Homestyle general manager Nicholas Burrowes goes rock- and river-hopping in a hybrid that delivers grit and good looks.
In association with Toyota.
As a one-time Prado owner, the recent opportunity to put the long-awaited new generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Hybrid through its paces on and offroad for two whole days was a rousing prospect.
Our journey began with a breakfast briefing before we headed out of Christchurch toward Arthur’s Pass. In command of an Adventure grade in my favourite colour in the range — Smoky Blue (with two-tone Sand with a white roof coming a close second) — I sensed design cues from the original FJ Land Cruiser, with its strong, squared-off lines and heritage grille and badge.
Inside the cabin, there’s a fitting sense of tough-luxe. Each control in the dash has a sense of purpose, rather than being hidden inside the giant singular display screen many new vehicles flaunt.
Once the vehicles were arranged in a neat convoy against the backdrop of a murky Canterbury Plains day, the new Prado colour options were a striking sight. On the blacktop roads the Prado feels smooth and quiet as it rolls readily through an 8-speed auto gearbox. The 2.8L Turbo Diesel paired with a 48V Hybrid System produces a hefty 500Nm of torque, making for an easy run through the bends of Porters Pass, past Castle Hill and onto lunch at the Bealey Hotel, where I’m certain you won’t find a better view out over the valley while savouring a smashed wild goat burger.
Perfectly still conditions greeted us the next morning as we departed the tiny hamlet of Moana for the famous Napoleon Hill offroad track. With multiple river crossings of various depths, changeable rock and boulder settings and dark, narrow tunnels originally built for the early gold-mining settlement founded in the 1860s, you can see why this area is often rated Aotearoa’s best 4 x 4 trail.
Entering the track as co-driver in the top-of-the-line VX Limited, the 700mm wading depth (or deeper on one crossing!) was immediately put to the test. While I’d like to think it was my driving skills on show, the Multi-Terrain Select system and hybrid powertrain expertly navigated everything from deep-water crossings to technical rock climbs. Worth noting: the new suspension provides an additional 20% wheel articulation, adding another layer of offroad potential — a capability that felt right at home in this uncompromising landscape.
Lining the new Prado range up for a final photoshoot, the rugged yet serene feel of this place echoed what Toyota’s designers have set out to achieve here — a vehicle that respects its heritage while embracing contemporary refinement.
The new-generation Prado Hybrid transitions effortlessly from urban environments to demanding terrain, proof that purposeful design can master both worlds, without compromise. Before long, we were out of the riverbed and back on the open road — with a new vehicle to add to the watchlist. Sign me up for an Adventure grade in Smoky Blue.
toyota.co.nz