Hilux SR5 V6 vs Prado GXL V6 ??

[ozpointer]

Looking at ordering a new vehicle next month, so I start to do research and after reading some honest recommendations I feel that a petrol V6 is best for my style of driving which is mostly short daily trips.
Not being mechanically minded I am trying to weigh up which would be better a Hilux or Prado. The point being that although the Prado's 1GR-FE produces 207kw and 381Nm against the Hilux's 175kw and 376Nm, the Prado carries some 220kg more.
So on this info alone, I am correct in thinking that the Hilux SR5 has greater power to weight ratio and is possibly more fuel efficient.
Happy to be corrected and have more recommendations thrown at this newbie.

[180degrees]

My mate has an FJ cruiser with afaik the 202kw version and to be honest it's ok but I wouldn't probably buy one unless I was in the used car market looking at saving a fair bit of money, it drinks a lot of fuel though so you essentially don't really save anything. The 2.8 diesel in the hilux is a beauty, it has plenty of torque and decent power right across the rev range, we have a lot of different fleet vehicles where I work and it is by far the best small diesel (ranger included). I know it has a DPF but just try and go on a long highway drive (20mins) once a week to help the regen.

[taresk]

Looking at ordering a new vehicle next month, so I start to do research and after reading some honest recommendations I feel that a petrol V6 is best for my style of driving which is mostly short daily trips.
Not being mechanically minded I am trying to weigh up which would be better a Hilux or Prado. The point being that although the Prado's 1GR-FE produces 207kw and 381Nm against the Hilux's 175kw and 376Nm, the Prado carries some 220kg more.
So on this info alone, I am correct in thinking that the Hilux SR5 has greater power to weight ratio and is possibly more fuel efficient.
Happy to be corrected and have more recommendations thrown at this newbie.

They'd be fairly similar performance wise there's not a huge amount of difference between the single and dual VVti versions, the Prado is pushing extra weight (and has more driveline loss being constant 4wd), so in that comparison it just comes down to wagon vs ute.

[sunnyboy]

Ozpointer, Both are good, they are a cracker of an engine, while they do use some fuel when driven hard they really are nice to drive with the auto. If you don't need a ute, definately go prado, they are unstoppable anywhere, I passed mine onto my daughter and now I have d4d hilux.(my 5th hilux) I can say from experience the prado is the better off road and on.

[sunnyboy]

Ozpointer, Both are good, they are a cracker of an engine, while they do use some fuel when driven hard they really are nice to drive with the auto. If you don't need a ute, definately go prado, they are unstoppable anywhere, I passed mine onto my daughter and now I have d4d hilux.(my 5th hilux) I can say from experience the prado is the better off road and on.

[Richiesupercharged]

I've got both 07(my08) hilux and a 2016 prado both auto V6's had a 2011 V6 prado before that.

The prado is quicker, smoother and tows better but mine is stock with no bar work or lift, still thirsty but with a 150l tank Its still a while between fills. Larger car so parking can be tight but there's so many censors now.
The 2016 Audio/Nav/hands free in the prado is brilliant so easy to use and lots of features probably similar to the new hilux not sure.

The v6 hilux i have is lifted with bigger tires and feels like a truck sometimes. Off-road I liked the hilux but I was more careful with the prado (old and new). I've driven the new lux in a diesel and still had the truck feel not saying I hated it just the prado has a better ride. I was going to update my hilux to a 2016 but with no change to the V6 I'm not in a hurry

My advice .. If you don't need a ute don't get one..tub is wasted space
Comfort prado wins.. Off-road lux is noticeably lighter

[Sparksy]

If you're not planning on using the tub/tray of a hilux, the prado is a far better choice if you're going by the comfort of the ride. There's also the issue of the back seat ride height in the new HiLux which puts a few people off.

There's really not much between them power and performance wise as far as the engine is concerned, I'd be looking at other features in the vehicle to help you decide one way or the other.

[HK1837]

The Hilux V6 exhaust is very restrictive as far as peak kW is concerned, hence the lower power output. With a decent exhaust they will produce power like the V6 in the 'cruiser. The similar torque figures tell the story.

People will tell you the V6 uses "huge amounts" of fuel. In reality they aren't all that bad, mine averages about 14L/100kM on E10 and it gets a hard time (I do not drive economically). I look at it like I'd look at a VF Holden ute or a VF Commodore SS/SV6 - I'd pay the extra $10,000+ for the 6.2L V8 over the little V6 every time, and the fuel economy difference between the VF V6 and V8 is pretty much the same as between a D4D and a V6 in a Hilux, and Toyota don't charge you more for the better engine. Plus with the Toyota you get a far more reliable vehicle with the V6, and at least where I live E10 (which I use for 3 tanks out of 4) is normally up to 25c/L cheaper than diesel, this morning E10 was 97.9c/L on the way to work and diesel was $1.21/L. I get it if you are doing 50,000kM per annum but I do about 12-14,000kM per annum and mostly around town.

One other point, buy an auto V6, the manuals are nowhere near as good (if you can even still buy a manual).

[180degrees]

The Hilux V6 exhaust is very restrictive as far as peak kW is concerned, hence the lower power output. With a decent exhaust they will produce power like the V6 in the 'cruiser. The similar torque figures tell the story.

People will tell you the V6 uses "huge amounts" of fuel. In reality they aren't all that bad, mine averages about 14L/100kM on E10 and it gets a hard time (I do not drive economically). I look at it like I'd look at a VF Holden ute or a VF Commodore SS/SV6 - I'd pay the extra $10,000+ for the 6.2L V8 over the little V6 every time, and the fuel economy difference between the VF V6 and V8 is pretty much the same as between a D4D and a V6 in a Hilux, and Toyota don't charge you more for the better engine. Plus with the Toyota you get a far more reliable vehicle with the V6, and at least where I live E10 (which I use for 3 tanks out of 4) is normally up to 25c/L cheaper than diesel, this morning E10 was 97.9c/L on the way to work and diesel was $1.21/L. I get it if you are doing 50,000kM per annum but I do about 12-14,000kM per annum and mostly around town.

One other point, buy an auto V6, the manuals are nowhere near as good (if you can even still buy a manual).

If anything the V6 should be $2000 or more less like it used to be, its an older design now and isn't as complicated to manufacture as a common rail diesel, crazy how a V6 is more expensive then a 2.8 diesel

p.s you can't buy a hilux in manual V6 anymore afaik

[HK1837]

When I got mine is was $2000 more for auto or for diesel. Essentially $x for v6 manual, $x+2000 for V6 auto or diesel manual, $x+4000 for diesel auto. In the end the pricing was stupid, for $x+2000 you got a whole Japanese built driveline from the V6 through the A750F 5spd auto, but for $x+4000 you got a Thai made diesel and that awful 4spd auto also Thai made. Then sometime in 2012, maybe when the diesel got the 5spd auto suddenly they were the same price.

I didn't think you could get a manual V6 anymore, the clutch was really the only thing that ever goes wrong on a V6 and they are awful to drive anyway.

[taresk]

Yeah, with the 2016 Hilux's if you're after the V6, you can have any model you want, as long as it's an automatic SR5 dual cab (at least they let you pick the colour).