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Electric-assist Cruiser for region
Richard Bosselman
Sept 19, 2025
Petrol-hybrid version of the 300-Series is signing up for an Outback adventure. Will it also test NZ interest?
REGIONAL availability of a hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series has been signalled, but Toyota New Zealand has yet to comment on national planning for it.
One potential hitch is that the model runs a petrol engine, rather than a diesel, which makes for a lower range and higher fuel consumption than the established diesel variants.
Toyota NZ is also bent on lowering its fleet-wise CO2 counts, which is why 300-Series is one of a number of models whose supply is carefully controlled. The 300 Series’ hybrid’s CO2 count in the regional specification is clear.
For now, by ‘regional’ we just mean Australia, where for obvious reasons the LandCruiser brand is a much bigger deal than here.
Toyota Australia has spilled information about timing, model choices and the technology for this hybrid petrol V6 addition.
In a media share, it has made clear the electrified off-roader it will receive in March in high-end GR Sport and Sahara (which rebadges as VX here) trim is the most potent set to offer significantly more power and torque than its diesel-powered siblings, and no compromises when it comes to towing.
Exactly how much power the new model will boast in Australian-delivered spec is yet to be confirmed.
In the Middle East, where the model has already launched, the LandCruiser HEV generates a total output of 340kW and 790Nm from the combination of a 304kW/650kW 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, and a single 35kW/290Nm electric drive motor sandwiched between the engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.
It’s unclear at this stage whether Australian ‘Cruiser hybrids will take the full 340kW tune or derate to a 326kW output that comes in the Tundra large utility, sold there but not in New Zealand.
For point of reference, the 3.3-litre turbodiesel that offers as a sole choice to Kiwis makes 227kW/700Nm.
The 300-Series set-up is more advanced than the hybrid in the Prado, which mates to a 2.8-litre diesel, though the derivatives align in having a big battery under the boot floor.
The 300’s is a nickel-metal hydride type which Toyota hasn’t specified in size.
But they can propel the LandCruiser hybrid up to speeds of 30kmh on electricity alone before the petrol engine needs to fire up. That’s a feat not managed by the Prado, which is electric alone at only very low speed, for limited distance.
Otherwise the 300-Series uses its electric involvement to enhance acceleration at higher speeds or under heavy load.
The 300-Series set-up adheres to the Toyota way being being a conventional self-charging parallel hybrid system. The new RAV4 here next year will be the first Toyota with off-road potential to adopt a plug-in hybrid.
Fuel economy not being shared, but in the Middle East the cited average is 10.9 litres per 100km. There’s conjecture across the Tasman if the hybrid has the same 68-litre fuel tank as those bound for the Middle East.
If so that would mean the model would eke just 741km on a single tank, versus the 1200km-plus range of our neighbour’s diesel variants.
