Reviews 31 Aug 2026 4 min read

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2026 (LC250) Review: Prices in Qatar, Engines, Trims and Who Should Buy It

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The Land Cruiser Prado has always been the sensible Land Cruiser - the one for families who wanted the badge and the ability without the size or the price of the 300. The new generation, the LC250, changes the recipe more than any Prado before it: a new ladder-frame platform shared with the big Land Cruiser, a turbocharged four-cylinder in place of the old V6, and a square, retro body that has made it the most talked-about Toyota in Doha this year. At QR 183,700 for the 2.4L Turbo Classic in Qatar, is it still the sensible one?

What is new

Everything except the name. The LC250 rides on the TNGA-F frame under the Land Cruiser 300, the Tundra and the Sequoia, which makes it stiffer and quieter than the old Prado. The body is 4.9 metres long and a full-width, flat-sided box that recalls the 60-series; the cabin is a clean, horizontal dashboard with a 12.3-inch screen on the higher trims and physical buttons for the climate and the off-road systems. The old 4.0 V6 and 2.7 four-cylinder are gone; the Qatar range is built around a 2.4-litre turbo petrol.

Engine and gearbox

The 2.4-litre turbo four in the Qatar-spec Prado makes 267 hp in the catalogue's Classic trim, paired with an eight-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive with a locking centre differential and low range. It is a much more responsive engine than the old V6 below 3,000 rpm, where the turbo's torque lives, and quieter on the highway; what it lacks is the V6's smoothness at high revs and its soundtrack. A 2.4 turbo hybrid with more power is sold in some markets; check with the dealer for Qatar availability and timing.

On the road

This is the biggest improvement. The old Prado rolled and wandered; the LC250 steers accurately, rides flat on the Lusail Expressway and is genuinely quiet at 120 km/h. The high seating position, the flat bonnet and the square corners make it easy to place in a Villaggio car park despite the size. Fuel consumption in Doha driving is around 9-10 km/L - better than the old V6 and similar to a Fortuner 2.7.

Off the road

It is a Land Cruiser. Low range, the centre lock, a rear locker on the higher trims, Multi-Terrain Select with a sand mode, crawl control, and on the top trim a disconnecting front stabiliser bar for articulation. On the dunes south of Sealine it is more capable than any owner needs, and the 2.4 turbo's low-down torque is better for sand than the old V6's was. Ground clearance and the approach angle are Prado-class; the long rear overhang catches on a steep dune exit.

Cabin, seats and practicality

Five or seven seats depending on trim. The front seats are large and the second row has good legroom; the third row, as in every Prado, is for children and the boot behind it is small. Fold it and the load area is huge. Materials are hard-wearing rather than plush - this is a Toyota, not a Lexus - and the switchgear is built to be used with gloves. The Lexus GX 550, built on the same platform, sits above it for those who want the leather.

Trims and prices in Qatar

The Qatar range starts at QR 183,700 for the 2.4L Turbo Classic, with the Deluxe, VX and the top trims adding leather, the larger screen, the rear locker, the 360-degree camera and the wheels; expect the top of the range to approach QR 250,000. For context, a Toyota Fortuner 2.7L starts at QR 129,700, a Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0 V6 GLS at QR 104,777, and the Land Cruiser GX 4.0L V6 at QR 238,700. The 2027 Pajero, announced as a seventh-generation ladder-frame seven-seater, will be the Prado's natural rival when it arrives in Qatar.

Warranty, servicing and resale

Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros sells and services the Prado with Toyota's regional warranty; servicing intervals are 10,000 km and costs are modest by SUV standards. Resale is the Prado's trump card - previous generations held 65-70% of their value at three years in Qatar, and the demand for the new shape suggests the LC250 will do at least as well.

Verdict

Better to drive, better to sit in and better off-road than any Prado before it, with the only real loss being the V6 for those who wanted one. If the Fortuner is too basic and the Land Cruiser 300 is too much car and too much money, the Prado is exactly the size of SUV most Qatar families actually need - and it will be worth a great deal of what you paid when you sell it.