The new Toyota LandCruiser Commercial looks a standard Prado, but it’s actually a van, of sorts.
Although it lacks usual van conveniences, like sliding side doors or barn doors at the back, the LandCruiser 250 Series converted by Toyota UK does have a powered tailgate and a rear windscreen hatch that can be opened separately.
Toyota UK has removed the Prado’s second and third rows of seats, and fitted a hard-wearing flat load floor. A full-height metal bulkhead with mesh grille separates the front seats from the cargo carrying space and, as per UK delivery van regulations, the rear passenger windows are blacked out with covers.
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The LandCruiser Commercial’s cargo area can carry up to 2000 litres worth of stuff, and measures 1090mm high, 1685mm long, and a maximum of 1286mm wide.
To put that in context, the cheapest van in Toyota’s UK range, the ProAce City – a rebadged Peugeot Partner – has a load volume of 3800L despite being half-a-metre shorter overall at 1817mm long.
What the LandCruiser Commercial gives up in terms of outright carrying capacity, it makes up for with off-road capability.
Under the bonnet there’s the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that powers our Prado, making 150kW and 500Nm. It’s mated to a permanent four-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Off-road features such as crawl control, downhill assistance, and hill-start assist, are carried over to the Commercial.
Other standard features 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 driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Conversion work for the LandCruiser Commercial is done at Toyota’s plant in Burnaston, about 15 minutes drive outside of Derby in the English Midlands.
The passenger car or four-wheel drive van conversion is a niche that comes about due to UK regulations, which allow owners to pay lower annual taxes. They can also travel at the posted speed limit on motorways, whereas actual vans must travel 10mph under the posted limit.
Van conversions were once a moderately popular segment, with models including the Ford Fiesta Van, Vauxhaul Corsavan and Vauxhall Astravan doing brisk sales.
While passenger car conversions have largely disappeared, four-wheel drive vans still exist. The current Suzuki Jimny was sold as a commercial vehicle in order to skirt CO2 emissions rules for passenger cars, and Land Rover sells van variants of the Discovery and Defender.
Priced from £52,729 (A$110,200) drive-away, the Commercial is easily the cheapest Prado model available in the UK, which otherwise kicks off at £77,845 (A$162,700).
In the UK, the LandCruiser Commercial sits at the very top of Toyota’s van range, which consists primarily of a bunch of rebadged Peugeot vans under the ProAce sub-brand, and the Corolla Commercial, a van conversion based on the locally made small wagon.