4 minute read • Car News, Cars For Cancer, Mater Lotteries, Mater Cars For Cancer, Car Lottery
Win the all-new Toyota Prado Kakadu
Written by Dave Carey
The arrival of the all-new J250-series Toyota LandCruiser Prado heralds an adventure redefining chapter for one of Australia’s most trusted off-road nameplates. Likewise, the Prado could be redefining your own dreams of adventure if you win Mater Cars for Cancer lottery No. 122; you could win $220k worth of gold bullion, win a caravan worth $88,031 including MeanderWild styling package, and you would win a Prado worth $112,396.
Long revered for its reliability, off-road capability and family-friendly practicality, the Prado has now been reimagined with cutting-edge technology and a striking new design. Whether it’s tackling the red dust of the outback or navigating the city in comfort, this latest evolution embodies adventure defined—more capable, more efficient, and more intelligent than ever before.
Amazingly, the original Prado was a bit stop-start in Australia; the short wheelbase-only J70 LandCruiser Bundera was released here in the mid-1980s, and I was pretty impressed. So impressed, I grabbed a copy of the brochure from the local motor show stand. Ok, I was about eight years old, but who wouldn’t be impressed with this bright red nugget flying through the sky?
The next gen was more of the same, still dubbed the J70, but with a mild redesign of the front end and a full array of wagon body styles. Clearly marketed towards the on-road, but with rugged body-on-frame construction, those doors and that model code were clues though; it remained heavily based on the utilitarian 70-series LandCruiser, still available today. It beggars belief that the update J70 was never sold here, especially given the success and popularity of subsequent Prados.
The J70 gave way to the J90, which introduced the Prado to Australia in 1996 and since then, the Prado has carved out an enviable reputation as a rugged all-rounder. As a refined alternative to its capable, yet spartan 70-series cousin, and a bit less bulky than its full-fat 300-series big brother, the Prado offers genuine 4WD ability with great on-road ride comfort and daily usability.
Over the years, the Prado has found favour with families, grey nomads, and adventurers alike, becoming a staple of driveways from the beach to Longreach. Its proven driveline, robust chassis and Toyota’s legendary durability made it a default choice for those who needed a vehicle they could trust in any terrain. Your technological but trusty steed could just be a ticket away.
The latest Prado puts Toyota’s latest hybrid turbo-diesel powertrain standard across the range, pairing a 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The combo delivers a balance of power and efficiency, topping up the power of dead dinosaur with the virtues of electricity. With 150kW and 500Nm on tap, it'll redefine adventure wherever you take it; over hill, over dale, over the mountains or simply over the Story Bridge, with ample torque for towing, climbing or overtaking, the mild hybrid system smashing fuel consumption and smoothing out stop-start traffic.
Safety tech in the J250 Prado Kakadu is next level, with pre-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active cruise control, lane trace assist, and traffic sign recognition. For off-roaders, there’s a new Multi-Terrain Monitor with underbody camera views, while advanced traction and hill descent systems ensure confident control in challenging conditions. Combined, these features make the new Prado not just safer, but smarter—ready for whatever lies ahead. The Prado itself could lie ahead…if you buy a ticket.
Personally, I love the chonky-boi, retro-modern approach with bold, squared-off styling that mirrors the old 70-series, despite the Prado now riding on a shortened version of Toyota’s modern GA-F platform shared with the much-lauded 300 Series. Nothing retro on the inside though; it’s all about comfort and connectivity in the top-of-the-range Kakadu, with a high-definition 12.3-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heated steering wheel, heated seats for the first two rows all wrapped in premium leather accents. It’s designed to take you further in comfort, whether you’re crossing the continent or cross the car park.
In every way, the new Prado is adventure redefined, and you could genuinely find out for yourself; after all, someone has to win it. Tickets are only $30; well worth it to help a great organisation do great things, as well as giving you the chance to win a Prado Kakadu, Essential Caravans Cruiser F2-6, and $220K in gold bullion.
