Key highlights:
- Japan’s Land Cruiser 300 will replace its petrol V6 with a 336kW hybrid.
- The 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 will continue, including in a new GX grade.
- The updated model is already on sale in Australia and other markets.
Toyota is about to make the biggest change to the powertrains of the Land Cruiser 300 yet, with the petrol V6 making way for a more powerful hybrid system in Japan. Toyota is set to release the 2027 Land Cruiser 300 in its home market of Japan on September 16. The changes seen in the 2027 model apply to the powertrain options previously seen in other markets such as Australia, where the refreshed Land Cruiser 300 has already arrived.
According to Japanese publication Creative Trend, Toyota is set to discontinue its non-hybrid petrol V6 offering, instead opting for a high-powered self-charging hybrid system. Apart from the petrol-hybrid option, the diesel engine will still be available for those who want an alternative powertrain option.
Read more: Toyota HiAce 4×4 Camper is built for serious off-road touring
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 hybrid gets 336kW
The headline change is the arrival of Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, borrowed from the Lexus LX700h. It combines a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 with an electric motor integrated into the 10-speed automatic transmission. Together, the system produces 336kW and 790Nm, making it the most powerful Land Cruiser powertrain to date.
That is a sizable step up from the petrol V6 it replaces, although the hybrid system also adds weight. The battery is mounted beneath the cargo area, increasing the Land Cruiser’s weight by about 170kg compared with the outgoing petrol V6 model.
The battery also reduces fuel-tank capacity from 80 litres to 68 litres. Toyota has nevertheless retained the Land Cruiser’s 700mm water-wading capability, with the battery pack waterproofed for off-road use. For a vehicle as heavily associated with long-distance touring and off-road driving as the Land Cruiser, retaining that wading capability is an important detail.
The diesel Land Cruiser 300 isn’t going anywhere
While Toyota is turning its back on petrol engines in Japan, it’s retaining the Land Cruiser 300 diesel. The twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6 diesel continues to deliver 227kW and 700Nm, but more importantly, Japan will also get a new GX diesel variant that is the entry point to the Land Cruiser 300 range.
It’s a five-seat model with fabric trim, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 8.0-inch infotainment display, six speakers and 18-inch alloy wheels. Higher-grade ZX and GR Sport petrol variants will also continue with the diesel engine, though these Japanese-market diesel variants are five-seaters.
Two very different Land Cruiser 300s
Toyota’s new Japanese range effectively splits the Land Cruiser 300 into two very different powertrain options. The hybrid will be available in ZX and GR Sport grades. Both will feature three rows and seven seats, while features include 12.3-inch digital instrumentation, 12.3-inch infotainment display, head-up display, JBL audio, heated and ventilated seats and a 1500W power outlet.
The hybrid also brings electric power steering and adds Proactive Driving Assist to Toyota Safety Sense. The GR Sport retains its more rugged styling, along with 18-inch wheels, dual differential locks and E-KDSS suspension, while the ZX gets a revised front bumper and 20-inch alloy wheels.
What does this mean for Australia?
The key point for Australian buyers is to understand this isn’t completely new information. The updated Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is already available here, and indeed a number of other markets. Japan is in many ways the last major market to get the upgrade, which makes the Japanese launch more of a statement on the global strategy for the Land Cruiser 300, rather than a preview of what’s to come for Australia.
The emphasis on diesel is also an important statement for Australian buyers, who are a strong segment for Toyota in the premium SUV space for towing, touring and off-road capability. By announcing the 3.3-litre diesel will continue to be offered with the introduction of the hybrid powertrain, Toyota is sending a clear message that electrification of its flagship SUV isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
For now at least, the Japanese-market update gives the Land Cruiser 300 a more powerful option, without doing away with the diesel engine that underpins its appeal as a long-range, towing-focused and traditional off-road focused flagship from Toyota.
With 336kW and 790Nm, the hybrid now leads the way as the most powerful version of the Land Cruiser family, but for buyers who want the power of a big V6 diesel with the flexibility of a hybrid drivetrain for extended range, the 3.3-litre twin turbocharged diesel is still very much in play.
Source: creative trend
Comments
New Comment