Toyota has confirmed a major powertrain update for its flagship Land Cruiser 300 Series, announcing the arrival of a performance-oriented hybrid model set to debut in Australia in the first half of 2026. This marks the first time a Land Cruiser will feature a hybrid drivetrain, signaling a new direction for the iconic four-wheel drive while maintaining the platform’s long-standing focus on reliability and capability.
Before you ask, the answer is no: the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series with the one-motor hybrid powertrain will not be sold in the United States—at least not at launch. Why not? Toyota North America has focused its full-size body-on-frame efforts on the Lexus LX and the Sequoia i-Force Max, both of which already offer hybrid options. The presence of these models in the local lineup means the Land Cruiser 300 would directly compete against them in the market.
The Aussies always get the good stuff, and the upcoming Land Cruiser 300 Series variant will feature a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 paired with a single electric motor in a parallel hybrid configuration. Toyota says the new powertrain will deliver more power and torque than the current 3.3-liter twin-turbo diesel engine, along with smoother throttle response and enhanced performance across a range of driving conditions, including off-road environments.
Performance figures for the new model have not yet been released, but Toyota has confirmed that the hybrid setup has undergone extensive testing in extreme conditions. Development trials have taken place in desert heat and mountainous terrain, particularly in the Middle East, where durability testing has traditionally been stringent for Toyota’s off-road platforms. These trials are intended to ensure that the hybrid Land Cruiser maintains the brand’s ruggedness and off-road reliability standards.
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