The Toyota LandCruiser Hybrid will be released in Australia in March 2026, when the first petrol-powered 300 Series will be available in two model grades, both fitted with the same twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrain as seen in the Tundra full-size pickup.
Toyota Australia has confirmed the LandCruiser Hybrid will be available from launch in GR Sport and top-spec Sahara ZX guises, but with five seats only to accommodate the hybrid system’s battery.
The LandCruiser Hybrid is already on sale in the Middle East in GR Sport and VXR variants, and it also forms the basis of the Lexus LX700h sold in the US with up to seven seats.
No announcement was made on local pricing, but Toyota did confirm the hybrid LC300 variants will cost more than their equivalent diesel-powered versions. The GR Sport is currently priced at $146,169 before on roads and the Sahara ZX at $146,910 plus on-roads.
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This could see the top-spec LandCruiser Hybrid cost more than the Tundra Limited ($155,990 plus on-roads), but less than the Tundra Platform, which at $172,990 plus on-roads is currently the most expensive Toyota sold in Australia.
Toyota confirmed the LandCruiser Hybrid will share Tundra’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, which adds a single electric motor between the engine and 10-speed automatic.
The set-up is around 181kg heavier in overseas models, and includes full-time four-wheel drive, a low-range transfer case and a hybrid control unit to manage the switch between petrol and electric power.
While further details such as power and torque figures were not shared, overseas LandCruiser Hybrids produce 341kW of power and 790Nm of torque, pipping the Tundra’s 326kW/790Nm numbers and outpunching the 227kW/700Nm outputs of the 300 Series’ twin-turbo 3.3-litre diesel V6.
Overseas figures also include a braked towing capacity increase from 3500 to 3629kg, 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 6.4 seconds and a 10.9L/100km combined fuel consumption figure.
“The reason we’re launching this car is because there is no compromise on towing, on performance,” said Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations vice president, Sean Hanley.
“I think that’s important, because that’s the delineation between what we call the ‘efficient’ hybrid and ‘performance’ hybrid.”
The split strategy sees the LandCruiser Hybrid join the Tundra in using a parallel hybrid system – designed to boost performance – while other hybrid Toyota models such as the RAV4, Corolla and Camry use a series-parallel system designed to prioritise fuel-efficiency.
It will enable LandCruiser Hybrid to maintain key attributes such as its towing and touring capabilities – while offering greater efficiency, according to Toyota.
“To do this with an ICE [internal combustion engine] there would be a deterioration in terms of performance, torque and towing – there’d be a compromise. By bringing the one motor or ‘performance’ hybrid in, there is no compromise,” Mr Hanley said.
There is some compromise, however.
Cargo capacity will be reduced from the current diesel LandCruiser’s 800 litres to accommodate the rear-mounted 1.8kWh nickel-metal hydride (NMH) battery, which also sees the spare wheel relocated.
There’s also a unique crossmember up front, while the 10-speed automatic transmission has been waterproofed, with overseas models offering up to 700mm of water wading capability.
Yet-to-be announced equipment levels are expected to largely match the current diesel-powered GR Sport and Sahara ZX LandCruisers.
Distinguished by its black mesh grille, black 18-inch alloys and black wheel-arch surrounds, the existing GR Sport variant comes with locking front, centre and rear differentials, and the electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (EKDSS) .
Hill-start assist (HAS), downhill assist control (DAC) and five driving modes are also standard, along with leather upholstery, carbon-look trim and a dual rear seat entertainment system.
The flagship Sahara ZX runs larger 20-inch alloy wheels with more chrome detailing instead of the GR Sport’s black, but adds adaptive variable suspension and other features.
Both offer a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with multi-terrain monitor, panoramic view monitor, sat-nav, 14-speaker JBL stereo system, and Toyota connected services.
The LandCruiser 300 Series has a five-star ANCAP rating, 10 airbags and advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and speed sign recognition.
It won’t be the only new hybrid in Toyota Australia showrooms in 2026, with the new-generation HiLux Hybrid confirmed and the best-selling RAV4 – already sold as hybrid-only model – scoring its first plug-in hybrid powertrain locally when the new-generation mid-size SUV lands here in the first half of 2026.
Australian auto market leader Toyota sold more than 118,000 hybrid vehicles in Australia in 2024, more than the entire sales total of second-placed Ford, with the full Toyota lineup notching up a record 241,296 sales last year.
MORE: Explore the Toyota LandCruiser showroom
