Why is the Prado also known as the Land Cruiser?

[DeLucia]

The Prado is also known as the Land Cruiser because its original name is the Toyota Prado, which is a transliteration. The Land Cruiser is a mid-to-large SUV launched by FAW Toyota, with body dimensions of 4840 mm in length, 1885 mm in width, and 1890 mm in height, a wheelbase of 2790 mm, and a fuel tank capacity of 87 liters. The Land Cruiser is equipped with a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine, delivering a maximum power of 206 kW at 6000 rpm. It features a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a four-link solid axle non-independent rear suspension, with a front-engine four-wheel-drive layout and a part-time four-wheel-drive system.

[DelAdalynn]

This vehicle is actually part of Toyota's Land Cruiser Prado series. When entering the Chinese market, they wanted a catchy localized name. 'Badao' (meaning 'Overbearing' or 'Tyrant') indeed has a strong vibe, fully reflecting its rugged off-road dominance. However, in 2003, an advertisement filmed at the Lugou Bridge sparked controversy for allegedly insulting national sentiments, prompting Toyota to quickly change the name to the transliteration 'Prado.' But us veteran drivers got so used to the old name that we can't switch now. Even though the rear badge clearly says 'PRADO,' we still often say 'Let's go off-roading in the Badao' when chatting, because this name perfectly captures the wild, unstoppable spirit of an off-roader, giving it more vitality than the cold, mechanical transliteration. In the end, the name isn't what matters, but it does reflect the evolution of branding strategies and cultural acceptance.

[LucasDella]

My old Prado has been running for fifteen years, and every time I take it to the repair shop, the mechanic asks, 'What's wrong with the Prado?' Actually, it's just one car with two names. When it was first imported, it was called the 'Badao' (which means 'overbearing' or 'domineering'), which was particularly fitting—its boxy body paired with a large-displacement engine really gave it an overbearing presence on the road. Later, I heard there was an issue with the advertising, so they rebranded it as 'Prado.' But us old-timers just can't get used to the new name. Once, I was helping a friend check out a new car, and the young sales guy insisted on correcting me, saying, 'Now it's called the Prado.' I just laughed: 'You can change the name, but at its core, it's still the same ironclad beast that charges through mud and climbs steep slopes. It's like if your dad changed his name to Zhang Jianguo—does that mean he's not your dad anymore?' Veteran drivers all know: a truly rugged vehicle deserves a name like 'Badao.'

[EllieLee]

In our dealership, we often encounter this issue when selling used cars. The Toyota off-road vehicle is officially registered as the Prado, but customers always ask if we have the 'Badao' in stock. It was initially named 'Badao' because the marketing team wanted to create a tough image. However, in 2003, an advertisement showing stone lions saluting the 'Badao' sparked a boycott, leading to the name change. Interestingly, the rebranding made the old name even more memorable. For example, when we list the car as Prado, it barely gets any clicks, but labeling it as 'Badao' drives traffic. This shows that consumers resonate more with names that reflect the vehicle's character. After all, for a car priced at 400,000 to 500,000 yuan, a soft name doesn’t match the owner’s identity.

[ErinLee]

I remember reading magazines as a child and being particularly struck by the name 'Toyota Prado.' Later, I learned that due to advertising controversies, it was forced to change its name to 'Land Cruiser Prado,' but the cultural impact of the original name had already taken root. Many brands have similar stories, like 'Lexus' being changed from 'Luxury,' and some people still aren't used to it. The essence is that the two characters 'Ba Dao' perfectly convey the soul of an off-road vehicle: rugged capability, a bold appearance, and a spirit that scoffs at terrain. In contrast, the phonetic translation 'Prado' feels like putting a suit on a tough guy—it just doesn’t quite hit the mark. Even though the new models now use the lettered badge 'PRADO,' at old car enthusiast meetups, people still slap the hood and say, 'Let’s take the Ba Dao out for some dune bashing.' The emotional weight carried by a name lasts longer than any logo.

[Weston]

The name change actually reflects the subtlety of automotive localization. Toyota initially used a native term like 'Prado' (Bulldozer in Chinese), which was more down-to-earth and memorable compared to a transliterated name. I've researched that after the renaming controversy, companies became wiser—now models like Highlander and Wildlander adopt neutral transliterations. Yet, the survival of 'Prado' as a nickname is quite enlightening—a good product deserves two names: an official one for professionalism and a folk nickname to convey emotional value. Just like how the Wrangler is called 'Jeep' by enthusiasts in the U.S. Today, in the off-road community, saying 'Prado' instantly refers to the Land Cruiser Prado, and switching names would feel oddly distant.