MrTorgue

Ok ladies and gents. While my GX is at the dealer getting the alternator replaced they gave me a loaner. A brand new Tundra Platinum with that new twin turbo V6 and my goodness is it terrible (the engine). If this is the V8 replacement then I’m 100% out. I don’t even know where to begin...

1. Sounds bad.
2. Hate the fake piped in audio volume of a V8 engine sound.
3. The fuel economy is not even really much of an improvement (16 vs 14).
4. It’s slow.
5. The turbo lag is atrocious.

Even in sport+ it felt underpowered and slow. That lag is again atrocious! If the new GX is getting a detuned version that’s worrying. I’m not joking when I tell you my 2010 Lexus GX460 feels quicker, has much better highway road manners and feels better when you stomp on it to pass someone. The rest of the truck is nice minus the usual terrible hard plastics mixed with soft touch materials and absolutely intrusive “safety” tech. The star of the show are the infotainment screen and the cameras.

CFAI

I don't get this - why would they have both a LC Prado and a 4runner? I know in AUS they have the Prado and the Fortuner, but at least with 5th gen 4runner and Prado seem way to similar to have both. Unless maybe 6th gen 4Runner is going to be totally different, more like the FJ or something?

JZZFZZ

It does not make any sense either to have both Prado and GX.

jlficken

Yeah I don’t see them having both the 4Runner and Prado here. It just doesn’t make sense to cannibalize the sales of both the GX and 4Runner by doing that.

I’ve found myself believing David less and less over the years.

CFAI

Well that I could see a bit more since one could have more lux/ sound deadening trim etc - like Lexus ES and Toyota Avalon or Lexus NX and Toyota Rav4. But Toyota Prado and Toyota 4Runner seems weird if 6th gen is as similar as 5th gen.

Acrad

David mentioned in one of his previous videos that while the 4R sells well here in US... it is a niche product that is sold in far fewer markets than the Prado worldwide.

If Wiki info is correct - "As of 2021, the 4Runner is marketed in the Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, the United States and Venezuela."

In the overall Toyota portfolio not really that big of a deal apparently

GX4602011

Yes, agree. The 4Runner is for the American market instead of the very similar sized Prado, just like the Sequoia is the American-market version of the LC. Reasons I suspect; the Prado and LC are expensive and shaped differently than what Americans like/familiar with. Imagine if the 4Runner was replaced by the Prado, everyone would be complaining about the side opening door and the $60K+ price tag.

Of course, some of us Americans been exposed to some of the offering from overseas and will pay extra for the 'international version' over the domestic flavor (like the US LC buyers paying $90K when a Sequoia would be $65k). Hence us Toyota Prado fans here end up being Lexus owners.

What if Toyota brought in the Prado as a step up from 4Runner and simply removed the GX from the Lexus line up?

Interesting S.Africa offerings from Toyota: https://www.toyota.co.za/showroom
No GX in the S.Africa Lexus lineup though; https://www.lexus.co.za/showroom

Another thought.
Back when Toyota-BMW joined to create the Supra/Z4, BMW designed Z4, Toyota used the basis with their input made a hardtop version and put their logo and Supra name on it. Back then I remember reading somewhere that Toyota was to offer BMW a Toyota designed SUV to be sold with BMW roundels on it. What if the next Prado will be sold as a Toyota in the US and a fancy version (current GX styling) as a BMW?

Acrad

I do have to wonder if barn door goes away with next GX... look at what happened to the LC split gate with 300 series

CFAI

Barn door almost certainly goes *edit maybe not given AUS sales and need for aux fuel tank/spare on door /edit*. But why on earth would they get rid of 4runner - way too strong a brand reco. If they went through with the Sequoia they would for sure go with the 4runner. They sold almost 150k of them here in the US in 2021 - that is more than the Lexus RX. What I could see them do is just call the prado a 4runner here, but why have both? I can only see it if the 4runner is made to be more like a Bronco/Wrangler.

Acrad

I wonder what the take rate in Australia has been with no rear door spare tire models?

https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/mot...-ng-b88926707z

"For the first time in the 22 years it has been available in Australia, the Prado can now be had with its spare located underneath the vehicle as a no-cost option on automatic GXL, VX and Sahara variants.It comes after positive feedback on special-edition models with the configuration in 2014, 2015 and 2017."

It was first offered without in 2014

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...dc2e60806ac647

CFAI

Yeah, I think there are two versions of the barn door. One version with the lift glass (tire underneath) and one without lift glass (tire on door)).

Acrad

Acrad

Everything is just a rumor about LC returning to US but for those that don't know the LC Prado has for years been sold as just "Land Cruiser" without Prado on vehicle in Western Europe.

The 200 series was called Land Cruiser V8 and IIRC stopped being sold around 2016 in Western Europe. Feel free to correct me.

https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/land-cruiser

CFAI

I think in the UK the LC100 was called the LC Amazon but they dropped the name after the introduction of the 200. Years ago I saw some old vid of pre top gear Richard Hammond doing a review of the Amazon.

Acrad