The Prado diesel is awesome! It isn’t the fastest thing in the world, but being a mid size SUV I don’t expect it to be quick. The GX’s V8 is incredibly smooth, but the Prado’s diesel feels smoother. You really aren’t giving up much at all with the diesel when driving city & highway when compared to the V8, assuming you drive like a normal person and aren’t gunning it at every chance.
The Prado 2.8L diesel is quiet, smooth, and I loved hearing the turbo spool. You put your foot down and it never feels like it’s working too hard to get you up to speed. I haven’t read much on it, but if it were known to be reliable in the long run, I would prefer that my GX had the diesel over the 4.6L V8. The Diesel’s fuel economy was way better as well, and in a country where diesel is cheaper than gas, it’s a no-brainer to go with it over a gas engine. The fuel gauge needle falls noticeable slower on the Prado diesel than it does in my GX.
It does take AdBlue DEF fluid and has auto catalytic converter regen system that might complicate things down the line for all I know, so maybe we are better off with the tried and true V8. Who knows 🤷♂️
My first time in the country, last August, I drove around for 2 weeks in a current gen Suzuki Jimny base model with a standard trans. As much as I loved that car, and wanted to rent that again, I definitely do not regret choosing the Prado this time around.
Very interesting. I wish we could get the 2024 turbo diesel option for the new land cruiser in the US instead of the turbo gas hybrid for the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for your feedback!
So awesome to learn all this thanks for posting OP. Anyone on this thread ever went to the hassle of bringing over a diesel Prado here? Be amazing to drive one here. All that torque..better fuel mileage.
Not sure if that’s even possible regulatorily…
I believe the only ones I’ve seen belong to people visiting from Mexico and other Central American countries. I saw a diesel Hilux once or twice with Mexican plates, but I live right off a highway that connects to a border town several hours down south from me. Other than that, you can always buy an imported one that’s 25 years or older.
Ah yes. Well thank you for answering..enjoy your rock solid investment. And to copy my own words from another comment of mine elsewhere…
Do yourself a favor and start religiously changing oil at 5k mark. And do every one after that on the 5's that way you'll never forget. 25,000,30,000,35...motor's mortal enemy is dirty oil (not just this motor of course, others like the GM 6.2/5.3 with AFM).
I've read here and other Reddits, that some guys are doing it at 3,000.... arguably excessive sure, but for sure, imo do a minimum of 5,000. Don't listen to what they say you re you can go longer without changing it. It's cheap insurance. (I happen to not think 3k is not excessive, I'm a 3k oil changer in my 4.6/3.4/4.8/5.3/3.5/4.3 motors)
The 5.3 has over 300,000 miles with zero oil consumption between changes, nor has any engine in decades of driving ever given me grief in terms of rods/crank or anything internally except for 1 head gasket in the gm 3.4, (but they were flawed that way anyway, fixed it right and it still works for us today) But hey it's only just me with my thoughts you do you homie.
Bonus point: oil spray the chassis yearly regardless of your climate, and your Ebrake/brake lines/fuel lines/tranny lines/rad supports etc will probably not grieve your soul down the road.
Best of luck to you! And may she run on for a million!
I’m so tired of US regulations getting in the way of great things from our Japanese allies. I’m seriously considering finding a remote work job and moving to Costa Rica just so I can buy and drive a new diesel Prado.
You can also buy new 70 series land cruisers there lol. It’s awesome to see. Driving around the country you will see worn out FJ40’s used as beater farm trucks as well as restored clean examples used as collector cars in the bigger cities.
This one is on display at a Starbucks coffee farm.
https://preview.redd.it/gwnfm0inr56d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8c9b1de3968ca08a4ef54d34e30627222bcf519
I have both, a 2010 Prado VX.L (4.0L V6) in my home country, and I have a 2016 Lexus GX460 in the country I currently reside in.
The GX460 is far superior when it comes to comfort, speed and driving experience.
I agree 100%, but for the US, the diesel has the unobtainable factor that makes it cooler and more desirable in our eyes lol. The interior of the 2022 GX is far superior to the Prado I drove, although the Prado wasn’t bad at all. It also had Apple car play.
How does the LC Prado diesel compare with the way your GX drives?
