Toyota will reportedly break with more than 70 years of tradition by producing two new LandCruiser-badged models – a dual-cab ute and an SUV – based on a monocoque platform rather than a ladder frame like every Toyota off-roader since the original ‘Toyota Jeep BJ’ of 1953.
According to Japanese publication Best Car, the first LandCruiser models not to employ rugged body-on-frame construction will instead be underpinned by a car-style unibody architecture – and offered with hybrid or all-electric powertrains.
Although there’s no confirmation from Toyota, Best Car says the Japanese giant’s two new electrified off-roaders will be production versions of the EPU dual-cab pickup and LandCruiser se SUV concept cars revealed at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.
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Both the EPU and LandCruiser se concepts were purely battery-powered, but Best Car says petrol-electric hybrid powertrains are also possible for their showroom iterations.
The SUV will reportedly be launched in 2028 with the ‘LandCruiser Sport’ nameplate, but no timing was provided for the dual-cab ute, which would theoretically be a rival for car-based compact ‘lifestyle’ dual-cabs like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, neither of which is sold in Australia.
However, back in March 2025, Toyota teased production versions of both the EPU and LandCruiser se, and said both electric vehicles (EVs) would go on sale by 2026 – at least in Europe.
And then in May 2025, Toyota USA chief operating officer Mark Templin confirmed the Japanese automaker was “looking at” introducing a smaller pickup to slot beneath the brand’s Tacoma, which North American markets get instead of the HiLux.
Unlike Toyota’s existing LandCruiser 70 Series and HiLux ute models – and almost all of their competitors – the Toyota EPU concept featured an integrated (rather than separate) rear tray, like almost all Holden Utes until they were axed in 2017.
Meantime, Best Car suggests the new ‘LandCruiser Sport’ SUV will offer up to three rows of seats, given the LandCruiser se concept was even larger than Toyota’s existing 300 Series flagship.
Toyota has long promised a hybrid version of every non-GR model in its range, and the first petrol-electric LandCruiser will be the 300 Series Hybrid in 2026, borrowing its V6-based hybrid powertrain from the full-size Tundra pickup.
However, electrification for the LandCruiser Prado 250 Series launched last year is so far limited to a mild-hybrid 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the HiLux, and electric assistance for the venerable 70 Series seems even further off – if ever.
Going one step further than hybrid power, Toyota Australia showed keen interest in the all-electric EPU and LandCruiser se concepts when they were revealed in Japan two years ago.
“What this is giving you a pointer to is that we’re ready. We’re prepared. And if these cars come into production, I can assure you Australia, particularly LandCruiser, would be the first one [to get them],” Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations vice president Sean Hanley told media at the 2023 Tokyo show.
“LandCruiser is Toyota’s iconic off-road nameplate with more than 10 million sales globally.
“Therefore, it’s important that this vehicle gets an electric option and today we’re seeing a glimpse of what the first electric LandCruiser could in fact look like.”
