With its rugged body-on-frame construction, heavy duty hardware and new-age technology that enable it to crawl over obstacles, the Prado is not for pretenders. To be fair, the Prado is far from rudimentary. It feels solid on the road at highway speeds and around town, although you quickly learn to take roundabouts a little more gingerly because of the tendency for big, tall and heavy 4WDs like this to lean in corners. The new engine is a worthwhile freshen-up for the Prado but doesn't suddenly transform the vehicle.
Likes New diesel engine is more refined Long range due to better economy and 150L tanks Genuine off-road ability
Dislikes Towing capacity unchanged at 2500kg The price is high, especially on top end models Interior design starting to look a little dated
Cast an eye over the SUV market and you’ll see very few truly off-road capable vehicles. One of them is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, and here we’ve got the most capable Prado of all, the top-shelf Kakadu.The LandCruiser Prado Kakadu is a very good off-the-shelf off-roader, with its blend of both tradi-tional and modern off-road equipment. With decent all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres (which nearly all standard SUVs would need) we reckon the Kakadu could go just about anywhere.
Likes Rear axle articulation KDSS system Crawl control
Dislikes Lack of power and torque Over-bonnet vision No height-adjustable front suspension
The Audi SQ8 adds a heady dose of diesel performance to the regular Q8's style-led form, creating a compelling new variant in the Audi Sport range.
Pros Enticing low rpm performance Impressive dynamics for the size Comfortable and quiet as a family SUV... But able to transform itself when asked to angry-up
Cons Not different enough from a cheaper Q8 inside Minor wind noise interruption at highway speeds Hides its size well on the open road, but not on city streets
The SQ8 is new for 2020.Kicks off the first SQ8 generation.
Pros Twin-turbo 500-hp V8 moves the SQ8 with authority Four-wheel steering keeps the big SUV feeling nimble 48-volt hybrid system provides added acceleration from a standstill
Cons Less practical than the related Q7 Infotainment system can be distracting to use Limited interior storage
Put simply, the Audi SQ8 is one of the fastest diesel-powered SUV in the world and can be had with loads of high-tech kit. Sadly, lots of these features are reserved for top-spec Vorsprung cars.
Pros Sports-car fast Posh and spacious interior Plenty of infotainment tech
Cons Alternatives are more fun to drive Cheaper Q8 50TDI makes more sense Petrol-powered alternatives are more dramatic