Why cheaper Toyota Prado alternatives like the GWM Tank 300 and Mahindra Scorpio Z8L might be a better buy

With its new-generation LandCruiser Prado, Toyota may have this time done more than merely the bare minimum it usually seems to apply to one of its new vehicles – and people are frothy-mouth excited over the upcoming launch here of what is known as the 250 Series in other markets.

But is the first all-new Prado in 14 years good enough to salvage Toyota’s rattled reputation?

There is mounting anecdotal evidence – including grumbling around Aussie campfires and in our pubs – that Toyota’s reliability crown has been slipping for a few years and is in danger of falling off altogether.

And now with Toyota in full damage-control mode (in the wake of recent raids of its Tokyo headquarters by Japan's transport ministry over the use of faulty safety data for some previous models) will the Prado prove to be the all-conquering sales juggernaut Toyota is hoping it’ll be?

Or – in light of price rises of up to almost $12,500 in the new Prado line-up – are you better off checking out some of its much cheaper and feature-packed rivals, such as the GWM Tank 300 and the Mahindra Scorpio Z8L?

New Toyota LandCruiser Prado

The 2024 Prado shares Toyota's latest-generation TNGA-F body-on-frame platform with the LandCruiser 300 Series, as well as the new Lexus GX and LX.

It measures 4925mm long, 1980mm wide and 1870mm high, so it's 100mm longer, 95mm wider and 20mm taller than the current-gen Prado.

It has an identical wheelbase to the 300 Series, so that's 60mm longer than the current Prado's wheelbase.

The new Prado will be offered as five- or seven-seater.

The line-up will feature five powertrains globally, but Australia will only get the set-up comprising a 48-volt stop-start system and the current model's 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (150kW and 500Nm), so power and torque outputs remain the same as in the existing engine. Don’t stress though – a full hybrid option is still on the cards.

That engine will be matched to a new eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

The new Prado will have full-time all-wheel drive, a low-range transfer case, a centre diff lock, and an electronic locking rear diff.

Inside, the Prado will have a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and a 12.3-inch driver display to replace the old 9.0-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch driver display with analogue controls.

The Prado will also get a recalibrated off-road traction control system and an electronic front swaybar disconnect function. This button-operated swaybar disconnect system – not Toyota's hydraulically-operated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) – is aimed at improving wheel travel while you're 4WDing.

In terms of off-road angles, the new Prado is expected to have 210mm of ground clearance as well as approach, departure and ramp-over angles of 31 degrees, 21 degrees and 25 degrees respectively, and those figures are about normal for a 4WD wagon of this size.

There will be two exterior body designs available globally: one retro-style Prado with round headlights and one with a modern grille and rectangular headlights. Australia will only get the Prados with the rectangular headlights.

Towing capacity is tipped to have been boosted from 3000kg to 3500kg (braked), but, at time of writing, this is unconfirmed.

At time of writing, the entry-spec LandCruiser Prado GX was tipped to be priced at $72,500 (up $9670, excluding on-road costs), the GXL ($79,990, up $10,640), the VX ($87,400, up $10,552), the Altitude ($92,700) and the top-shelf Kakadu is expected to sell for $99,990 (up $12,432).

The 2024 Prado is expected to land in Australia soon-ish.

GWM Tank 300

The Chinese-made GWM Tank 300 represents a solid value-for-money buy in Australia's increasingly expensive SUV market.

And it ticks a lot, if not most, of the boxes you want ticked in a 4WD that will be used as a daily driver.

The Tank 300 has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 162kW at 5500rpm and 380Nm from 1800 to 3600rpm. It has an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and a part-time four-wheel drive system with 4WD high range and 4WD low range.

There are two variants in the GWM Tank 300 petrol-only range: the Lux ($46,990 drive-away) and the Ultra ($50,990). Those price-tags represent huge savings of more than $20,000 below the cost of a Prado.

The Tank 300's standard features list is a substantial one and includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto), Nappa leather accented seats, heated and cooled (front) seats, power adjustable driver's seat (eight-way) with lumbar adjustment and massage, as well as a comprehensive suite of driver-assist tech including AEB, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera and more.

This is a boxy, straight up and down 4WD with an official kerb weight of 2106kg. The interior either has Comfort-Tek leather seating (Lux), or Nappa leather seating (Ultra) and beyond those soft-touch surfaces the Tank 300 has a practical and comfortable interior.

The Tank 300 Ultra has a listed fuel consumption of 9.5L/100km and uses regular unleaded fuel.

It has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2022.

Braked towing capacity is listed as 2500kg.

The GWM Tank 300 is refined on-road, capable off-road and it's sharply priced in a very competitive medium and large SUV market.

Mahindra Scorpio

The Mahindra Scorpio Z8L, a body-on-frame 4WD wagon, has tons of appeal – six seats, a low-range transfer case, an automatic rear diff lock and plenty of standard features for $45,990 drive;l-away – which amounts to a saving of about $25,000 over an entry-level Prado GX.

This Mahindra is available in two trims: the Z8 ($41,990) and the aforementioned Z8L ($45,990).

Standard features in the Z8L include an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto), wireless phone charger, a 12-speaker Sony stereo, dual-zone climate control, front camera (intended for off-road use), front and rear parking sensors, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

It's 4662mm long (with a 2750mm wheelbase), 1917mm wide and 1857mm high. It has a listed kerb weight of 2100kg and a 12.6m turning circle.

It has an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, leather trim, a cooled glove box, sunroof, and six-seat layout (with two captain's chairs in the second row).

It has 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic wipers and projector LED headlights, push-button start, keyless entry and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Scorpio has 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which produces 129kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm at 1750-2750rpm. It has a six-speed automatic transmission, an auto-locking rear diff, and part-time 4WD with a dual-range transfer case.

Official fuel use is listed as 7.2L/100km on the ADR combined cycle.

The Mahindra Scorpio Z8L does not have an ANCAP rating because it has not been tested. It has six airbags (front, front side and curtain), electronic stability control, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre pressure monitoring system, as well as trailer sway and roll over mitigation, hill hold control and hill descent control.

The Scorpio is a positive step for Mahindra; it's reasonable on-road – satisfactorily comfortable and refined – and it's also a capable 4WD.

Sure, it has some flaws – not the least of which is a lack of driver-assist tech – but this Mahindra is another sound value-for-money prospect, and one that might be rather appealing when compared to a base-spec Prado that costs $25,000 more.