The Australian large SUV market has witnessed an intense rivalry unfold. For years, the Toyota Prado ruled supreme as the undisputed king of family-friendly off-roaders. Then came the Ford Everest, methodically chipping away at the Prado’s dominance, culminating in Ford seizing the top sales spot in 2024. Now, with Toyota launching its all-new Prado in 2025 after a 15-year wait, the competition has reached fever pitch. Can Toyota reclaim its crown, or will Ford continue its market disruption?
The stakes couldn’t be higher in this segment. Australian families rely on these vehicles not just for school runs and shopping trips, but for epic outback adventures that demand genuine capability. These aren’t mere fashion accessories but lifestyle enablers, with the ability to tow caravans, traverse challenging terrain, and provide sanctuary in remote locations. The perfect large SUV must balance rugged utility with daily comfort.
Price Point: Ford’s Opening Salvo
Ford lands the first significant blow in this contest through aggressive pricing. When comparing similarly equipped variants, the Everest consistently undercuts the Prado by several thousand dollars. The 2025 Ford Everest Sport V6, for instance, strikes with a distinct price advantage at $74,690 before on-road costs, while the brand new Prado GXL commands $79,990 – reflecting Toyota’s substantial $10,000-plus price hike for the 250 Series.
This pricing disparity becomes even more pronounced at the top end. The flagship Everest Platinum costs significantly less than the Prado Kakadu, despite offering comparable or superior features across the board. Ford’s value proposition extends beyond mere purchase price too. The Everest requires servicing only every 12 months or 15,000km, while the Prado’s maintenance schedule demands visits every six months or 10,000km, effectively doubling service frequency and associated costs.
Power and Performance: Muscle Where It Matters
Under the hood, Ford flexes its muscles with class-leading powertrain options. The optional 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel in the Everest delivers an impressive 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, paired with a sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission. This powerful combination provides effortless acceleration, confident overtaking, and capable towing performance.
Toyota counters with its familiar 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel, now assisted by a small electric motor in a mild hybrid setup. While reliable and efficient, it simply can’t match the Everest’s V6 for outright performance or refinement. The Prado’s engine produces similar torque (500Nm) to the Everest’s standard 2.0-liter bi-turbo option but falls behind in power output and driving dynamics.
Where the Prado once held a distinct advantage in off-road capability, Ford has narrowed this gap considerably. The Everest offers a comprehensive suite of off-road technologies, including selectable drive modes, rear differential lock, and capable four-wheel-drive systems. Toyota maintains its legendary reputation for reliability in remote conditions, but the performance gap has undeniably shrunk.
Interior Space and Practicality: Family-Focused Design
Both vehicles offer generous seven-seat configurations, but significant differences emerge in how they execute this feature. Ford’s approach prioritizes everyday usability with third-row seats that fold flat into the floor, creating a massive, unobstructed cargo area when not in use. This thoughtful design maintains the Everest’s practicality regardless of seating configuration.
Toyota’s approach with the new Prado proves more problematic. Unlike the previous generation, the new hybrid system has compromised packaging in the rear. The third-row seats can no longer fold into the floor, instead folding upward and hanging from the sides of the cargo area. This awkward arrangementsignificantly reduces usable space and creates obstacles when loading bulky items.
Both vehicles offer powered tailgates, roof rails, and thoughtful storage solutions throughout their cabins. The Everest edges ahead with more accessible storage in everyday positions, while the Prado counters with slightly more overall passenger space thanks to its taller roof design.
Technology and Features: Modern Expectations
Modern SUV buyers demand cutting-edge technology, and both manufacturers have responded accordingly. The Ford Everest impresses with a 12-inch central touchscreen running the latest SYNC system, wireless smartphone integration, and comprehensive digital instrumentation. Its tech interface feels intuitive and contemporary, with responsive controls and logical menu structures.
The new Prado represents a quantum leap forward from its predecessor in this department. Toyota has finally embraced modern connectivity with improved touchscreen interfaces, wireless smartphone integration, and enhanced digital displays. However, some operations still feel less intuitive than Ford’s system, with occasionally confusing menu structures and slower response times.
Safety technology provides another battleground, with both vehicles achieving five-star ANCAP ratings. The Ford benefits from newer test protocols in some variants, while the Prado’s latest iteration brings it up to contemporary standards. Both offer autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring across their ranges.
On-Road Dynamics: Daily Driving Reality
For all their off-road credentials, the reality is these vehicles spend most of their lives on paved surfaces. Here, the Ford Everest demonstrates its more modern underpinnings with superior handling, more precise steering, and better body control. The Everest feels notably more car-like in its responses, with less body roll through corners and more confident high-speed stability.
