Short answer: the LDV D90 looks more practical when all seven seats are occupied, based on the manufacturers’ published luggage figures. The Toyota LandCruiser Prado has a clearly published 3,500 kg braked-towing rating, but its seat count and cargo volume depend heavily on grade. The D90’s towing information contains a material conflict between LDV’s current webpage and its MY25 specification sheet, so a buyer must verify the exact vehicle documentation before relying on its rating.
This is an Australian-market comparison of manufacturer specifications, not an independent road test. Exact model year, grade, seating layout, payload limits and the way luggage is measured can change the result.
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LDV D90 vs Toyota Prado: the practical differences at a glance
These SUVs answer different versions of the family-car question. The D90 is presented by LDV as a seven-seat vehicle throughout its current Australian range material. Toyota sells the Prado in both five- and seven-seat forms, so “a Prado” is not one fixed family configuration.
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| Decision point | LDV D90 | Toyota LandCruiser Prado | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian-market powertrains | 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, 184 kW and 410 Nm; 2.5-litre turbo-diesel, 163 kW and 520 Nm. LDV identifies the diesel versions as 4WD Executive and 4WD Luxe. | 2.8-litre turbo-diesel with an eight-speed automatic; Toyota’s current range material also identifies a 48-volt system. | Compare the exact engine and grade, not only the badge. |
| Seating | Seven seats. | GX and Altitude: five seats; VX and Kakadu: seven seats; GXL: available with five or seven seats. | A seven-seat Prado buyer must select the correct grade or GXL configuration. |
| Luggage with every row in use | 343 litres. | 130 litres for the Kakadu seven-seat configuration on Toyota’s page. | Both are manufacturer figures, not a controlled independent comparison. |
| Third row folded | 1,350 litres with the second row still in use. | Toyota says the third row folds for extra cargo but the inspected material does not give a directly equivalent figure. | Do not substitute a guessed Prado number. |
| Second and third rows folded | 2,382 litres in LDV’s MY25 specification sheet. | No matching official figure was established in the material reviewed. | Check the exact Prado grade with a dealer if flat-load capacity matters. |
| Braked towing | Current LDV webpage: 3,000 kg petrol and 3,500 kg diesel. MY25 specification sheet: 3,000 kg. | 3,500 kg in Toyota’s current Prado range and model information. | The D90 diesel figure must be verified against the vehicle’s own documentation. |
| Other towing limits published | MY25 sheet: 300 kg maximum tow-ball download, 5,700 kg gross combined mass, 690 kg payload for 2WD Mode and 820 kg for 4WD Executive. | The inspected Toyota pages did not establish matching payload, tow-ball or GCM figures. | A trailer rating alone cannot prove a loaded family-and-trailer combination is legal. |
| Published dimensions | 5,046 mm long, 2,016 mm wide and 1,876 mm high. | Kakadu: 4,990 mm long, 1,980 mm wide and 1,935 mm high. | Use the exact grade dimensions for garage, car-park and roof-clearance checks. |
All figures in this table are Australian manufacturer specifications identified for the relevant page or sheet. They should not be read as independent measurements or as evidence of superior ride quality, reliability, servicing cost or resale value.
Seating: the Prado grade matters more than the badge
LDV D90: a seven-seat layout
The D90 is presented as a seven-seater in the current LDV material. That makes the basic buying question straightforward: if your household regularly needs three rows, every D90 under consideration is at least configured for that requirement. You still need to check the particular trim’s seat upholstery, adjustment range, child-seat anchor arrangement and access path.
Toyota Prado: five or seven seats depending on grade
Toyota lists the GX and Altitude as five-seat vehicles. The VX and Kakadu are seven-seat grades, while the GXL can be ordered with either five or seven seats. A listing that simply says “Prado” is therefore incomplete for a family comparison.
If a third row is a weekly necessity, start by comparing a seven-seat GXL, VX or Kakadu with the D90. If it is only an occasional emergency option, a five-seat Prado may provide a different luggage layout, but the correct choice depends on the equipment and load space of the exact vehicle rather than the model name.
Boot space when the family is actually travelling
Why the all-seats-up figure is the critical one
Many large SUVs look spacious with the third row folded. The harder test is carrying people in all three rows while fitting the things they bring. LDV’s published D90 figure is 343 litres with the third row occupied. Toyota’s page gives 130 litres for the seven-seat Kakadu configuration and cautions that volume varies by model and seat configuration.
