I drove the 2026 Land Cruiser 300 Series Hybrid in Australia – Land Cruiser will NEVER be the same.

I just drove the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series with a Hybrid Petrol powertrain, and let's just say - things are changing for the Land Cruiser. The Toyota Land Cruiser is truly heading into uncharted territory.

For 2026, the legendary 300 Series will debut in Australia with a hybrid powertrain, a move that redefines one of the country’s most iconic nameplates. We’ve driven a pre-production example at Toyota’s Altona proving ground - the same site where Toyotas were once built locally - and the experience revealed just how big this shift really is.

Performance hybrid, not efficiency hybrid

Toyota has split its future hybrids into two families: Efficient Hybrid (as seen in the Corolla, Camry, and RAV4) and Performance Hybrid. The Land Cruiser sits firmly in the latter.

Under the bonnet lies a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine paired with a 36kW electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission. On paper, that sounds small compared with some rivals (Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid uses a 150kW motor, for instance), but the way Toyota has integrated it is different. The combined outputs climb to 326kW and 790Nm, making it more powerful and torquey than the 3.2-litre twin-turbocharged V6 diesel with 227kW and 700Nm, and easily the most powerful Land Cruiser yet.

The electric motor’s instant torque smooths out low-down performance and fills in where turbo lag would otherwise appear. Acceleration from 0–100km/h came in at 6.97 seconds during our testing - far from sports car territory, but brisk for a near-three-tonne off-roader. The hybrid system isn’t designed to run silently for long stretches, but it can creep briefly on electric power to 30km/h before the V6 takes over.

Pricing and positioning

The hybrid won’t be available across the range.

Instead, it’s reserved for the Sahara ZX and GR Sport, both in five-seat form only. Toyota hasn’t confirmed pricing, but early indications suggest around a $10,000 premium compared with equivalent diesel grades. That puts the starting point at roughly $155,000 before on-road costs, climbing higher for the GR Sport.

This makes the hybrid strictly a premium proposition, aligning with Toyota’s language that it’s “no compromise” technology.

Design details

Visually, the Hybrid is subtle.

The GR Sport wears a bold heritage-inspired grille, GR badging, and 18-inch wheels wrapped in highway-biased all-terrain tyres (which many buyers will swap out). Around the side, you’ll find discreet Hybrid badging - something Toyota hasn’t bothered with on the mild-hybrid HiLux, but considered necessary here. Privacy glass and keyless entry are standard.

At the rear, you’ll spot HEV badging with blue accents alongside the GR Sport logo. Importantly, the Hybrid maintains the Land Cruiser’s 3.5-tonne towing capacity, a full-size spare wheel mounted underneath the car, and Toyota claims no loss of driving range compared with the diesel.

Boot capacity remains generous at 1,188 litres, though the underfloor storage has been deleted to house hybrid components.

You also gain a 1,500W household power socket in the boot - capable of running tools, camping gear, or appliances directly from the car.

Cabin and comfort

Inside, the updates reflect the broader facelifted 300 Series. The infotainment system is faster, with a clearer display, though still conservative by luxury SUV standards. A digital driver display is standard, and the GR-Sport grade benefits from premium trim finishes like woodgrain steering wheel inserts and leather seating.

The GR Sport we drove felt decidedly upmarket, with ventilated and heated front seats, a wireless charger, and a cabin loaded with physical buttons for core functions like climate - a deliberate contrast to rivals chasing screen-only minimalism.

Rear passengers receive four-zone climate control and heated/cooled outboard seats, but packaging remains a compromise. The high floor (a consequence of the body-on-frame design) leaves legroom tight for taller adults despite good headroom.

Notably, there’s no hybrid-specific menu in the infotainment system yet - no energy flow diagrams or efficiency trackers - though this could be added before launch.

On-Road and Off-Road Driving impressions

On sealed roads at Toyota's proving track in Altona, Victoria, the Hybrid feels remarkably similar to the diesel, with a heavy but secure ride. Where it differs is in throttle response: the electric motor delivers immediate shove, and combined with the V6’s 326kW output, the SUV feels more eager. The sound and character remain distinctly Land Cruiser, meaning enthusiasts won’t feel like they’ve lost the essence of the vehicle.

Off-road, the hybrid system comes into its own. The electric torque made steep climbs feel effortless, and Toyota’s Crawl Control system - with five adjustable speeds and even the ability to operate in reverse - let the Cruiser tackle gnarly rocks and moguls with calm precision.

Water crossings up to 600mm were dispatched without fuss, while moguls and inclines highlighted how seamlessly the hybrid system integrates with the traditional 4WD hardware.

Yes, the calibration occasionally hesitated as the system “decided” between electric and petrol drive, but this was pre-production software, and Toyota will continue fine-tuning before launch.

Compromises and considerations

Toyota is marketing this as a “no compromise” hybrid, but there are still trade-offs:

• Five seats only (due to battery packaging).
• No underfloor storage in the boot.
• High price premium compared with diesel.
• More complexity than a diesel, which some off-road traditionalists may view with caution.

That said, capability is fully retained - including towing and range - and the instant torque actually makes it feel more at home off-road than expected.

Final thoughts

The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid isn’t here to save fuel like a RAV4; it’s here to enhance performance and capability.

With stronger outputs, premium positioning, and off-road credibility intact, it feels like the most significant evolution in Land Cruiser history.

Will it be worth the premium over the tried-and-true diesel? That’s the question buyers will answer in six months when it officially arrives.

But one thing is certain: the Land Cruiser will never be the same.