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Here’s a comparison between the Volkwagen Toureg vs the Toyota Landcruiser Prado. The VW Toureg is the basis for a number of more expensive soft road SUVs specifically the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. We don’t rate the VW highly since it is expensive without any sort of image or historical reliability as a selling point or to back it up. That said the tired and pretentious ‘it’s an Audi and laughable and its also a Porsche’ phrase is complete joke because it only shows that you can’t afford the more expensive clone or have a status complex. We must have got the wrong salesperson… Alas we wouldn’t say that to a person who bought the Porsche or Audi version! Likewise the Toyota Vs the Lexus tag for the Prado is true but since we don’t get the Lexus version the point is moot.
Since the debacle of Volkswagen’s much publicised gearbox/stalling engine problem – which is true we know too many people directly effected and then blaming the dealer network and the country the part was built in doesn’t inspire us with confidence. They also admitted that they where too embarrassed by tell their friends in the first place and that they dealers told them it was their fault! So lesson learnt, question what the servicing dealer tells you and get it writing especially for a VW. We don’t dislike VWs at all its just that their actions over the course of the last decade are very poor even worse than Toyota, Ford etc.., we had to say what everyone else was thinking. Anyway we are ignoring all that for this comparison.
Volkwagen Toureg vs the Toyota Landcruiser Prado exterior: Let’s be honest, the VW Toureg is a conservative looking and slightly awkward design on the outside. The curves are not the latest design trend so it take away the new paint and it simply looks like its from the 1990’s. The straight edge front end lights don’t match the panels or the rest of the car reminds us of the ugly ones from Korea again back in the 1990’s. It’s size is deceptive and the over weight figures show it’s also using old tech in construction materials. The Toyota looks much more modern and in real life the front grill is not oversized at all. Easy win to the Prado.
Volkwagen Toureg vs the Toyota Landcruiser Prado interior: The interior of the VW Toureg is very nice place to be as most VW models and easily the best looking. The materials used however are not up to the latest models and like the Prado should be using better materials for a car costing this much despite the recent update. The main problem with the Toureg is that despite the dimensions, space is relatively tight so an issue. The Toureg can only seat 5 which is a problem if you have two kids and want each to have friend. The Prado’s interior materials need to be updated to match as it’s looking sub-par at this price range. However the best part of the a Prado is that there is enough of everything unlike the Toureg in which you could do with more space. Nonetheless win to the Toureg because it feels like a more expensive place to be.
Volkwagen Toureg vs the Toyota Landcruiser Prado engines and technology: Once again we like to point out the almost deceptive marketing of VW’s 8 speed gearbox in conjunction with off road technology. Yes it does have 8 gears but that’s because it doesn’t have a low range gearbox. The other issue we continually complain about is the the absolute rip off of having 2 turbo settings and charging $10,000 for the ‘privilege’. We will point this out every time and will never recommend a model that does this. However in normal driving it’s no better than the 5 speed in the Prado which is trouble for VW… The engines in both are carry overs so uses the latest tech except for the some of latest fuel saving enhancements and the availability of a V8 diesel in the Toureg makes that model desirable. Further more and what pushes the VW ahead compared to the Toyota is that VW’s diesel engines are really good quiet and relatively smooth – when working of course… Now when it comes to off road tech the VW uses high sophisticated traction control so if you simple don’t know how to drive off road then this is the best choice.
Volkwagen Toureg vs the Toyota Landcruiser Prado drive : Our last spin in the Toureg was last year and here’s what we remembered. The VW is a very smooth and reasonably quiet. The steering is not sharper or any better than the Prado just different at suburban speeds it is also quite ponderous. The Toureg is also missing the torque rush expected in a diesel at low revs and for a V6 we can only guess that the V8 will be more impressive. Off road drive was obviously not tested. It does not seem designed for low speed travel. Price and other issues meant that it was struck off the list.
Which one is better depends on your priorities. VW Toureg is a nice SUV clearly well made for on road drives and small families. The base model Toureg is priced well, all things considered but it has a number of issues which quite simply is not right in our eyes. We like it but its not as practical as the Prado. So on the surface the Toureg is the car to go for but look deeper and the great interior and the option of a V8 is all there is. However like the Amarok, VW is charging notably higher prices for the same engine with different turbo settings which just ruins the whole deal. We think comparing the Toureg to the all new 2014 Nissan Pathfinder and Jeep Grand Cherokee would be more suitable.
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| Volkswagen Toureg | Toyota Landcruiser Prado |
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| Engines | |
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CJMA V6 Diesel R series V8 Diesel |
1GR-FE – V6 Petrol (modified) 1KD-FTV – IL4 Diesel (modified) |
| Weight | |
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FROM 2150 Kg |
Kerb weight 2190 – 2435 Kg Towing capacity up to 2500Kg 5Dr and 3000Kg for 3Dr |
| Fuel capacity & consumption | |
| Up to 85 litres V6 Diesel 7.2 lts per 100km (Auto) V8 Diesel 9.2 lts per 100km (Auto) |
Up to 150 litres 95 Octane IL6 Petrol 11.5 litres per 100km (Auto) IL4 Diesel 8.5 litres per 100km (Auto) |
| Other specifications | |
| 8 speed Auto Overall height/width 1732/1965 Overall length/wheelbase 4898/2904 NCAP safety rating 5/5 |
5 speed Auto or 6 speed manual |
| Capability | |
| Angle of: (degrees) Approach ?? Departure ?? Breakover ?? Minimum ground clearance ??mm 4WD system: AWD |
Angle of: (degrees) |
| Performance | |
| 150 Series LandCruiser Prado performance | |
| Pricing | |
| 2013 $63.990 – 112,990 AUD 2012 $62.990 – 83,990 AUD *Always check with the dealer for up to date pricing and specials accessories etc… |
2014 $55,990 – 92,990 AUD *Always check with the dealer for up to date pricing, specifications, on-road costs, accessories and specials etc.. everything as usual is subject to change! |
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