Toyota raises Prado to new Altitude

TOYOTA has introduced a special-edition version of its LandCruiser Prado called the Altitude, priced at $68,230 before on-roads and boosted with features such as a split tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 14-speaker JBL audio system.

Based on the $63,230 diesel-powered automatic GXL variant, Toyota says the $5000 price hike in the Altitude is justified by the addition of over $10,000 of extra equipment.

Most notable of the Altitude’s exterior changes is the removal of the tailgate-mounted spare wheel, which has been relocated to under the vehicle, and the change of the tailgate from a single side-opening door to a split tailgate.

Fans of long-distance driving may lament the change however, as moving the spare wheel under the vehicle reduces fuel tank size from a massive 150 litres in the GXL down to 87L in the Altitude.

Other exterior enhancements made to the Altitude include 18-inch alloy wheels, a tilt-and-slide moonroof, auto-levelling LED headlights, chrome side mouldings and Altitude badging.

On the inside, the Altitude gets black leather-accented upholstery, a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system with DAB+ radio and power-operated seats for front occupants – eight-way for the driver and four-way for the passenger.

Back seat passengers are treated to a Blu-Ray entertainment system with a ceiling-mounted 9.0-inch monitor with three wireless headphones and surround sound.

The Altitude adds on the standard equipment of the GXL which includes a reversing camera, 7.0-inch display with sat-nav, three-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and seven airbags.

It is available with a single powertrain configuration, teaming Toyota’s 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.

Four different paint options are offered – black, which comes free of charge, or the $550 optional silver pearl, crystal pearl or graphite.

It is not the first time that Toyota has given the Prado an Altitude variant, with previous editions released in 2015 and 2012.

Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the revised tailgate would present an attractive option for inner city drivers who are hard pressed for space.

“Buyers will appreciate all the new features that make Prado Altitude even more luxurious and practical, including a lighter tailgate that is easier to open – particularly useful in tight city parking,” he said.

Last year the Prado topped the sales charts for the sub-$70,000 large SUV segment with 14,730 sales, despite slipping by 3.4 per cent on its 2015 figure of 15,255.

It bested competitors such as the Subaru Outback (12,207), its Kluger stablemate (11,829) and the Holden Captiva (11,246).