Bonnie

The Return of a Legend, Reimagined

Toyota has officially unveiled the fully redesigned Land Cruiser Prado for the 2024–2025 model year, marking one of the most dramatic design transformations in its history. Long known for its off-road reliability and rugged utility, the new Prado isn’t just an evolution—it’s a full reinvention. Toyota has infused this iconic SUV with modern aesthetics, smart technology, and a powerful presence that feels both nostalgic and futuristic.

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – View Details

Discover specs, design, and pricing on Toyota NZ’s official site.

The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 250 is here, and it’s making waves—not just among off-road enthusiasts, but also among those who appreciate design with substance. With a complete redesign for the 2024–2025 model year, the Prado sheds its conservative skin and steps into a sharper, more modern identity that still respects its rugged lineage. This isn’t just a facelift. It’s a full rethinking of what a Land Cruiser Prado can be, and it brings bold lines, refined surfaces, and a clever blend of retro-modern aesthetic to the forefront.

Exterior Design: Retro Meets Utility

One of the most striking aspects of the new Prado is its strong connection to Toyota’s heritage. The boxy silhouette, upright stance, and squared-off details evoke memories of classic 70 and 80 Series Land Cruisers. The new front fascia offers two grille variants: a rectangular slatted grille that echoes vintage models, and a bolder, blacked-out version for more aggressive trims.

Flanked by round LED headlights or sleek horizontal DRLs depending on the trim, the Prado’s front end presents a face that blends nostalgia and purpose. The hood is flatter, the fenders more pronounced, and the overall stance is noticeably wider. This SUV doesn’t just look more capable—it actually is.

Wheel arches are squared and integrated into the overall architecture, not merely pasted on. The beltline remains straight, echoing traditional utilitarian design while offering a sense of visual length and stability. Toyota has done something rare here: they’ve built a new vehicle that looks like it’s always existed.

Dimensions and Proportions

Toyota has subtly increased the Prado’s footprint to improve both passenger comfort and off-road geometry. Below is a quick breakdown of key exterior specs:

Compared to the previous generation, the wheelbase is longer, improving both ride comfort and interior space, while the track width adds a more planted feel to the stance.

Interior Architecture: A Return to Simplicity

Toyota took a new direction inside the Prado cabin. Gone are the overly glossy plastics and disjointed UI clusters. In their place is a unified dashboard layout that emphasizes verticality and mechanical solidity.

A large, tablet-style touchscreen sits at the center, flanked by chunky physical knobs and buttons that make it easy to operate with gloves—a nod to its off-road credentials. Materials vary by trim, but even base models feel purposeful and durable. Higher trims incorporate leather, soft-touch surfaces, and metallic accents in a way that feels upscale without being ostentatious.

Seating is designed for long-distance comfort. In New Zealand, Australia, and North America, Toyota has emphasized flexible seating arrangements, with 5- and 7-seat layouts depending on market. The third row folds completely flat into the floor—finally.

Powertrain and Capability

Let’s look at what powers the new Prado. While it varies globally, the 2025 model line-up includes the following:

The hybrid option, shared with the Tacoma and Lexus GX, offers both efficiency and high torque, perfect for towing and uneven terrain. The new TNGA-F platform underneath—shared with the Land Cruiser 300 and Lexus LX—adds rigidity and reduces weight.

Design Philosophy: Modular Modernism

Toyota’s design language for the new Prado could be described as modular modernism. Every design element feels engineered with a clear purpose, from the flared wheel arches to the roofline-integrated spoiler. The side profile features squared-off proportions but refined surfacing—an intelligent update to a classic form.

The lighting signature in particular is worth highlighting. The vertical tail lights are reminiscent of old-school Land Cruisers but feature precision LED internals that feel almost architectural. The contrasting color roof, available on select trims, adds visual dynamism without veering into gimmick territory.

Color palettes are equally well-chosen. In addition to classics like Super White and Midnight Black, Toyota is offering earthy, matte-inspired tones like Mud Grey and Sandstone Beige, which evoke a sense of adventure and landscape harmony. These tones, paired with the new design proportions, give the Prado a near concept-car level of presence.

Why It Matters

Toyota isn’t just redesigning a model—it’s reframing a legacy. The Prado 250 is no longer a “junior Land Cruiser”; it’s an identity in its own right. In markets like New Zealand and Australia, where durability and off-road prowess meet family utility, this model fills a crucial gap.

It also signals Toyota’s confidence in its design department. Instead of chasing trends, they’re building narratives. The new Prado tells a story—not just of where it’s going, but where it’s come from.

If you’re someone who appreciates a vehicle that feels engineered rather than styled, the Prado 250 is a rewarding visual study. It may be boxy, but it’s beautifully so. It may be retro, but it’s completely modern in execution.

Whether it’s parked beside a surf break or climbing switchbacks in the Southern Alps, the new Prado finally looks like it belongs in the wild—and in the design studio.