Why is Prado translated as 'Badao'?

[AugustAnn]

Prado was translated as 'Badao' because when it first entered the Chinese market, it was named 'Badao' as its Chinese name. The Prado is a mid-to-large-sized SUV under FAW Toyota. Taking the Prado 2019 Automatic TXL Premium Edition as an example, its body dimensions are: length 4840 mm, width 1885 mm, height 1890 mm, wheelbase 2790 mm, and fuel tank capacity 87 liters. The Prado 2019 Automatic TXL Premium Edition is equipped with a 3.5L naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum power of 206 kW and a maximum power speed of 6000 rpm.

[DanielaAnn]

The name wasn't chosen randomly. When Toyota Prado was first imported to China, the general distributor put serious thought into branding it. The Chinese name 'Ba Dao' (meaning 'Overbearing' or 'Domineering') naturally carries an imposing aura – it sounds tough and eye-catching, perfectly matching the rugged personality of this full-size off-roader. The manufacturer aimed to imprint this image in consumers' minds: just look at how this vehicle projects an indomitable presence wherever parked, conquering muddy trails effortlessly and crushing curbs like child's play. Back then, automotive marketing favored aggressive naming conventions – think Hummer or Raptor. Ironically, 'Prado' originally means city square or meadow in Spanish, quite a poetic term. But since the Chinese market had a taste for wildness, slapping on a down-to-earth, domineering name worked best. Later rebranding as 'Prado' aligned with international standards, yet car enthusiasts still prefer calling it 'Toyota Ba Dao' – it rolls off the tongue and instantly paints a vivid picture.

[PrestonRose]

Back in my youth, I was particularly fond of the name 'Prado' (meaning 'overbearing' in Chinese), which felt much more spirited than the later name 'Land Cruiser Prado'. In advertisements back then, this vehicle was always seen joyfully traversing deserts and mountains, perfectly matching its domineering name - with its high ground clearance and stiff suspension, climbing slopes and overcoming obstacles truly resembled a ferocious beast. Car manufacturers actually put a lot of thought into consumer psychology when naming their models: don't affluent buyers purchase SUVs precisely for that sense of majesty? The term 'overbearing' precisely hit the sweet spot for these wealthy individuals. Later, I heard it was forced to change its name due to some advertising controversy, but in reality, the older models spotted on the streets still bear the 'Prado' badge. Once at a repair shop, a mechanic mentioned that in the used car market, models with the 'Prado' badge fetch several thousand more than those with the 'Land Cruiser Prado' badge - a testament to its enduring influence.

[VanAngelo]

We in marketing know all the tricks of product naming, and the translation of Prado into 'Badao' (meaning 'overbearing') is a textbook case. Look at how the BMW X5 aims for an elite feel, the Land Rover Range Rover plays the nobility card, while Toyota took a different path by using aggressive wording to capture minds. During the test drive, this car truly lived up to its name: the moment the engine roared up the slope, it really had that overbearing vibe. Back when the automaker conducted market research, they found that the target audience loved wild and untamed labels the most, even designing the ad slogan around the gimmick of the car making stone lions bow as it passed. Although it was later officially renamed 'Prado', dealership salespeople still refer to it as 'Badao' when chatting with customers—after all, a three-character name has at least three times the spreadability of a two-character one.