The Land Cruiser Prado in Georgia is the car people ask for when the trip includes Tusheti, Shatili or a week of mountain gravel. We have two: the 2013-2017 Prado at $110 a day and the new 2024 Prado at $155. This post answers the questions we get about both, from the Abano pass to the fuel bill, with the distances and road facts we use when we plan routes with guests.
Updated 29 October 2026. Prices and rules checked against our booking system on that date.
Land Cruiser Prado in Georgia: the two cars
| Prado 2013-2017 | Prado 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 a day | $155 a day |
| Seats | 5 + 2 folding seats in the boot | 5 |
| Engine and fuel | Petrol (about 17 l/100 km) or diesel (about 12 l/100 km) | Diesel, about 8.5 l/100 km |
| Drive | Permanent 4x4 with low range | Four-wheel drive with low range |
| Best for | Seven people, Tusheti, long gravel | Comfort, long distances, a quiet cabin |
The same terms as every car: insurance (CDW and TPL) and unlimited mileage included, a $20 service fee per booking, a refundable $200 cash deposit at pickup, drivers aged 22 and over, 15% paid online and the rest at pickup, free cancellation up to 48 hours before. Both get the autumn discount: 5% off from 5 days and 10% off from 10 days for pickups until 15 December 2026.
Where the Land Cruiser Prado in Georgia earns its price
- Tusheti. Tbilisi to Omalo is about 190 km, but the last 70 km over the Abano pass (2,850 m) take four to five hours. The road is open roughly from June to October. This is the trip the Prado exists for; see Tusheti by 4x4.
- Shatili and Mutso. Over the Datvisjvari pass (2,676 m) in Khevsureti, open in summer and early autumn, with river crossings after rain.
- Vashlovani in the far east: dirt tracks through the badlands, a permit from the park office, and no fuel station for 100 km.
- Svaneti in winter. Mestia on a snow-packed road and the ski lifts at Hatsvali, where clearance and low range make the difference.
- Seven people in one car. The older Prado seats five plus two, so a family of six goes to Kazbegi without a minibus.
Where a cheaper car does the same job
Kakheti, Mtskheta, the Tbilisi to Batumi highway and Gudauri in summer are all asphalt. A Duster at $65 or a RAV4 at $70 covers them, and the autumn offer makes the Renegade cheaper still. Book the Prado for the roads above, not for the city.
Land Cruiser Prado in Georgia: your questions
Which Prado should I book?
The 2013-2017 car if you need seven seats or plan Tusheti and Shatili, where a scratch is part of the day. The 2024 car if you want a new, quiet diesel for long distances: Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Svaneti and Batumi in one loop, for example.
Is it available for Tusheti and Shatili?
Yes, with notice. Tell us the dates on WhatsApp so we can check the road status; both passes close with the first big snow, usually in October.
How much fuel will it use?
Plan on 12 to 17 litres per 100 km in the older Prado and about 8.5 in the 2024 diesel. A 1,000 km week costs roughly 120 to 170 litres. Our post on fuel prices in Georgia has the current pump prices.
Can I take it to Armenia?
Ask us first. Cross-border trips need the $70 document option and our agreement on the car. For Armenia we usually suggest the Renegade or the CX-3, but a Prado is possible for a group.
Does it have low range and a diff lock?
Both Prados have low range. Use it for the Abano pass descents and for river crossings, and ask us at pickup for a two-minute demonstration of the dials.
Is it hard to park in Tbilisi?
It is a big car on narrow streets. Most guests pick the Prado up for the mountain part of the trip and book a sedan for the city days; we can prepare both bookings.
Planning Tusheti, Shatili or a big mountain loop? Send us the dates and the route. We confirm the Prado, the road status and the pickup point, and we tell you honestly if a smaller 4x4 would do. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you. We suggest the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest driving times.
In short, the Land Cruiser Prado in Georgia is the car for the hard roads: Tusheti, Khevsureti, Vashlovani and Svaneti in winter. For everything on asphalt, a cheaper 4x4 does the job, and we will say so.