The Easter weekend is hardly the ideal time to tackle the N3 between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Yet, a week-long stay on the South Coast presented the perfect opportunity to spend meaningful time with Toyota’s flagship Land Cruiser Prado VX-L. What followed was not only a surprisingly relaxed journey to Margate and Ramsgate, but also an eye-opening demonstration of just how refined, efficient, and well-rounded the latest Prado has become as a modern long-distance tourer.
Under normal circumstances, I would avoid the N3 over the Easter weekend at all costs. The route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal becomes one of the busiest stretches of road in the country during this period, filled with holiday traffic, trucks, and drivers all trying to reach the coast before sunset. This year, however, we had an unusually compelling reason to brave the annual migration south.
Toyota had handed us their flagship Land Cruiser Prado 2.8 GD VX-L for an extended stay, which happened to coincide neatly with a week-long break in Margate and Ramsgate. Suddenly, the idea of a lengthy road trip did not seem quite so unreasonable, particularly when the vehicle in question was engineered specifically to cover long distances in comfort.
As it turned out, the timing worked in our favour.
Traffic volumes heading towards KwaZulu-Natal were surprisingly manageable, with most of the drive unfolding at a relaxed and uninterrupted pace. Even the return trip, traditionally the more frustrating leg of any Easter getaway, presented only moderate congestion in isolated areas. That left plenty of time to experience the Prado VX-L properly, away from the stop-start frustration that often defines holiday traffic.
BUILT TO COVER DISTANCE
The Prado feels very different from many modern luxury SUVs in the way it approaches long-distance travel. Rather than trying to disguise its size or convince you it possesses sports-car reflexes, Toyota has focused on refinement, comfort and ease of use. The result is a vehicle that settles into a steady cruising rhythm exceptionally well, particularly on South Africa’s major highways where covering distance comfortably matters far more than outright agility.
Power comes from Toyota’s familiar 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, producing 150 kW and 500 Nm. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Toyota’s permanent four-wheel drive system, giving the Prado the sort of effortless torque delivery that suits long-distance travel perfectly. The additional ratios of the new transmission are noticeable too, helping the Prado cruise quietly at highway speeds while also contributing to its impressive fuel efficiency.
Its cabin immediately adds to the relaxed atmosphere. The VX-L derivative introduces a genuinely premium environment, with a clean dashboard layout, substantial switchgear and materials that feel appropriately robust without becoming overly decorative. A large central infotainment display, digital instrumentation, wireless smartphone integration, and multiple USB-C charging points ensure the Prado feels properly modern, while Toyota’s suite of driver assistance systems adds another layer of reassurance over longer journeys.
The seating proved especially impressive over extended periods behind the wheel. Several hours on the road passed without the usual fatigue that tends to accompany large body-on-frame SUVs, while Toyota’s adaptive cruise control reduced much of the effort required during long highway sections. Combined with lane-tracing assist, excellent outward visibility, and a relaxed driving position, the Prado quickly established itself as an effortless travelling companion.
Weather conditions also played along for most of the week. Conditions during both the drive down and the return journey were excellent, with clear skies and warm temperatures making for ideal touring conditions. Our stay on the South Coast followed much the same pattern, interrupted only briefly by one unpleasantly windy day that temporarily kept beach plans on hold.
SURPRISINGLY FRUGAL
Beyond simply reaching the destination, fuel consumption became an unexpectedly important part of the trip. Shortly before we departed, South Africa experienced its first steep increase in diesel prices, making economy figures far more relevant than usual for a vehicle of this size. Part of the plan, therefore, became seeing how efficiently the Prado VX-L could perform under realistic holiday conditions, rather than under carefully managed test scenarios.
Before leaving Gauteng, we had already heard that one of the fuel stations in Harrismith was offering some of the more competitive diesel pricing along the route, prompting us to make our only stop there on the way to the coast. From that point onward, the Prado delivered figures that were genuinely surprising considering both its size and capability.
Travelling with two occupants and a week’s worth of luggage aboard, while maintaining cruising speeds between 110 and 120 km/h for most of the journey, the Prado returned an indicated fuel consumption figure of 7.7 l/100 km by the time we reached our destination. That is an impressive result for a large seven-seat SUV fitted with all-terrain tyres and engineered with genuine off-road capability in mind. Toyota officially claims 7.9 l/100 km, meaning the real-world figure slightly bettered expectations.
The journey home naturally shifted the equation somewhat. This time we travelled with four occupants, additional luggage and slightly higher cruising speeds of between 125 and 130 km/h. Fuel consumption subsequently rose to around 8.4 l/100 km, although even that remained highly respectable given the conditions and pace. More importantly, the Prado never felt strained or unsettled at speed, maintaining the same relaxed touring character throughout the trip.
That balance between efficiency and capability is part of what makes the Prado such an appealing product in the South African context. It still has the underlying toughness of the Land Cruiser name, yet now delivers the refinement expected of a modern premium SUV.
SOUTH COAST RHYTHM
Once settled in Margate and Ramsgate, the Prado adapted easily to the slower rhythm of coastal life. Mornings were generally spent at the beach, often followed by quieter afternoons exploring the surrounding area or returning to the shoreline once the day cooled slightly. The Prado’s spacious cabin and generous luggage capacity made these outings uncomplicated, while its elevated driving position suited the busier holiday traffic around the coastal towns.
We also managed to explore several excellent dining spots during the week. The Waffle House remains one of the South Coast’s enduring favourites for good reason, while Hibiscus Beach Café delivered one of the more memorable meals of the trip. Our final evening at the coast concluded with a proper fish braai beside the ocean, which felt like an appropriately relaxed way to end the holiday before turning north again.
The Prado itself attracted attention almost everywhere we went. Toyota’s latest design language has given it considerably more visual presence than before, combining cleaner lines with a more upright and purposeful stance. There are subtle references to earlier Land Cruiser generations in the styling, although the overall appearance remains thoroughly modern. Even parked outside restaurants or fuel stations, the Prado drew regular attention from passersby who recognised exactly what it represented.
CAPABILITY STILL MATTERS
More importantly, people still associate the Prado with genuine capability rather than simply luxury branding. That reputation carries weight in South Africa, particularly in a market where many SUVs rarely venture beyond smooth tar roads. The Prado feels engineered with real-world use in mind, which is perhaps why it continues to command such respect locally.
Although our Easter route did not expose the vehicle to particularly poor road conditions, previous experience with the Prado has already demonstrated how well it copes with rougher surfaces. The 265/60 R20 Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tyres contribute meaningfully to that versatility, helping maintain composure over uneven terrain without introducing excessive road noise or compromising highway refinement. Features such as multi-terrain select, crawl control, and multiple off-road camera views further reinforce that this remains a proper Land Cruiser beneath its more polished exterior.
LAST WORD
What stood out most after a week with the Prado VX-L was how naturally it fits into South African motoring life. Long-distance travel, varying road conditions, and family touring remain central to how many South Africans use their cars, and the Prado addresses these demands with minimal compromise.
It may not be the most technically sophisticated large SUV on the market, nor the sharpest to drive. What it offers instead is consistency, comfort, practicality, and genuine capability, all wrapped in a package that feels considerably more premium than before. By the time we arrived back in Pretoria after several days on the coast, the Prado had proven itself not simply as an impressive luxury SUV but as a genuinely accomplished long-distance tourer perfectly suited to local conditions.
Report & Images © BERNIE HELLBERG JR
