Toyota LandCruiser Prado Van Conversion
Toyota UK has introduced a unique conversion of the LandCruiser Prado, transforming it into a van they’ve dubbed the LandCruiser Commercial. This conversion is primarily aimed at the UK market, where it benefits from lower annual taxes compared to standard passenger vehicles.
The LandCruiser Commercial is based on the 250 Series Prado and features several key modifications. The second and third rows of seats have been removed and replaced with a hard-wearing flat load floor. A full-height metal bulkhead with a mesh grille separates the front seats from the cargo area, and the rear passenger windows are blacked out to comply with UK delivery van regulations.
The cargo area offers up to 2000 liters of space, measuring 1090mm high, 1685mm long, and 1286mm wide at its maximum. While this is less than some other vans on the market – for example, the Toyota ProAce City has a 3800L capacity – the LandCruiser Commercial makes up for this with its superior off-road capability.
Under the bonnet, the LandCruiser Commercial retains the same 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine as the standard Prado, producing 150kW and 500Nm. It’s paired with a permanent four-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle also features off-road capabilities like crawl control, downhill assistance, and hill-start assist.
Other features of the LandCruiser Commercial include 18-inch alloy wheels, a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and steering wheel, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The conversion work for the LandCruiser Commercial is carried out at Toyota’s plant in Burnaston, UK. The vehicle is priced from £52,729 (approximately A$110,200) drive-away, making it the most affordable Prado model in the UK market.
The LandCruiser Commercial sits at the top of Toyota’s van range in the UK, which primarily consists of rebadged Peugeot vans under the ProAce sub-brand. The niche for four-wheel-drive van conversions exists due to UK regulations that allow these vehicles to travel at the posted speed limit on motorways, unlike standard vans which must travel 10mph under the limit.
While passenger car conversions have largely disappeared, four-wheel-drive vans continue to exist in the market. The current Suzuki Jimny was sold as a commercial vehicle to skirt CO2 emissions rules for passenger cars, and Land Rover sells van variants of the Discovery and Defender models.
