BHPian Gixxy.danger recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Kuwait! Apart from having the strongest currency, cheap fuel, and a larger-than-life air-conditioned shopping experience, what more could I say about Kuwait from my short weekend trip? Quite possibly, this country may have the highest number of Land Cruisers per capita. It’s evident from the moment you land-the parking lot is filled with Land Cruisers. LC 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, and a sea of Prados that accompany them. The Middle East and Their Toyotas It’s truly evident across the Middle East that Toyota is king. Corollas and Camrys dominate the cab and food delivery fleets. You want a premium cab? They use the Lexus. Need to move stuff? That’s a Hilux job. Looking for an affordable SUV? The Fortuner does the trick. And for everything else, you have the Land Cruisers. This write-up focuses on the latter-and my experience driving one. LC200 along with an LC100 3 LC200 in a frame is not uncommon Land Cruiser Prado J150 My father-in-law’s daily slogger is a 2024 LC Prado J150-a generation that essentially lasted an eternity before being replaced by the LC Prado J250. First launched in 2009, it saw multiple cyclical refreshes and facelifts. He has the last of the lot, powered by Toyota’s 1GR-FE engine: a 3,956CC DOHC V6. This engine is practically immortal-it’s been in production since 2002 and continues to power a wide range of Toyota models. However, it’s already being replaced by the newer 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. Honestly, I can totally believe how these engines just keep clocking 100,000+ km with only minor improvements year after year. They’re just so relaxed, all the time. Driving Experience To be honest, the experience is nothing to write home about-and I think that’s what Toyota has perfected. I didn’t get the opportunity to test its 4WD capability (not that I’m capable of doing that), but the on-road manners are spot on. Take your foot off the brake pedal, and the truck moves without hesitation-and with no jerks either. Press the accelerator and you know exactly know how quickly it’ll pick up pace. 280 BHP and 370 Nm of torque is very usable. The torque surge you’d feel in a Fortuner isn’t quite here, but the silkiness and sound of the V6 is unmatched. The engine remains buzz-free across the rev range, and past the 3K RPM mark, there’s a noticeable increase in briskness. Paired with this time-tested engine is an equally time-tested transmission-the AC60F, a 6-speed torque converter manufactured by Aisin-Warner. It serves across multiple Toyota platforms-Hilux, Tacoma, HiAce-and even powers Indian vehicles like the Mahindra Scorpio and Thar. That’s a one up for Mahindra! The transmission tuning in the LC Prado is precise. Shifts are seamless, with no hesitation to upshift or downshift. Everything it does, it does right. The hydraulic steering has decent feedback but feels a bit heavy at parking speeds. You’ll need two hands for quick direction changes while manoeuvring. On the highway, however, steering feedback is predictable and accurate and the leather-wrapped wheel adds to the driving feel. Cabin Experience The cabin feels extremely well-built and super functional. The materials are robust, and everything feels like it will last a lifetime. It’s spacious and well-lit, with a harmonious colour palette. Despite the brutal Kuwaiti heat, the Prado’s air-conditioning works flawlessly-keeping the cabin ice-cold even when the sun’s trying its best to roast everything outside. However, for a 2024 model, the interior lacks the finesse of the new-age, screen-centric design philosophy. But I get why people cover 300,000+ km in this cabin-it’s comfortable, quiet, functional, and doesn’t squeak even after 100,000 km. Ride Experience Most of the distance was covered on butter-smooth Middle Eastern motorways. The Prado felt supremely stable at 120+ km/h. Rear seat comfort is excellent, with ample legroom and headroom-as expected from a full-size truck. The suspension is flat and well-damped, with minimal rebound on uneven roads. While I couldn’t test its off-road prowess this time, I’m hoping the next trip will include a bit of sand bashing. Conclusion on the LC Prado J150 There’s been no shortage of praise for the LC lineup over the decades. My small take may not add much to that, but I still want to take a swing. As I mentioned, it does everything well. The design is classical and functional. You don’t need to dive into layers of screens to configure the drive. Everything you touch-inside and out-feels familiar. Like how cars felt in the ’90s, 2000s, and early 2010s-before digitization took over. It feels familiar. Familiar like the bucket-list trucks I dreamed of as a kid. These vehicles occupy a rare niche where functionality and longevity matter more than the latest tech tricks. That’s the niche where the Land Cruiser and Prado have always ruled. You don’t need to read the user manual before you can start using-and abusing-it. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.
