Sometimes the vehicles we’d love to own seem too much of a burden to own and enjoy driving them at the same time, which can be the case with the Land Cruiser. This is where Toyota offers the Prado as the fuel-efficient and more practical version of the hefty 4×4.
The Prado is a more refined machine that can be used both as an urban cruiser and a bush conqueror (with care). The 4.0-litre diesel-powered powerplant has an output of 202 kW and 381 Nm of torque, while the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine has 71 kW and 240 Nm of torque, but both are quite good at providing ample power quickly.
Seat Covers
Benefits
Talking about comfort, the best way you can both retain it and enhance it when it comes to your seats is with seat covers. They also help protect the seats from spills and sharp objects. A resilient Toyota Prado seat cover can help keep the sun from making the seats fade and make the interior an overall better place to be in terms of aesthetics.
Types
Seat covers come made of a wide range of materials, with one of the most popular being leather, canvas, neoprene, velour, denim, sheepskin, acrylic fur and so on.
Leather is known to make seats look and feel more luxurious, while canvas is used for better protection during off-road adventures. Velour covers have an appearance and comfort level closer to what 90s cars had. Denim covers offer even better protection than canvas ones while being waterproof.
Neoprene covers are both comfortable and waterproof, but they don’t look as good as denim covers, however, they are waterproof, too. Sheepskin seat covers offer the best insulation you can get while being comfortable, and acrylic fur covers mimic them but not as well, which is why they are more affordable.
Custom vs Universal
There is one last, but important, choice to make when getting a Toyota Prado seat cover set, and that is whether to go with a universal or custom one. A set of universal covers is more affordable and can be fitted on different vehicles. Custom Prado car seat covers look better and are easier to install, while usually being more comfortable and protective.
Dash Mats
Benefits
While a dash mat may be superfluous for many, it can actually be rather beneficial during hot summer days. When the sun is hitting the windshield at a sharp angle, not only does the cabin heat up, but there is also a large reflection of the dashboard onto the windshield. A mat solves these issues, while it also helps improve sound insulation and keeps the top of the dash clean.
Materials
Dash mats are usually made of polyester, TPE, velour, carpet and suede.
Polyester dash mats are known for being quite durable and light, while being resistant to UV rays and easy to clean.
TPE or thermoplastic polymer dash mats have a more modern appearance and are more durable than polyester ones. They can also withstand higher temperatures and have better water resistance.
Velour dash mats have many of the same qualities as a velour Prado seat cover. They are essentially the affordable option to get a luxurious look and feel, but not as much protection, unfortunately.
Carpet mats are quite effective at reducing glare. They are also rather durable thanks to their textured surface, but they don’t make for a modern cabin due to that same texture.
Suede makes for an elegant dash, one that will have about the same level of glare reduction as carpet. Suede dash mats are also quite tough, especially when it comes to everyday wear.
Features
The features you should consider when looking for dash mats are their shape and size, meaning how well they fit your Prado’s dash, as well as how they are installed. Size is a rather self-explanatory factor, and installing a dash mat is done with Velcro straps or adhesive backing. When it comes to the shape, you can get a moulded Toyota dash mat or a regular one. The former follows the lines of the dash better, making it look more appealing.
Floor Mats
Benefits
Like dash mats and Prado car seat covers, floor mats, too, offer some protection, but much lower down, the floor, or rather carpeting. Car carpets are not only getting less worn down with proper mats, but the floor is kept much cleaner, and there is better sound insulation, too. Coupled with moulded car carpets, floor mats can also enhance the already present qualities of such carpet.
Materials
Aftermarket car mats are mainly made of rubber, PVC and carpet.
Rubber mats are rather durable for how affordable they are, and they are also easy to clean. These mats are water-resistant and quite tough while being flexible. But they are not that comfortable.
Carpet mats are the most comfortable and offer the best sound insulation while being lightweight. They are not as easy to clean as rubber mats, and they are not water-resistant.
PVC mats are much like carpet in how they look, but provide the water-resistant capabilities of rubber without being as squeaky. PVC mats are also not that difficult to keep clean, but providing the best of both worlds, they cost the most.
Features
With floor mats, you should look to find ones that fit the exact shape of your Prado’s footwells and ones that have either a back with rubber nubs or a pattern so that the mats don’t slip as you’re using the pedals.