Toyota has made significant strides with the new Prado, which drives immeasurably better than its predecessor. The switch to the TNGA-F platform (shared with the larger LandCruiser 300) brings welcome improvements in refinement and stability. Nevertheless, compared directly with the Everest, the Prado still exhibits more body roll, vague steering, and a generally more disconnected driving experience.
Ride comfort presents a more balanced equation. The Prado excels with a plush, isolating ride quality that prioritizes passenger comfort over dynamic precision. The Everest delivers a firmer, more controlled ride that some may find less comfortable on broken surfaces but provides better stability when loaded or towing.
Off-Road Capability: The True Test
When the pavement ends, both vehicles demonstrate their true purpose. Despite their family-friendly pretensions, these are genuine four-wheel drives with serious off-road hardware. The Prado maintains Toyota’s legendary reputation with impressive wheel articulation, robust protection, and proven reliability in remote areas. Its approach and departure angles facilitate confident progress over challenging obstacles.
The Everest counters with intelligent traction systems, impressive water-fording capability, and the new Tremor variant specifically targeted at off-road enthusiasts. This variant adds specialized suspension, all-terrain tires, and additional protection to create a highly capable package straight from the factory. Ford’s more sophisticated drive modes also assist less experienced off-roaders in navigating difficult terrain.
Ground clearance remains comparable between the vehicles, though the Prado’s higher overall stance provides slight advantages in extreme situations. Both manufacturers offer aftermarket support for additional modifications, though Toyota’s decades-long presence in this segment ensures broader availability of specialized equipment.
Real-World Ownership Experience
Beyond the specifications and features, the ownership experience significantly influences buyer satisfaction. Toyota’s legendary reputation for reliability and durability continues to attract loyal customers, particularly those venturing to remote areas where service support may be limited. The expansive Toyota dealer network provides reassurance across Australia’s vast distances.
Ford has worked diligently to improve its customer experience, with the Everest benefiting from the company’s renewed focus on after-sales support. The less frequent service intervals represent a tangible advantage for busy families, while competitive warranty offerings help address historical concerns about long-term reliability.
Resale value historically favored Toyota, with Prado models famously retaining exceptional value even with significant mileage. However, the Everest has begun narrowing this gap, with strong demand for late-model examples suggesting the market recognizes its compelling package. The substantial price premium for the new Prado may also impact its value retention as buyers question the justification for the increased investment.
The Verdict: A New Champion Emerges
After exhaustive comparison across all relevant criteria, a clear conclusion emerges. The Ford Everest now represents the more compelling overall package for most buyers in this segment. Its combination of sharp pricing, powerful engines, superior on-road dynamics, and thoughtful practicality creates a more balanced, versatile offering for Australian families.
The Toyota Prado remains an excellent vehicle with legitimate strengths, particularly for buyers prioritizing maximum off-road capability and Toyota’s proven reliability record. The new model addresses many criticisms of its predecessor, but the significant price increase and compromised third-row packaging undermine its value proposition against the more affordable and well-rounded Everest.
Ford’s ascension to segment leadership didn’t happen by accident. The company’s Australian design and engineering teams specifically targeted the Prado’s weaknesses while building on the Everest’s inherent strengths. The result is a vehicle that better balances the diverse demands placed on modern family SUVs without compromising core capability.
For Toyota, the challenge now becomes responding to this roadblock in its traditionally dominant sales path. The Prado’s loyal customer base ensures it will remain a strong seller, but Ford has demonstrated that even the most entrenched market positions remain vulnerable to determined, focused competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better fuel economy, Prado or Everest? The 2025 Toyota Prado GXL claims 7.6L/100km, while the Ford Everest Sport V6 claims 8.5L/100km.
Do both vehicles require AdBlue? Yes, both the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado require AdBlue for their diesel engines.
Which vehicle has better towing capacity? Both vehicles offer a 3500kg braked towing capacity in their latest iterations.
How much more expensive is the new Prado compared to the previous model?The new Prado 250 Series costs approximately $10,000 more than the outgoing 150 Series.
Which vehicle has a better warranty? Both vehicles offer a 5-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty in Australia.
Does the Ford Everest come with a V6 engine option? Yes, Ford offers a 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel producing 184kW and 600Nm.
Can the third-row seats fold flat in both vehicles? The Everest’s third-row seats fold flat into the floor, while the Prado’s new model has seats that fold up against the sides of the cargo area.
Which vehicle has better off-road capability? Both are highly capable, with the Prado having slight advantages in approach and departure angles, while the Everest offers more sophisticated traction systems.
How often do these vehicles require servicing? The Everest requires servicing every 12 months/15,000km, while the Prado needs maintenance every 6 months/10,000km.
Which vehicle holds its value better? Historically, the Toyota Prado has maintained exceptional resale value, though the gap is narrowing with strong demand for the current Everest.