By now, you’ve probably seen the news that the next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is confirmed to arrive in the country soon. Thanks to the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) homologation papers, we also saw a few specs of it from its engine type to its dimensions.
It’s exciting news and all, but it does make us wonder about one thing: Where’s the diesel?
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
LTFRB recommends the end of the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study
The Nissan Navara finally gets the dashboard it long deserves
We’re sure we’re not the only ones who are wondering about that. For decades, the Prado has always been available with two engine options, either gas or diesel. It’s practically the norm for the popular SUV. Despite the latter being the more efficient choice, there are still a good number of customers are willing to go for the thirstier gas versions.
At the moment, the only version that has been certified by the LTO is the gas-powered version. Gone is the old 4.0-liter V6 and replaced by a downsized turbocharged 2.4-liter with four cylinders. That engine produces a solid 279hp and 430Nm of torque. It’s about the same as the old V6 in terms of horsepower, but it gets a much-needed boost in torque. We could expect improvements in fuel efficiency, too.
But say Toyota Motor Philippines does bring in the diesel version. What can we expect? There are currently two versions of it available at the moment. There’s the standard 2.8-liter mill and a mild-hybrid version of the same lump. Despite the latter coming with mild electrification, both produce 201hp and 500Nm of torque. The higher-spec 221hp version seen in the Hilux and Fortuner GR-S are not available.
It's also possible that the hybrid version could be the alternative. The full electrified version uses the same 2.4-liter block as the turbo model, but its batteries and electric motors give it a combined system output of 328hp and 630Nm of torque. That said, this option seems more likely to appear in the Prado's more upmarket sibling, the Lexus GX.
For those hoping for the diesel version, we’ll be on the lookout for that. A quick visit to the LTO’s site should provide answers soon, but that’s if it’ll come. Remember, nothing is final until the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado makes its official debut in the country.
