has many buttons, using which you can safely adjust the necessary processes while driving. On the center console there is a multifunctional measuring device, a compass and a clinometer, on the display of which you can track all the necessary information, including temperature indicators “overboard”.

More on the topic:

• New crossover Changan CS95 enters the market

How does the car feel when driving?

Manufacturers tried to create an excellent SUV, but as an all-terrain vehicle, the Toyota Land Cruiser 120 is not the best option. Indeed, thanks to its technical characteristics, the car can easily overcome snow, ice, swamps, etc. At the same time, due to the increased wheelbase, overly long overhangs and a fairly large number of attachments, the car behaves better on the highway.

When driving on the highway, the driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120 can feel more than comfortable. The presence of an anti-lock braking system and a large number of airbags makes the jeep an excellent choice to protect yourself from various unforeseen situations on the road.

At the same time, at high speeds a lack of stabilization manifests itself. Already after 120 km/h the car starts to throw a little. But if you drive at normal speeds, then no problems arise, the engine works perfectly, the power steering helps you drive straight, and the high-quality suspension absorbs all the bumps.