The fifth generation of Australia’s Toyota LandCruiser Prado will be available in a five-variant model line-up ranging in price from $72,500 to $99,990 when it goes on sale before the end of the year.

Toyota has not yet set an official launch date or opened the order books for its chunky new 4x4 wagon but has confirmed the new Prado will be in showrooms in the second half of 2024.

Featuring a bold new look, which Toyota says is inspired by LandCruisers of yesteryear, the new Prado’s front end features a strong rectangular grille, tri-beam headlights, and a low-set cowl to improve forward visibility.

Moving back along the body, the new model boasts muscular wheel arches and horizontal lines and a low beltline to improve visibility for occupants. At the rear, there’s a single-piece top-hinged tailgate and simple tail-light signature, with traditional-looking silver bumpers at both the front and rear.

The big news under the skin is the Prado’s new 48V mild hybrid drivetrain tech and LandCruiser 300 Series underpinnings. Toyota itself avoids the use of the term “mild hybrid” to avoid confusion with its full hybrid electric vehicles, preferring instead to use the term V-Active 48V technology.

In this case that refers to a re-engineered version of the brand’s 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, enhanced with 48-volt technology to improve urban fuel consumption.

The V-Active or mild hybrid system incorporates a 48V electric motor-generator, a compact 48V lithium-ion battery and an idle-stop system.

The combination produces an identical 150kW/500Nm to the current non-hybrid engine, but Toyota claims the new model delivers smoother, quieter and more responsive performance than the outgoing model.

The engine drives all four wheels via a centre differential and new eight-speed automatic transmission which replaces the existing six-speed unit.

The extra gears offer more closely stacked ratios which, along with the mild-hybrid tech and electric power-steering, should improve fuel consumption over the current model’s 8.0L/100km combined cycle.

Toyota hasn’t yet provided official consumption figures, but with a fuel tank capacity of 110 litres and using the old model’s combined cycle figure, the Prado should be good for a highway touring range of 1300km-plus.

The new Prado rides on the same TNGA-F ladder-frame chassis underpinnings as the LandCruiser 300 Series, which Toyota claims is 50 per cent more rigid than the current-generation Prado, helping increase overall vehicle rigidity by 30%.

The stiffer frame and body should equate to less rattles and squeaks among other benefits, something buyers who press the new model into service on rough unsealed roads or point its nose up 4x4-only tracks will no doubt appreciate.

The new Prado is also longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model, riding on an identical 2,850mm wheelbase to the LandCruiser 300 Series, which promises improvements in passenger accommodation and cargo capacity, depending on whether the five or seven-seat interior layout is chosen.

Toyota is also promising the new Prado will be “an extremely capable off-roader”, with the new platform allowing for improved suspension performance with more wheel articulation for off-roading.

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The permanent 4WD driveline features low-range gearing, downhill assist control and A-TRC traction control, along with the crawl control system from the LandCruiser 300 Series.

Unsurprisingly, prices are up across the new model range but so too are equipment levels, which Toyota points out have been significantly increased, along with the introduction of a new off-road focused five-seat Altitude variant which joins the familiar grade names GX, GXL, VX and Kakadu.

The new range kicks off with the five-seat Prado GX at $72,500 (RRP), which boasts a similar exterior design to the GXL and Altitude including LED headlamps with washer, LED front foglamps and DRLs, rain-sensing wipers, side steps and heated and power-retractable side mirrors.

The chunky new body sits up purposefully on 18-inch dark-grey alloy wheels, with body-coloured door handles and a new top-hinged tailgate with a separate-opening glass hatch.

Inside, the GX features automatic two-zone climate control with remote function, fabric-covered seats with six-way manual adjustment for the driver, smart entry and start, all-weather rubber floor mats and a 220V/100W power outlet in the cargo area.

Connectivity improvements extend to a new 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 7.0-inch colour multi-information display, panoramic view monitor, 10-speaker audio system with DAB digital radio and four USB-C charging ports.

The GX, like all variants in the new range, is fitted with Toyota’s latest active safety technologies, including a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control and lane trace assist.

Other safety kit includes safe exit assist, a new driver-monitor camera, an emergency driving stop system, front and rear parking sensors, and an additional two airbags for a total of nine.

Every grade is also newly equipped with cloud-based navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, plus compatibility with Toyota Connected Services through the myToyota Connect smartphone app.

Stepping up from the GX to the most popular seven-seat GXL variant hikes the price to $79,990 (RRP).

The GXL adds roof rails, rear privacy glass and silver front and rear-guard trim over the GX, along with a new parking support brake system designed to detect obstacles behind the vehicle when moving at low speed.

Other GXL features include premium synthetic leather-accented seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat and front-row heating and ventilation, as well as a leather-accented steering wheel and shift knob.

Comfort and convenience features include rear-seat air-conditioning, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a wireless smartphone charger, two extra USB-C ports for third-row occupants and door-trim illumination.

Next up comes the seven-seat VX priced from $87,400 (RRP) which, along with the Kakadu grade, is distinguished from the GXL by its unique grille with chrome slats.

The VX also gains bi-LED headlamps with adaptive high-beam, 20-inch dark metallic alloy wheels and body-coloured bumpers and mouldings.

Other VX features include premium leather-accented upholstery with driver’s seat memory and four-way power adjustable passenger seat, power-adjustable steering wheel, a refrigerated console box and a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster plus a 14-speaker JBL audio system.

Mechanically the VX gains adaptive variable suspension (AVS), a five-mode Drive Mode Select system and a Multi-Terrain Select traction control system with specific monitor functions that provide additional visual supports when off-road.

For those with an additional $5300 stuffed into a jam jar and with a penchant for going bush, the new Altitude variant is the most off-road focused Prado and comes with a price tag of $92,700 (RRP).

The five-seat Altitude gets unique 18-inch alloy wheels with Toyo Open Country all-terrain tyres, a moonroof and black exterior trim. Inside, it boasts a digital rearview mirror, heated steering wheel and head-up display.

Rather than employing the AVS from VX, the Altitude adopts a new stabiliser disconnect mechanism and rear differential lock for maximum traction.

The flagship of the Prado range continues to be the luxurious, seven-seat Kakadu variant at $99,990 plus on-roads.

On top of the VX the Kakadu adds a panoramic moon roof, illuminated side steps, heated and ventilated rear outer seats, a heated steering wheel, head-up display and digital rearview mirror.

A torque-sensing rear limited-slip differential is also fitted to aid handling.

In big news for Prado owners who tow, the new model’s braked towing capacity has been increased to 3,500kg on all variants and is complemented by a new tow haul system that holds lower gears longer, gives better engine response during towing and provides engine braking to help slow the vehicle.

The new Prado is covered by Toyota’s standard five-year/unlimited- kilometre warranty Advantage, which can be extended to seven years on engine and driveline.

Toyota capped-price servicing has been extended to the first five years/100,000km (whichever comes first) with six-month/10,000km service intervals.

Further details on the all-new LandCruiser Prado, including capped price servicing pricing, will be announced closer to the vehicle's Australian launch.

MY24 Toyota LandCruiser Prado prices (RRP)