Toyota Land Cruiser Prado gets safety upgrades, subtle updates for 2026

It's been nearly three years since Toyota revealed the latest generation Land Cruiser Prado (AKA the Land Cruiser 250) for the US market. It then arrived in the Philippines in mid-2024 after launching in Japan and is only available with a 2.4L turbocharged inline-four that makes 281 PS with 430 Nm of torque. Other markets can get the all-new Land Cruiser Prado with a 2.8L turbo-diesel and a hybrid version of the 2.4L turbo inline-four.

In the future, Toyota PH might soon get the refreshed version of the midsize 4x4 SUV. This comes after Toyota quietly updated the Land Cruiser Prado for the 2026 model year, which is now available in Japan. Not only did the SUV receive some minor exterior updates, but Toyota was also busy giving it more safety features, including anti-theft properties, which we'll get to later.

The exterior changes are subtle at best, as the Land Cruiser Prado still comes with the striking boxy design. However, there are new color options available, which include Neutral Black Shade (replaces Black) and a monotone Sand color that doesn't come with the white roof.

Remember the First Edition models, which exclusively came with round bi-beam LED headlights? Well, it's now available for the 2026 Land Cruiser Prado, but only for the VX model. The round headlights give off a more retro vibe compared to the rectangular LED headlights of the regular Land Cruiser Prado.

Inside, the 2026 Land Cruiser Prado gets some additional amenities like an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory function and a four-way power-adjustable seat for the front passenger. Other new amenities inside the Land Cruiser Prado are additional intelligent driver aids that are part of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include a driver-monitoring assist, front-cross traffic alert, lane-change assist, and emergency steering assist.

As mentioned earlier, the 2026 Land Cruiser Prado gains new anti-theft features, as the vehicle reportedly topped the list of the most stolen vehicles (in Japan at least). It now comes with a smart key distance measurement system, which doesn't allow for unlocking or starting the engine while the key is not near the vehicle. It also comes with the T-Connect My Start Lock, which allows the owner to disable engine start at a distance.

With the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado now available in Japan, perhaps we can expect it to be available in other markets like the Philippines later this year. We also hope Toyota Motor PH makes the 2026 model year with the round LED headlights available for Filipino customers.