It's time for testing the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado with my family. Toyota's updated seven-seat large SUV features a boxy new exterior design, so let's get straight into seeing how this off-road capable model stacks up as a BabyDrive…
Quick Links
- How much does the 2025 Toyota Prado cost and what are the options?
- How big is the boot of the Toyota Prado?
- How good is the storage in the 2025 Toyota Prado for families?
- How many child seats will fit in the Toyota Prado?
- How comfortable is the Toyota Prado for families?
- How safe is the 2025 Toyota Prado for families?
- What is the 2025 Toyota Prado like to drive?
- Compare the 2025 Toyota Prado
Quick Overview
- ✓ Fits three child seats across the second row
- ✓ Nine airbags including third-row head protection
- ✓ Practical separated glass portion of boot for quick access
- ✓ Five-star ANCAP safety rating (89% child occupant protection)
- ✗ No child seat anchorages in the third row
- ✗ Ride feels less refined than expected
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price Range | $72,500 – $99,990 |
| Warranty | 5-year/unlimited km |
| Safety Rating | 5-star ANCAP |
| Engine | 2.8L turbo-diesel with 48V mild hybrid |
| Power/Torque | 150kW/500Nm |
| Child Seat Capacity | 3 seats (second row only) |
How much does the 2025 Toyota Prado cost and what are the options?
| Model Grade | Price (Before On-road Costs) |
|---|---|
| GX | $72,500 |
| GXL | $79,990 |
| VX | $87,400 |
| Altitude | $92,700 |
| Kakadu | $99,990 |
The 2025 Toyota Prado pricing starts at $72,500 (excluding rego, stamp duty etc) for the five-seat GX model and ranges up to $99,990 for the top-spec Kakadu variant. The range includes five grades – GX, GXL, VX, the off-road-focused Altitude, and the top spec, luxury Kakadu. All versions sold in Australia have Toyota's 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with “mild hybrid” technology. Not all of them have seven seats.
How big is the boot of the Toyota Prado?
Storage in the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado's boot is very practical for family use. The boot itself has two great opening options – you can either press a button to just lift the glass portion for quick access, or open the entire boot door with the touch of a button. One thing to note is the boot door beeps very loudly while opening and closing, which could wake sleeping babies in the back.
A fantastic feature (that has been very controversial) is the plastic storage box in the boot, which is perfect for storing wet or muddy gear, especially useful for beach trips and when camping. When the third-row seats are folded down, this box helps create a level, flat boot floor although you have to lift your pram very high to get it in and the box feels a bit flimsy.
When using two rows of seats, the boot of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado will hold 16 shopping bags, which is less than the Nissan Pathfinder (22 bags), Hyundai Palisade (22 bags), and Toyota Kluger (20 bags), but matches the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X, and one less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (17 bags).
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…
…will fit in the boot of the Prado with eight shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…
… will fit in the boot of the Toyota Prado with eight shopping bags.
The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and the bassinet…
…will fit in the boot of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado side by side with three shopping bags.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Tulsi’s lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually measurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, ultimate All Terrain stroller with the back wheels on…
…fits easily in the Prado's boot with seven shopping bags.
The Thule Urban Glide 3, double ultimate All Terrain stroller with the back wheels on…
…fits easily in the boot of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado with four shopping bags.
The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
…fits in the boot of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado with 11 shopping bags.
The boot of the Toyota Prado can also accommodate a 90-litre, a 70-litre, and two 40-litre Thule Chasm duffel bags.
A large dog will fit, although the floor is uneven.
When using all three rows of seats, the boot of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado will hold five shopping bags, which is one less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X (6 shopping bags), and quite a bit less than the Nissan Pathfinder (8 bags), Hyundai Palisade (8 bags) and Toyota Kluger (8 bags).
The Thule Spring lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…
…fits in the boot of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado with two shopping bags when using all three rows of seats.
You can also fit two 40-litre Thule Chasm duffel bags…
…or a very small dog in the boot of the Toyota Prado with all seats in use.