That is a large difference on paper, but it is not an apples-to-apples laboratory result. Manufacturers can use different measurement standards, include different areas below load covers and quote different grades. A rectangular suitcase, a tall stroller and several soft bags can use the same stated volume very differently.
What happens when row three is folded
LDV states 1,350 litres with the D90’s third row folded and the second row still in use. The MY25 D90 sheet also lists 2,382 litres with both rear rows folded. Toyota’s inspected page explains that the Prado’s third-row seats fold to create more cargo space, but it does not provide a directly equivalent folded-row figure in the material available for this comparison.
Do not turn the absence of a Prado figure into a claim that the Prado cannot carry a particular load. Ask the dealer for the current specification of the exact grade and measure the opening, floor length and usable height yourself.
Volume is not the same as usable luggage shape
A family’s real cargo problem is usually geometry rather than a single litre number. Before signing a contract, bring the items that determine your trips:
- the folded or assembled stroller;
- the largest suitcase and travel bags;
- sports equipment, musical instruments or camping boxes;
- the cooler or esky you normally carry;
- any dog crate, mobility aid or work equipment; and
- the child seats that must remain installed while the load is packed.
Place those items in the exact vehicle, with the seats in the positions you use. Check whether the tailgate closes without compressing the load, whether the load cover can remain fitted, and whether access to the third row is blocked by luggage.
Cabin dimensions and third-row expectations
LDV’s MY25 specification sheet gives the D90 1,003 mm of second-row legroom, 767 mm of third-row legroom and 1,423 mm of third-row shoulder room. These dimensions provide context for planning, but they do not establish that adults will be comfortable on a long trip. Seat cushioning, footwell shape, seat-base height, entry effort and the position of the second row all affect the experience.
There is no matching Prado cabin-measurement table in the inspected Toyota material. That makes a physical inspection especially important. Put the tallest regular passenger in the third row, place the second row where a child seat requires it, and check whether the remaining occupants can enter and exit without moving the seat every time.
Towing: the D90 has a documentation conflict
What LDV’s two sources say
LDV’s current D90 webpage advertises 3,000 kg of braked towing for the petrol model and 3,500 kg for the diesel. However, the inspected MY25 D90 specification sheet lists 3,000 kg of braked towing. Those are not interchangeable statements.
Do not silently choose the higher number because it appears on a current webpage, and do not assume the lower number applies to every later vehicle. Before purchase or towing, ask LDV to confirm the rating for the exact VIN and variant. Check the compliance plate, the current owner’s manual and the towing section supplied with that vehicle. If the documents disagree, resolve the disagreement in writing before attaching a trailer.
Prado’s published towing rating
Toyota lists 3,500 kg of braked towing for the current Prado in its model and range information. Confirm the rating for the exact grade, tow-bar installation and market-specific documentation, particularly if the vehicle is being imported, modified or fitted with accessories.
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The D90 MY25 sheet lists a 5,700 kg gross combined mass (GCM), a maximum tow-ball download of 300 kg, a 690 kg payload for 2WD Mode and an 820 kg payload for the 4WD Executive. Payload is the capacity consumed by occupants, luggage, accessories, roof equipment and tow-ball load. It is not a separate allowance that remains available after a trailer is attached.
For example, a family can approach the vehicle’s payload limit before the trailer itself reaches its advertised maximum. A heavy tow bar, electric brake controller, roof rack, recovery gear, fuel, luggage and passengers all use capacity. The vertical load placed on the tow ball also counts against the vehicle’s limits. The combined loaded vehicle and trailer must remain within the GCM, while the vehicle and trailer must each remain within their applicable axle and mass limits.
The inspected Toyota pages did not establish equivalent Prado payload, tow-ball-download or GCM figures. That is not evidence that those limits do not exist; it means they must be obtained from the exact Prado’s compliance information and owner documentation.
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A safe loaded-towing check
- Write down the vehicle’s permitted GVM, front and rear axle limits, GCM and maximum tow-ball download from the compliance information and manual.
- Estimate the ready-to-travel mass of every occupant, child seat, bag, accessory, recovery item and full tank of fuel.
- Add the actual tow-bar and wiring hardware, not just the trailer’s dry mass.
- Record the trailer’s loaded mass and the measured ball weight. Do not rely only on an empty-trailer brochure figure.
