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By
EWAN KENNEDY
4 December 2006
The Japanese are less interested in diesel engines than are their
counterparts in Europe, but are rapidly catching up on these fuel saving
powerplants. The previous lack of interest has been chiefly because the
Japanese see diesel-powered vehicles as being strictly for commercial
vehicle operators, those using vans and trucks.
The giant Toyota organisation is working seriously on modern,
high-tech turbo-diesels using the latest in electronic injection
by way of a common-rail setup and the Toyota Prado is the first
recipient of this new technology in the passenger vehicle field in
Australia.
We have just stepped out of a new Prado turbo-diesel after
several hundred kilometres driving, on highways and pretty serious
off-road conditions, and have come away pretty impressed with the
way the engineers have put together this new engine package.
Though the new Toyota 1KD-FTV engine has a 3.0-litre capacity
it’s still only a four-cylinder unit, rather than the V6 which
is becoming increasingly common with Euro diesels. We are happy
enough with the low sound and vibration levels from the engine,
indeed the complete vehicle. So it looks as though four cylinders
is enough, particularly when there are balance shafts and the
sophisticated four-valve cylinder head is operated by a twin
overhead camshaft.
Torque is an impressive 410 Nm, with a peak running all the way
from 1600 rpm to 2800 rpm. Just above idle the engine is already
producing over 300 Newton metres so many drivers will never have
less than 80 per cent of the engine’s best pulling power at
their disposal.
Power is less important than torque in a diesel, but the new
engine still produces a hefty 127 kW at 3400 rpm.
Most impressive of all is the fuel consumption when measured on
the combined cycle to Australian Design Rules – where the figure
is a miserly 9.3 litres per hundred kilometres. Combine that with
a fuel tank capacity of 180 litres (that’s right, 180 litres!)
and you are looking at close to 2000 km between refills if the
Prado is running in easy road conditions. Mind you, check that
credit card balance when it does come to fill-up time!
Part of that low diesel consumption is due to the use of new
transmissions, both with an additional ratio. The manual gearbox
is now a six-speed unit and the automatic has five ratios.
This is a big, heavy vehicle so the designers have done the
right thing in specifying ventilated disc brakes at all four
wheels. These pull the spacious wagon up with ease and will
continue to do so even in harsh, hilly conditions, even when
pulling a large trailer or caravan.
Toyota's Prado is a full eight-seater, though the two centre
rear seats are more suitable for children than adults. All eight
seats enjoy the security of lap-sash safety belts.
Luggage space is good and the Prado really does make an
excellent family wagon. Provided that is, that you don’t live in
an inner-city area because this is a large vehicle and parking can
be a hassle at times.
But Prado isn’t just aimed at those who want lots of seats,
it’s a very competent off-road performer, being far more than
just a soft-roader. It comes with a full ladder-frame chassis and
a two-speed transfer case, both items that the purist still
considers essential in any ‘real’ 4WD.
On dirt and gravel roads the way the Toyota Prado retains its
composure and refinement levels is most impressive. It’s almost
as good in unsealed road running as on sealed roads. Naturally, it’s
not quite as good on-road as are upmarket soft-road vehicles that
are built chiefly for the bitumen, but it’s not all that far
behind, either.
Equipment levels were increased at the same time as these 2007
engine/transmission makeover, yet the full price wasn’t charged
for the additional items, thus passing some of the recent currency
advances of our dollar against the yen onto Aussie customers.
The complete Toyota Prado range, with prices (excluding on-road
costs) is:
GX V6 petrol: $46,290 (manual), $49,290 (automatic)
GX turbo-diesel: $47,290 (manual), $50,290 (automatic)
GLX V6 petrol: $54,290 (manual), $57,290 (automatic)
GLX turbo-diesel: $55,290 (manual), $58,290 (automatic)
VX V6 petrol: $67,290 (automatic)
VX turbo-diesel: $68,290 (automatic)
Grande V6 petrol: $74,290 (automatic)
Grande turbo-diesel: $75,290 (automatic)
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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