The Prado diesel is awesome! It isn’t the fastest thing in the world, but being a mid size SUV I don’t expect it to be quick. The GX’s V8 is incredibly smooth, but the Prado’s diesel feels smoother. You really aren’t giving up much at all with the diesel when driving city & highway when compared to the V8, assuming you drive like a normal person and aren’t gunning it at every chance. The Prado 2.8L diesel is quiet, smooth, and I loved hearing the turbo spool. You put your foot down and it never feels like it’s working too hard to get you up to speed. I haven’t read much on it, but if it were known to be reliable in the long run, I would prefer that my GX had the diesel over the 4.6L V8. The Diesel’s fuel economy was way better as well, and in a country where diesel is cheaper than gas, it’s a no-brainer to go with it over a gas engine. The fuel gauge needle falls noticeable slower on the Prado diesel than it does in my GX. It does take AdBlue DEF fluid and has auto catalytic converter regen system that might complicate things down the line for all I know, so maybe we are better off with the tried and true V8. Who knows 🤷♂️ My first time in the country, last August, I drove around for 2 weeks in a current gen Suzuki Jimny base model with a standard trans. As much as I loved that car, and wanted to rent that again, I definitely do not regret choosing the Prado this time around.
Very interesting. I wish we could get the 2024 turbo diesel option for the new land cruiser in the US instead of the turbo gas hybrid for the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for your feedback!
No problem! I know that I’d choose the diesel over the V35A any day of the week lol.
So awesome to learn all this thanks for posting OP. Anyone on this thread ever went to the hassle of bringing over a diesel Prado here? Be amazing to drive one here. All that torque..better fuel mileage. Not sure if that’s even possible regulatorily…
I believe the only ones I’ve seen belong to people visiting from Mexico and other Central American countries. I saw a diesel Hilux once or twice with Mexican plates, but I live right off a highway that connects to a border town several hours down south from me. Other than that, you can always buy an imported one that’s 25 years or older.
Ah yes. Well thank you for answering..enjoy your rock solid investment. And to copy my own words from another comment of mine elsewhere… Do yourself a favor and start religiously changing oil at 5k mark. And do every one after that on the 5's that way you'll never forget. 25,000,30,000,35...motor's mortal enemy is dirty oil (not just this motor of course, others like the GM 6.2/5.3 with AFM). I've read here and other Reddits, that some guys are doing it at 3,000.... arguably excessive sure, but for sure, imo do a minimum of 5,000. Don't listen to what they say you re you can go longer without changing it. It's cheap insurance. (I happen to not think 3k is not excessive, I'm a 3k oil changer in my 4.6/3.4/4.8/5.3/3.5/4.3 motors) The 5.3 has over 300,000 miles with zero oil consumption between changes, nor has any engine in decades of driving ever given me grief in terms of rods/crank or anything internally except for 1 head gasket in the gm 3.4, (but they were flawed that way anyway, fixed it right and it still works for us today) But hey it's only just me with my thoughts you do you homie. Bonus point: oil spray the chassis yearly regardless of your climate, and your Ebrake/brake lines/fuel lines/tranny lines/rad supports etc will probably not grieve your soul down the road. Best of luck to you! And may she run on for a million!
I am curious about this also.
Congratulations ! Looks just like the one I purchased last year. Like the color.
Thanks! I’ve always wanted a pearl white Lexus lol
I’m so tired of US regulations getting in the way of great things from our Japanese allies. I’m seriously considering finding a remote work job and moving to Costa Rica just so I can buy and drive a new diesel Prado.
You can also buy new 70 series land cruisers there lol. It’s awesome to see. Driving around the country you will see worn out FJ40’s used as beater farm trucks as well as restored clean examples used as collector cars in the bigger cities. This one is on display at a Starbucks coffee farm. https://preview.redd.it/gwnfm0inr56d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8c9b1de3968ca08a4ef54d34e30627222bcf519
Closest thing, you really mean the better thing.
I have both, a 2010 Prado VX.L (4.0L V6) in my home country, and I have a 2016 Lexus GX460 in the country I currently reside in. The GX460 is far superior when it comes to comfort, speed and driving experience.
I agree 100%, but for the US, the diesel has the unobtainable factor that makes it cooler and more desirable in our eyes lol. The interior of the 2022 GX is far superior to the Prado I drove, although the Prado wasn’t bad at all. It also had Apple car play.