How good is the storage in the 2025 Toyota Prado for families?
When it comes to storage in the rest of the Prado, it is practical for families of all sizes. The interior has been brought up to date with a luxury and modern feel.
In the third row of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado, there are two cup holders on either side that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup, and there's another small well good for storing a phone.
For second-row passengers, there is a fold-down armrest in the central seat back with two cup holders that will hold reusable or disposable coffee cups, and kids' drink cups fit nicely too.
There are map pockets on the back of both front seats that will hold and conceal an iPad.
The door bins in the back are a good size and will hold a refillable water bottle or two.
In the front of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado, the storage is practical too. There are two cup holders in the central console that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup.
In front of them is a wireless phone charging pad.
Behind the cup holders is a good-sized central console box that can be turned into a fridge, which is a really good feature for families.
The glove box is a good size, but I couldn't fit a wallet or an iPad in there with the manual.
The front door bins are larger than the rear door bins and will hold a larger refillable water bottle, and an iPad fits in them too.
There are also USB and USB-C charging sockets throughout the vehicle. In the third row, they are above the drink holders.
In the second row of the Toyota Prado are USB-C and 12V sockets in the back of the central console box.
In the front, the USB sockets are above the phone charging pad.
The front visors include lit vanity mirrors.
How many child seats will fit in the 2025 Toyota Prado?
Moving on to the rear seats and installation of child seats… This seven-seater 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado family SUV has ISOFix in the two outer second-row seats. They're not within plastic guides but are underneath a huge flap of seat fabric, making them really nice and easy to access and connect to.
There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three second-row seats. They are within plastic guides and really nice and easy to access through the boot.
I could fit three child seats really comfortably across the second row. There's lots of space, so I found I could easily fit between two child seats as well.
With three child seats across, I've actually got the two outer child seats using the ISOFix connections – that's how much space there is in the second row.
In the third row, there are actually no ISOFix or top tether anchorages, so you can't install any child seats back there. This is a major difference from competitors like the Ford Everest which does allow child seats in the third row.
Accessing the third row requires removing a child seat from the second row. The second-row seats are split 60:40, with the single seat on the passenger side of the car, which is good news because that's the kerb side. You'd need to remove a child seat from this second row, or just have two installed, and then you can bring the second-row single seat forward for people to climb through to the third row.
Legroom and headroom are pretty good in the back. I'm 162cm, and I have plenty of knee room and headroom.
We found that a 185cm driver could fit in front of a rear-facing infant capsule with about a 180cm passenger in the third row.
The rear footwell is not flat in the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado as there is a hump in the central footwell so passengers do have to straddle that.
How comfortable is the 2025 Toyota Prado for families?
All members of the family will be kept comfortable in the Prado.
Passengers are well catered for in terms of climate control, with air vents in the ceiling for both the second and third rows of the Toyota Prado, which is fantastic news for families.
You can control the rear air conditioning from the front dash of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado, which is even better, as it means little fingers can't fiddle with the controls in the back.
There are also lights in the rear ceiling for kids too and so you can see at night when leaning in to do up seatbelts.
I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it’s really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON’T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a 5minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it’s not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.
The front seats are comfortable for passengers in the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado, however the headrests do not adjust to allow for a ponytail!
I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get it just right too… said no new mum ever!!!
The steering wheel is fully adjustable in/out and up/down in the Toyota LandCruiser Prado. The cruise control buttons are on the right on the steering wheel in the Prado, I found them very simple to use.
There's built-in sat nav.
You can also change lots of things in the settings, including the climate control for both front and rear passengers.
You can adjust the sound settings, which is great for families with noise-sensitive children.
The camera image is really clear, and you can turn the parking sensor volume off using a button at the bottom of the screen.
There's also a 360-degree camera that you can activate with a button on the dash.
The 2025 Toyota Prado's indicator sound is not too loud, so it did not disturb my kids while they were sleeping in the back, however the engine is quite loud! The Toyota Prado has quite an agricultural feel, so the vibrations may be a little baby-waking.
