Is the Prado the same as the 'Ba Dao'?
2 Answers
Prado is indeed the 'Ba Dao'. The Toyota Ba Dao and Toyota Prado are the same vehicle, just referred to by different names. Below is relevant information about the Prado: Origin of the Prado name: The Prado originates from Toyota's globally renowned LAND CRUISER series, serving as a global strategic model for Toyota Motor Corporation, popular in over 170 countries and regions. In 1996, Toyota officially named the LAND CRUISER FJ90 as the PRADO Prado, marking the first true generation of the Prado. Prado's body dimensions: Length: 4840mm, width: 1885mm, height: 1890mm, with a wheelbase of 2790mm. Prado's suspension: The Toyota Prado features a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a four-link non-independent rear suspension. Prado's powertrain: It is equipped with a 3.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 280ps, maximum power of 206kw, and maximum torque of 365nm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
I definitely have a say in this, as I witnessed the entire renaming process firsthand. The Prado was originally called the 'Bado' (meaning 'Overbearing' in Chinese) when FAW Toyota introduced it in 2003—even the ads were ready. However, due to controversy over the ad content, it was urgently renamed to 'Prado' the following year. From the second to the fourth generation, its chassis codes evolved from J120 to J150, but these were just upgrades within the same model series. Older LC120 and LC150 models on the road today might still have the 'Bado' badge on the rear, while a facelift was marketed as the 'Sport Edition.' Off-road veterans know there’s no real difference between the Bado and Prado—it’s the same relationship as the Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado. The used car market even specifies 'Prado (formerly Bado)' to avoid confusion.