Battle of the off-road SUVs: 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado versus Y63 Nissan Patrol - which one is worth waiting for?

Australians with a penchant for off-road adventures will soon be spoiled for choice, with a new Toyota LandCruiser Prado now just days away from its official unveiling, and an all-new Y63 Nissan Patrol expected to follow hot on its heels later this year.

But it does pose the question, which queue should you be in? Are you better off jumping straight on the baby LandCruiser, or should you keep your powder dry for Nissan's new off-road behemoth?

We wouldn't dare make that decision for you, of course, but we can present everything we know so far to help with the choice.

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Powertrain: Hybrid hero versus V6 turbo

The long-awaited replacement for the ageing Prado now looks set to launch in late 2023, and the latest reports from Japan point to the 'junior' LandCruiser adopting hybrid technology.

Those reports point to the new model receiving up to three engine options, two of those borrowed from the Lexus GX – a 2.4-litre hybrid-assisted turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as well as with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6.

Petrol is a non-negotiable in the USA – an important market for this vehicle – and so Toyota's 'Hybrid Max' powertrain, which debuted Stateside in the new Tacoma pickup truck, is expected to appear.

It pairs a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor on the rear 'eAxle' for a combined 243kW and 630Nm. A reminder here, the current diesel-powered Prado makes 150kW and 500Nm. Really no competition there, right?

Capability? The 3000kg braked towing offered by the current diesel Prado is rightly celebrated by the boat and caravan crowd. But the hybrid-powered Tacoma delivers 2950kg braked. Hardly a deal breaker.

The long-awaited replacement for the ageing Prado now looks set to launch in late 2023. (Image: Kolasa.ru)

For mine, the hybrid would be the smartest, most efficient choice of engine in the new Prado.

The Patrol, on the other hand, will also undergo some cylinder surgery, with the mighty V8 traded for a turbo-petrol V6. You can forget electrification, too, with the brand already suggesting that it will wait until battery technology improves to the point that a Patrol can be fully electric, rather than part-electrifying it.

That means solid state batteries, which won't be anywhere near ready before 2025 at least.

Instead, Nissan promises a "technology-forward powertrain" that now looks certain to be a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, with Auto News reporting that the new QX80 (the Patrol's luxury twin) was shown to dealers in the USA with the smaller engine producing a sizeable 335kW.

The current – and thirsty – V8 produces 298kW, which means the downsized engine will not only produce more power, but will no doubt also use less than the current Patrol's 14.4L/100km, too.

Design: Boxy style versus acres of space

Toyota's teasers, and the launch of the Lexus GX, gives us a pretty solid idea of what to expect from the new Prado.

Much like the GX, we expect the new Prado – called the LandCruiser or LandCruiser 250 in some markets – to adopt a blocky and angular body styling, dialling up the tough factor for this all-new model.

That includes a squared-off grille and letterbox-style front lighting, a bonnet that swells upwards at the edges, and a blacked-out GR Sport-style grille treatment.

The Patrol, on the other hand, is a bit more of a mystery. But we do know that the Infiniti QX80 will take its design cues from the new LandRover Defender, with a sharp-angled, boxy design intended to up the tough street cred.

Price: Neither will be cheap...

The price remains a mystery, I'm afraid, but we can make some educated guesses.

The LandCruiser 300 Series lobbed at an average $9000 more expensive than an equivalent 200 Series, and then shot up by another $3500 earlier this year.

We'd expect the Prado to increase by a similar amount, meaning you can expect to be paying at least $10k more for an equivalent version of the all-new model.

The Patrol is also copping price hikes, with the sticker price increasing by around $2500 this month, with the range now starting at $84,900 for the Ti, and $97,600 for the Ti-L.

We'd be shocked – shocked – if the new Patrol didn't break the $100k barrier when its own all-new model arrives in Australia.