The Prado now costs from $73,200 and tops $100,000 in Kakadu trim, yet it is still in Australia's top 10. Here's which one to buy, and whether an Everest makes more sense.
By Varun Punyamurtula ·
The 250 Series Prado is the most rounded Prado yet: comfortable on road, tough off road and rated to tow 3.5 tonnes. It is pricey and the third row is tight, so the seven seat GXL is the sweet spot. Families who don't need full time 4WD should look hard at a Ford Everest first.
From $73,200 plus on road costs (GX). Kakadu $100,690 plus on road costs.
The Toyota Prado now starts at $73,200 plus on road costs, and the top Kakadu is the first Prado to cost more than $100,000 before on road costs.
Australians keep buying it anyway. In September 2026 Toyota sold 2,006 of them, enough to put the Prado in the country's top 10 against a sea of cheaper SUVs and utes.
So is the 250 Series Prado worth that kind of money, which version should you buy, and is a Ford Everest the smarter play?
Quick answer: The Prado is the best all rounder Toyota has made for families who tow and go off road, with a far better ride than the old one. It is expensive and the third row is tight, so buy the GXL unless you genuinely need the Altitude's off road hardware.
Every Prado uses the same engine, so the grades are all about equipment. Prices below are manufacturer list prices plus on road costs, after the $700 rise across the range on 1 January 2026.
Once you add stamp duty, registration and dealer delivery, expect a GX to land somewhere near $79,000 drive away and a GXL close to $90,000, depending on your state.
Even the base GX is well equipped for a working family: LED headlights, a 12.3 inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control and Toyota's full suite of safety tech. It does have cloth seats and only five of them.
There's one powertrain: a 2.8 litre four cylinder turbo diesel with Toyota's 48 volt "V-Active" system, which is a small motor generator and battery that smooths out stop start and adds a little help off the line. It makes 150kW and 500Nm, drives through an eight speed automatic, and every Prado has full time four wheel drive with low range.
Don't confuse the 48 volt system with a proper hybrid. It can't drive on electricity and the fuel saving is modest. In real use, testers commonly see high 8s per 100km, and the fuel tank is smaller than the old Prado's 150 litre tank, so long distance tourers lose some range.
The bigger complaint is performance. With about 2.5 tonnes to haul in top grades, the diesel feels adequate rather than strong, and it is noisy when worked hard.
Winner for towing: the Prado matches the best of its rivals at 3.5 tonnes, and the full time 4WD system is a genuine advantage on gravel and wet roads.
This is where the new Prado earns its price. The old 150 Series floated and wallowed on bitumen. The 250 Series is built on Toyota's newer body on frame platform shared with the LandCruiser 300, and testers agree it rides and steers far more tidily than before, while staying properly capable off road.
If you plan serious four wheel driving, the Altitude is the grade built for it with its rear locker. For beach runs and dirt roads to the campsite, a GXL will go far further than most owners ever ask of it.
Here's the catch for big families. With all seven seats up, the boot shrinks to just 182 litres, about enough for a few school bags. Fold the third row and you get 906 litres, rising to 1,829 litres with both rows down. The third row itself is best kept for kids, and some testers found second row knee room tighter than they expected.
If you don't need seven seats, the five seat GX and GXL have a much bigger load area and are the cheaper way in.
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The Prado has a five star ANCAP rating from 2024 covering every grade, with scores of 85% for adult occupants, 89% for children, 84% for vulnerable road users and 82% for safety assist.
One thing to know if you are buying used: about 13,000 VX, Altitude and Kakadu models built between June 2024 and June 2025 were recalled for an instrument cluster software fault that could stop some warning lights appearing at start up. The fix is a free software update, so check it has been done.
The six month service interval is the one real running cost catch. Over five years that is up to 10 dealer visits, which adds up to roughly $3,950.
Winner: the Everest is the better value seven seater for most families. The Prado wins if you value resale, full time 4WD and the Toyota dealer network in the bush.
Buy it if: you tow a caravan or boat, head off road or to remote areas, and want a vehicle that will hold its value and be easy to service anywhere in Australia.
Skip it if: you need a usable third row every day, want strong performance, or are watching every dollar. An Everest or Tank 500 gives you more for less.
Our pick: the GXL seven seat at $80,690 plus on road costs. It has the comfort features that matter, the flexible third row, and every bit of the Prado's towing and touring ability, without the Kakadu's $100,000 price tag.
The range runs from $73,200 for the GX to $100,690 for the Kakadu, plus on road costs.
Not really. It has a 48 volt mild hybrid system that assists the 2.8 litre diesel, but it can't drive on electric power alone and you never plug it in.
3,500kg braked on every grade.
The GX is five seats only. The GXL comes as a five or seven seater, and the VX, Altitude and Kakadu all have seven seats.
Yes. ANCAP gave it five stars in 2024, covering all variants.
Prices checked on 7 October 2026 and are manufacturer list prices plus on road costs unless stated. Drive away estimates and rival prices change often, so confirm with a dealer before you buy. Images: Toyota (manufacturer media); Japanese market Land Cruiser 250 shown, so Australian specification and details may differ.
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