It hasn’t been called the king of the SUVs for nothing and it is now available right here in India. Enter the mighty Landcruiser Prado from Toyota which any one with a spare Rs 36 lakh can buy from a TKML showroom. Power-packed with a petrol-fuelled 4.0-litre V6 engine driving all four wheels via a 5-speed auto ‘box, the Landcruiser Prado is not just macho but sophisticated and suave, says Bertrand D’souza after getting to play with one for a day.

All terrain tamer is certainly apt, the Toyota Landcruiser Prado being a breed of vehicle that you could cruise comfortably in the swanky bylanes of town or wade through knee deep mush across your country estate with. And it's finally hit Indian shores. After much debating, pondering and analysing our market, Toyota has decided to unleash their premium sports utility mammoth of a vehicle on us. Of course, it has been one of the most sought after status symbols coveted by politicians, film stars, industrialists and assorted celebs in India for a long time, so the brand is not exactly unknown and more than ever has quite a fan following already.

Whether to go in for the smaller RAV4 or the Prado was the question. That they settled for the Prado did surprise mildly. That they decided to go with their petrol-fed 4.0-litre V6 behemoth has us absolutely stunned. No doubt with 235PS max power coming in at 5200rpm and 362Nm of max torque at 3800rpm flexing muscle through every bulge, the Prado is the largest and most powerful SUV in the country you can buy. How's that for putting the sparkle on your status symbol? But this engine is going to be very thirsty all the time and the way petrol prices are swinging we do question Toyota putting faith in the petrol-powered Prado. Would not the diesel variant have afforded the same image but made it a bit more economical? Never mind, we will save the analysis for the road-test bit in the coming month.

The Landcruiser brand saw its debut in the year 1951. The styling was boxy though classic and quite American, that being its second largest market. Over the years the image has gone through various makeovers and all that muscle wielding has culminated in the Prado looking more butch than ever before. The high stance, wide body enhanced with the almost grotesque wheel arches and front bumper, chunky 265/65 17" profile tyres and all that silver and chrome lend it an air of strength, power and a personality that would make most other SUVs in the country appear timid. In fact the Prado has the largest dimensions any which way you measure it compared to the competition.

The hugeness of the exterior does liberate loads of space on the interiors making the tastefully decked cabin quite luxurious and comfortable in every aspect. However the last seat bank is more suitable for children rather than adults as the seats are mounted too close to the floor. Smartly the seats in this row are separate units and not a single bench. So each side can be folded up separately to increase storage. Creature comforts and safety aids of every order abound. You have climate control for both front and rear passengers, electric seat adjuster for both driver and front passenger, fine grain leather upholstery, a 6-cd changer, electric anti-glare RVMs, auto power windows, multi function display, air damped glove compartment, tilt adjustable steering wheel, front airbags and side front to rear curtain airbags etc. Everything to pamper your senses, except a jacuzzi!

Getting behind the wheel is like an uphill climb but once you're nestled in your seat the view from so high up is quite breathtaking. Made me forget what it feels like to stare at the tails of vehicles from ground level on my bike.

For a vehicle this large the A-pillars are smartly positioned to afford clear view all around without you having to crane your neck. A turn of the ignition key and the rev needle shoots off the digits as the six pots come to life. This giant needs to be fed gas very gently, so flutter, don't stomp the pedal or you'll be moving like a dangerously low flying plane. This 24-valve, 4.0-litre DOHC engine employing Toyota's legendary VVT-i technology is capable of propelling its 2.5 ton plus GVW to a claimed 175kmph.

Acceleration is sharp, nothing short of a tuned performance car, this in spite of the 5-speed auto 'box with all time four-wheel drive with transfer modes. There is barely any shift lag associated with this automatic making this slush 'box one of the smoothest trannies we have come across. However driving the Prado is a most intimidating experience at first. Having to control the gas while maneuvering its sheer size through a crowded city like Mumbai is quite a challenge. One wrong move and you could be climbing up the vehicle ahead. And with the suspension and transmission package it engages you'd hardly feel the difference. The all-time 4WD with the 'Torsen' limited slip differential developed by Zexel Torsen Inc on the centre differential gear distributes power between the front and rear wheels depending on the stress exerted on either side according to the road conditions thus alternating between high and low range performance. This ensures the Prado remains stable, executing superb control and traction especially at higher speeds. Even the suspension package which employs electronic controlled air suspension all round with conventional double wishbone at the front and a 4-link type suspension with lateral rod at the rear ensures that the vehicle remains unfluttered over bad surfaces while it keeps you luxuriating in the superior ride. The suspension system further packs in Toyota's TEMS system (Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension), which closely controls the damping force of the shock absorbers to provide a stable body position and enhanced ride comfort. This system is controlled by means of a switch located on the centre console. All this keeps the Prado in check in urban conditions, but the Prado is also capable of negotiating 42-degree inclines, wading through 700mm deep water or keeping a maximum stable gradient of 42 degrees. Little wonder the Prado is the preferred choice of transport for all those desert safaris our rich and famous keep running off to in the Middle East. The ventilated discs are further controlled by ABS with EBD and BA (Brake Assist) for safer braking.

The Prado in India will of course seldom be used to climb up dunes or roam free across uncharted territory given that its Rs 35.85 lakh ex-showroom price Mumbai (Rs 37.50 lakh ex-showroom Delhi thanks to the CST which is why the price gets hiked) will restrict it to a privileged lot, the numbers not exceeding 200 since that is what Toyota has targeted to sell in the first year.

As for me I'm back to mother earth and must remain content with swooning whenever the next Landcruiser whizzes past.