2024 Toyota Prado diesel to require AdBlue in Australia

AdBlue diesel exhaust additive – which will need a $60 to $90 top-up every 10,000km – will be a requirement in the new Toyota Prado due in Australia later this year, dealers are understood to have been advised.

The 2024 Toyota Prado will be the first diesel model from the Japanese car giant in Australia to require emissions-reducing AdBlue additive, dealers have reportedly been advised.

AdBlue is a liquid additive used to reduce harmful pollutants from the exhausts of diesel-powered vehicles – and meet increasingly stringent emissions rules around the world.

It has long been widespread in European diesel cars, but is becoming increasingly common among models from Japanese and US brands – including the Ford Everest 4WD SUV and latest Mitsubishi Triton ute.

Toyota has required AdBlue on diesel vehicles sold in overseas markets, including European HiLux utes and Prado 4WDs, but it has not been needed in Australia – until now.

The new Prado – due early in the second half of this year – will be fitted with a 17.4-litre AdBlue tank in Australia, alongside the regular 110-litre diesel tank, according to dealer information published on social media.

The new 250 Series Prado is powered by a similar 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine to the previous model, but it is now aided by 48-volt electrical components with auto engine stop-start tech – and it appears to be certified to a more stringent emissions standard.

How often the AdBlue tank needs to be refilled depends on the vehicle’s use, but some manufacturers which require the additive estimate in their vehicles estimate 10 to 15 litres is needed every 10,000km.

At the time of writing, 10 litres of AdBlue is selling for about $60 at large automotive parts stores in Australia.

A Toyota Australia spokesperson told Drive, when asked to confirm an AdBlue requirement for the new Prado: “We issued a substantial amount of LandCruiser Prado spec and pricing on the 27th May.”

“Other details, such as fuel economy, etc, will be provided at the national media launch. We are on track for a launch in the second half of the year.”

Alongside the AdBlue tank, the new Prado has 110 litres of diesel storage – compared to the previous model’s choice of an 87L tank in models with a flat tailgate and under-slung spare wheel, or dual tanks (87L main plus 63L sub-tank for 150L total) with a tailgate-mounted spare.

Claimed fuel consumption for the new Toyota Prado in Australia is yet to be announced, however its predecessor quoted 7.9L/100km from a similar engine in a smaller body.

Based on this figure, it would suggest a total estimated driving range of 1392km for the new Prado – compared to between 1101km and 1899km in the outgoing model.

All versions of the new model carry their spare wheels under the body, with the tailgate top-hinged across the range.

The first new Prado in 15 years is powered by a familiar 2.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine developing 150kW and 500Nm, but it is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission, up from six speeds previously.

The engine is now aided by what is branded as a 48-volt ‘mild-hybrid’ system in overseas markets, but is likely to be called V-Active Technology globally.

It includes a small electric motor which cannot drive the vehicle on electric power alone – unlike petrol-electric Toyota hybrids in Australia – but allows the engine to switch off at the traffic lights to save fuel, like the auto engine stop-start tech in other cars.

The system is also claimed to take the electrical load of ancillary systems – such as lights and air conditioning – off the engine, and charges its compact lithium-ion battery when decelerating.

A ‘full’ hybrid is available overseas in conjunction with a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, but it is not built in right-hand drive, and Toyota Australia says it does not expect it would be popular enough to justify the investment.

Prices start from $72,500 plus on-road costs for the base GX – about $10,000 more than before – and hit $99,990 plus on-road costs for the top-of-the-range Kakadu.

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