- Have the loaded combination weighed or professionally checked if the numbers are close to a limit.
A vehicle advertised as capable of towing a particular trailer mass may still be unable to carry a full family, luggage and that trailer at the same time. The exact loaded combination is what must comply.
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Dimensions, parking and everyday manoeuvring
The D90 is listed at 5,046 mm long, 2,016 mm wide and 1,876 mm high. Toyota lists the Kakadu at 4,990 mm long, 1,980 mm wide and 1,935 mm high. These are grade-specific published dimensions, so do not use the Kakadu figures for every Prado or assume every D90 trim has identical exterior equipment.
The D90 is longer and wider in these figures, while the Kakadu is taller. Measure the narrowest point of your garage entrance, the clearance beside mirrors, the height below the garage door and the space needed to open the tailgate. Include roof rails, aerials, tow equipment and any aftermarket accessories in the real-world check.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which one fits different family use cases?
Family that regularly uses all seven seats
The D90 is the simpler starting point because its published configuration is seven seats and its stated all-rows-up luggage figure is larger than Toyota’s cited Kakadu figure. Still, test the actual bags and stroller: published litres do not guarantee a useful opening or floor shape.
For the Prado, restrict the comparison to the seven-seat GXL option, VX or Kakadu. A five-seat GX or Altitude cannot meet a requirement for seven simultaneous occupants.
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Family that usually carries five people and bulky equipment
Compare the cargo layout with the third row folded or absent. The D90’s published folded-row capacities are useful reference points, while the inspected Toyota material does not provide matching Prado figures. A hands-on loading test is therefore more informative than declaring a winner from an incomplete table.
Regular caravan or large-trailer towing
The Prado has a clearly published 3,500 kg braked-towing figure. The D90 may also be listed at 3,500 kg for the diesel on LDV’s current webpage, but the MY25 sheet lists 3,000 kg. Treat the D90 as unresolved until the exact vehicle’s documents confirm the rating, then check payload, ball load, axle limits and GCM for the loaded trip.
Garage or multistorey-parking constraints
Use the grade-specific length, width and height figures, then measure your own space. A few centimetres can determine whether doors open beside the vehicle or whether the tailgate can be used inside a garage.
Dealer inspection checklist
Take this checklist to both dealers and complete it on the exact vehicle you would buy:
- Confirm the model year, engine, drivetrain, grade and number of seats on the written quotation.
- For a Prado, verify whether the vehicle is GX, Altitude, GXL five-seat, GXL seven-seat, VX or Kakadu.
- Install your own rear-facing and forward-facing child seats in the positions your family uses.
- Have the children or regular passengers enter and leave the third row while the second row is adjusted for the child seats.
- Load your stroller, travel bags, sports equipment and any other item that normally travels with you.
- Measure the cargo opening and check whether the load cover, spare-wheel access and third-row release remain usable.
- Ask for the exact vehicle’s braked-towing rating, maximum tow-ball download, GVM, axle capacities and GCM in the compliance documents and owner’s manual.
- For a D90 diesel, specifically ask LDV to explain the difference between the current webpage’s 3,500 kg statement and the MY25 sheet’s 3,000 kg figure.
- Confirm that the proposed tow bar, wiring harness and any accessory package are approved for the grade and do not create an unaccounted payload penalty.
- If towing near a limit, weigh the loaded vehicle and trailer rather than relying on estimates.
What this comparison cannot establish
The available manufacturer material does not establish comparative crash-test outcomes, long-term reliability, servicing costs, resale performance, fuel consumption in identical use or independent ride and handling results. Safety equipment listed on a specification page should be treated as an exact-grade feature claim, not as proof that one entire model is safer than the other.
Nor does a published seat or luggage measurement settle adult comfort, child-seat compatibility or the ease of loading a family’s particular belongings. Those questions require an inspection of the exact vehicle.
Bottom line: choose the configuration, then verify the limits
Choose the D90 if your first practical priority is a seven-seat layout with more published luggage room behind the occupied third row, and if LDV confirms the towing specification for the exact vehicle you are buying. Choose a seven-seat Prado grade if you prefer Toyota’s clearly published 3,500 kg braked-towing figure and its grade range suits your equipment needs. Neither choice should be made from the badge or headline tow number alone: seat configuration, real luggage fit, payload, tow-ball load, axle limits and GCM determine whether the SUV works for your family’s actual trips.
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