Manageable rather than effortless. The Prado's size and turning circle mean it is never as easy to place in traffic as a smaller car, but the tall seating position and, on the J250, lighter steering make town driving less intimidating than the vehicle's dimensions suggest.
Yes, and this is where the Prado has always been strong. The diesel engines cruise with a relaxed, unstressed feel, and later generations in particular ride with good composure at speed.
This is the Prado's reason for existing. With genuine ground clearance, a low-range transfer case, the J250 model features advanced technology such as the Stabiliser Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) for extra wheel articulation, Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) and Crawl Control; it handles rutted murram, river crossings and steep upcountry tracks with real confidence that unibody rivals cannot match.
Steering: hydraulic and heavier on J90-J150; light, precise electric steering on the J250
Suspension: body-on-frame ride, firmer and busier than a unibody crossover, smoother on later generations
Braking: ABS-equipped across the range, with predictable pedal feel
Off-road Hardware: low-range transfer case and locking differential on higher grades; SDM and Crawl Control added on the J250
Fuel economy is the Prado's clearest weakness relative to smaller crossovers, though the diesel engines are respectable for a vehicle of this size and capability. Published figures range from around 7-9 km/L on the 2.7L petrol to around 11-13 km/L on the current 2.8L diesel, though these should be treated as a guide rather than a guarantee, since none are based on a single controlled Kenyan test.
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