Prado is perfect for playing and parading

For even though they are tough in the rough of Botswana and Namibia and much loved and respected by the 4x4 manne, they are even more popular in the leafy suburbs where they have become snazzy status-wagons in the gym car park, at shopping malls and on school runs with a yummy mummy at the helm.

Just look at me!

I don't do gym and I work hard at growing old disgracefully, having outgrown children and The Office long ago. I am also not impressed or care a fig what car anybody drives.

With looks like this it's not really surprising that some never get even a sniff of the wild yonder.

Some of the most fun guys I know are better golf buddies, tell better jokes and are a hell of a lot more entertaining company in a pub, club or in the bush than Clive and The Other Chaps from Constantia who drive fancy Beemers, Range Rovers and Mercs.

But I can understand why the “look-at-me-I'm-rich” types like to parade around in these gas-guzzlers.

The Prado certainly has more than enough style and presence to draw approving nods from the chaps at the golf club and even the usual lunch-time imbibers at my favourite Portuguese pub noted my arrival in the Titanic Toyota.

Steady as she goes

But that's the sort of ego-caress owners of these expensive bush-and-city machines expect. That's why city folk, in particular, love them so much - to show off. Not for any practical considerations or out of love and concern for the environment.

And we won't even mention fuel bills when a vehicle such as the Prado gulps down 12 litres or more of expensive diesel every 100 kilometres.

Much effort has gone into ensuring that the ride will be as comfortable as possible over even the roughest terrain.

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I loved the class and comfort of the flagship Toyota and its zillions of fancy bells and whistles it's decked out with. And its muscular 3,0-litre turbocharged, intercooled diesel has got enough grunt and torque to keep even the most ardent off-roader (and N1 commuter) happy.

I spite of its size the chunky Prado is steady on its feet, being full time 4WD and the smooth five-speed auto box is quick and smooth if you put foot.

After high-riding it for a week it's also easy to understand why the Prado's platinum card owners feel safe and important as they whizz through the traffic and look down at the inferior people in their little cars way down below them.

You're not ‘safe, my mate' if you're not buckled up

This falsely superior feeling is probably also the reason why so many small men and women drive these big vehicles so fast and often aggressively.

And why women, in particular, don't think it necessary to use seat belts as they barrel along chatting away on their Sandton earrings.

Just the thing to go with the yacht (unfortunately just out of the picture. So sorry).

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But what they tend to lose sight of is that nothing on wheels is bullet-proof when it comes to hitting solid objects or rolling a few times. Even in big off-roaders people get injured or killed in accidents

The polluting posers

Most owners of these luxury ‘faw-ba-faws' (read also Mercedes ML, Nissan Pathfinder, Land Rover Discovery, BMW X5 etc) probably also don't stop to consider that 20 years from now most earth dwellers will shake their heads in horror and disbelief when told that these vehicles were once used as daily commuting vehicles shuttling one person 40 kilometres a day between work and home, burning fossil fuels and polluting the air all the way.

But in the end South Africans are not put off by all of this as sales figures for luxury SUV's show month after month. And so what if these behemoths are ostentatious - they make their owners feel good and safe and superior.

Life's a beach, and the Prado will help you enjoy it all the more.

Travelling across rough terrain is extremely pleasant in a luxury 4x4 and this is probably what many owners imagine they are doing when they whizz down to the supermarket. In their minds they are probably meandering on a game-drive somewhere in the bush.

That is until they reach the shopping centre parking lot and find out that driving in the bush is very different from slotting into a narrow parking bay.

The Prado is big and parking is not a doddle, in spite of its high seating and big windows, but then that's why it comes equipped with parking aids such as rear view cameras with bleeper warnings.

Certainly you cannot fault the luxury ride which is smooth and comfortable, if a little wallowing and top heavy at times, as are all of these vehicles to varying degrees.

But with its excellent plush seats, concert class sound system, brilliant climate control and press button comforts the Prado is up there with the best of German luxury saloons.

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Of course there is also the added attraction of knowing that you can load up and head for the hills in your Prado which no fancy pants saloon can even contemplate.

So if you don't mind the odd disapproving look, the expensive upkeep and running costs and those nasty scratches shrubs and trees can make on highly-polished metallic paintwork then this Prado is the perfect match for your Hugo Boss suit or Prada handbag.

It has a special ‘green' guarantee - it engenders envy

A comprehensive range of features.

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Toyota has over many years built a sound reputation for making good, reliable cars and cross-country vehicles and with 84 different models on the local market it is one of the strongest and best-selling brands on the southern tip of Africa.

And while the marque has Africa conquerors such as the Fortuner, Hilux, Land Cruiser and Prado in its stable it will continue to dominate that market, while other top-sellers such as Corolla, RAV and Yaris remain the envy of most other manufacturers.

In addition to the Prado VX diesel there is also a petrol version 4.0-litre V6 VX automatic available at R650 000, with two other Prado models scheduled to join them later this year.

All Prado models come with a special guarantee - they will all look great parked outside your favourite Camps Bay restaurant.

Specifications