Review - 2023 Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu

The Prado remains one of the best-selling 4x4s here in Australia, often topping the charts thanks to its rugged platform, versatile nature, and family-friendly practicality that has made it a hit with Australian buyers.

With that in mind, what does the Kakadu bring to the table over the rest of the lineup, and how well does it justify its price tag? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $87,807

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Toyota Landcruiser Prado (KAKADU FLAT TAILGATE) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu sits atop the Prado range as the current flagship, with prices sitting at $87,807. As a point of reference, the entry-level Prado is priced at $59,840.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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What Features Does the Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu Have?

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys, and comes packed with Bi-LED headlights, a rear locking differential, a surround-view camera, keyless entry & start and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Specific to the Kakadu are features like a sunroof, leather steering wheel with wood inserts, four-link rear suspension with air springs, adaptive suspension system, multi-terrain select system, and a rear entertainment system.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• Bi-LED headlights

• Rear locking differentials

• Surround-view camera

• 9.0-inch infotainment system

• Four-link rear suspension with air springs

• Adaptive suspension system

• Sunroof and leather steering wheel

• Multi-terrain select

• Rear entertainment system

Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu Colours

The LandCruiser Prado Kakadu range is available in a choice of ten colours, including Glacier White, Crystal Pearl, Silver Pearl, Wildfire, Ebony, Eclipse Black, Dusty Bronze, Peacock Black, Espresso Brown and Graphite.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

While the LandCruiser Prado might be designed with the rough and tumble of off-road trails in mind, its hardcore underpinnings lend themselves perfectly to day-to-day driving around town where the Prado is more than happy to become a comfortable family SUV.

Power comes supplied by the same engine you’ll find in siblings like the Fortuner and the HiLux ute, with a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque, which is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive system.

Picking up speed is a relatively modest process, due to the Prado’s weight, although town driving is made accessible thanks to a relatively lightweight steering rack that makes low-speed turns and parking a simple task.

On a mix of town and highway driving, the Prado remains completely unphased by the worst conditions that Australian roads can kick up, and makes for a wonderfully supportive and stable long-distance companion thanks to the upgraded air springs that float over bumps and obstacles. 

Is it an Off-road & Towing Powerhouse?

The majority of the Kakadu’s upgrades come in the form of hardware that helps you conquer tough terrain with confidence.

This comes in the form of a four-link suspension system with air springs, an upgraded multi-terrain select system and a five-speed crawl control system that, when combined with the locking rear differential and considerable ground clearance on offer makes it a strong performer in tough conditions.

With these mechanical upgrades combined, as well as Toyota’s absolutely relentless 2.8-litre turbo-diesel, you’ll struggle to find an off-road trail that the Kakadu can’t conquer, and even fewer vehicles that can out-perform it when the going gets really tough.

For those interested, the Kakadu offers ground clearance figures of 219mm, with approach and departure angles rated at 30.4 and 23.5 degrees respectively.

In terms of towing, the Prado can’t match some of its key rivals when it comes to outright braked towing capacities with its cap of 3,000kg, while some of its competitors stretch this figure out to 3,500kg.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Toyota is well-aware that the majority of Prado buyers also have a family they’re going to ferry around, too, and in its latest generation, the Prado has become more spacious and practical than ever before.

On the visual front, the Kakadu’s cabin receives a heap of premium upgrades over other variants, with leather upholstery for the seats and steering wheel, as well as some wood accents that add to the sense of luxury inside the Prado flagship; although it is beginning to show some signs of age.

The front of the cabin is tall and spacious, with a set of large, comfortable seats that can comfortably accommodate all shapes and sizes, with a fully-adjustable driving position and a great deal of visibility on offer.

Practicality could be improved compared to some of its rivals, with the Prado’s central tunnel offering a few compact storage options and some added storage inside the folding arm rest, while some competitors have some more clever and modern storage options.

Having said that, though, the cabin is undeniably family-friendly thanks to the generous amounts of head and legroom in the rear of the cabin, inbuilt ISOFIX anchors, rear climate control settings and a set of comfortable leather seats.

Move to the third row and you’ll find a compact pair of seats suited to children, with a compact 120L of boot space on offer in a seven-seat configuration. Drop down the second row and the Kakadu’s boot expands to 620L, and to a maximum of 1833L with all seats folded.

Is it Safe?

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, and comes fitted with a decent amount of safety equipment as standard.

Included is an autonomous emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance and departure warnings, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera with parking sensors, automatic headlights and traffic sign recognition.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Toyota’s LandCruiser Prado Kakadu retains the same engine as the rest of the lineup, which means it returns the same fuel economy figures of 7.9L/100km on a combined cycle.

Considering its size and stature, this figure isn’t unimpressive, although it is outperformed by some of its key rivals that return fuel economy figures below the 7L/100km mark.

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu Worth it?

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado is an imposing off-road warrior that is happy to double down on family duties, and the Kakadu takes this recipe and enhances it with some impressive off-road improvements.

It’s worth noting that the Kakadu’s upgrades consist primarily of off-road hardware that gives it even more confidence off-road, so if this isn’t a key area for you, you’ll be just as happy with the VX that sits below it within the lineup.

If, however, you’re keen on heading into the Great Outdoors, Toyota’s mechanical upgrades give the Prado even more abilities when the sealed roads stop, making it by far the most versatile and competent Prado, and is well deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

On that note,  if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

3. 3000kg braked towing capacity

4. 2.8-litre turbo-diesel produces 150kW/500Nm

5. Fuel economy figures of 7.9L/100km

Pros

• Outstanding off-road performance

• Versatile and comfortable ride quality thanks to air springs

• Confidence-inspiring and tough construction

Cons

• Ageing interior design

• Short service intervals of six-months/10,000km

• Less towing power than rivals

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Toyota LandCruiser Prado Kakadu Competition