The windows and doors open and close quite quietly in the Prado and wouldn't disturb little sleepy passengers.
With baby asleep you can get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy. The same for the windows their mechanism is not too noisy and I didn’t notice them having a loud opening or closing sound.
With baby asleep you want to be able to get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy and wake Bub up!
You can lock the windows and doors separately from the driver's door control panel.
How safe is the 2025 Toyota Prado for families?
The 2025 Toyota Prado comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 89% for child occupancy and 85% for adult occupancy. It also scored 84% for vulnerable road user protection and 82% for safety assist.
The Prado features nine airbags, including:
dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags that extend to the third row, plus driver and passenger knee airbags, and a centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.
According to ANCAP, in the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of both the 10-year and 6-year child dummies was rated as GOOD, with the Toyota Prado scoring maximum points in these tests.
The 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado comes with Toyota Safety Sense active safety technologies as standard across all grades, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – Car-to-Car and VRU, adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS) with speed sign recognition.
The driver-assist safety features also include forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot monitor (BSM) with safe exit assist, rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), reversing collision avoidance (camera), secondary/multi-collision brake, electronic stability control (ESC), emergency brake assist (EBA), fatigue monitor and detection, front and rear parking sensors, and anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
What is the 2025 Toyota Prado like to drive?
The new Prado is quite nice to drive, especially with the spacious interior keeping everyone comfortable. However, I am a little disappointed that the drive is not as refined as I was expecting for a completely new model. It still has that slightly agricultural feel, which gives the ride a bit of a wobbly, juddery feel, and it also feels a little top-heavy going around corners which might make your kids travel sick.
Visibility out of the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado is very good. Even with three child seats in the back, I can still see through the rear window, and the mirrors are really large, providing good visibility.
The turning circle is good too so it's nice and easy to park and manoeuvre.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually, I dread parking in our tight apartment block carpark, but the Toyota Prado was easy to reverse park!
The front has that kind of FJ Cruiser, tank-style narrow front windscreen, so visibility out of the front is good despite the large square bonnet.
The car is very narrow, which makes parking and manoeuvring really nice and easy, and the turning circle is very good as well.
Additional Information:
The Toyota Warranty Advantage provides each new LandCruiser Prado customer with five years and unlimited kilometres of warranty coverage.
Toyota Australia offers five years of capped-price servicing for the LandCruiser Prado at $390 per service for the first 10 services, over intervals of six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
The new Prado has also increased its braked towing capacity to 3500kg, making it a more capable option for families who need to tow caravans or trailers on their family holidays and adventures.
Compare the 2025 Toyota Prado:
If you are looking at the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado as just a seven-seat SUV, you may want to consider the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Kluger, or if you need off-road and towing capability similar to the Prado's the Isuzu MU-X or Ford Everest are good alternatives.
BabyDrive Verdict on the 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado
To sum up, the new 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado does make a good BabyDrive. You can fit three child seats across the second row, but no child seats in the third row. Legroom is good throughout the car, and it has a lovely new interior. Boot space is good when using only the first two rows of seats, with that practical storage box for wet gear.
While the drive is not quite as refined as I was hoping with the Prado, it's a great off-roader with impressive capabilities.
The media system and cameras are very good for family use, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Key Pros:
- Fits three child seats across the second row
- Practical plastic storage box in the boot for wet/muddy gear
- Ceiling air vents for all rear passengers
- Glass portion of the boot can open separately for quick access
- Nine airbags including third-row head protection coverage
- Excellent off-road capability with multi-terrain system and available rear diff lock
- Increased 3500kg braked towing capacity over the old Prado
- Modern 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Key Cons:
- No child seat anchorages in the third row
- Ride feels a bit agricultural and top-heavy
- Loud beeping when boot is opening/closing
- Glove box storage is limited
- Less boot space than some competitors
- Top-spec Kakadu model is expensive at nearly $100,000
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