29 April 2011

Not everybody needs a car that can smash through rugged bushland, drive over muddy dams and conquer tough terrain on a daily basis, yet for some bush-dwellers, this kind of car is a necessity.

This is where the Prado comes in. A tough off-road-meets-luxury vehicle, the Prado ticks the boxes if you’re after a vehicle that’s Rambo meets Rocky meets Bond.

The Scoop
This clever car isn’t just brawn – it’s also very smart.

The Prado has all the latest in driver capabilities including a 'crawl' system and driver-selectable multi-terrain package – meaning all you have to do is steer, otherwise the car is more than capable of actually driving itself.

You can even choose a drive setting dependant on the conditions (from sand through to rocks), letting the electronic brains decide the best settings for you. Get back on the bitumen and the suspension feels plusher, there’s more 'stuff' to enjoy, and the cabin is a little roomier and significantly more practical.

The drive
The drive is solid and confident; everything you would expect of a SUV on the larger side – however I found it a little too large for my liking.

Hard to tame, I found driving it in the city was difficult, but clearly this is not where the Prado shines. It’s when it hits the road, or should we say ‘off-road’, where it really hits its straps.

This is a bloke’s car – a practical vehicle good for towing and hard yakka.

Style
The interior of the Prado is roomy, with seven seats to boot. For such a bullish vehicle, the leather cream seats and trim were surprisingly stylish and felt decadent.

Included was a six-speaker single CD system with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, height-adjustable driver’s seat, climate control and a reverse camera.

Seating seven, Prado has a 40:20:40 split for the second row and 50:50 for the third. A walk through the isle provides easier access to the third row and when not in use, the third row seats fold flat for even more boot space.

Safety
Not yet ANCAP tested (stay tuned), the Prado does come equipped with the latest in safety equipment including seven airbags, ESP stability control, air-conditioning, cruise control, smart-start system, alloy wheels, USB input and Bluetooth, and power steering as standard on all models.

3 words to describe this car:
Rough, tough and hard to bluff.

What are the best things about this car?
The comfy interior for such a rugged vehicle.

What are the downsides of this car?
Too large for me.

What kind of petrol did this car use?
Petrol and diesel

If personified, who would this car be?
Sylvester Stallone.

Soundtrack of choice for the Prado:
Anything AC/DC.