Will Toyota Land Cruiser 300 also get PHEV?

As early as June of this year, Toyota confirmed that there's a hybrid version of the Land Cruiser 300. That’s right, customers who want to get an electrified Land Cruiser starting can now get one, with the Australian market and the UAE the first to get the electrified Land Cruiser.

Like the Lexus LX700h that’s already on sale in the Philippines, the Land Cruiser HEV has a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 that is paired with a powerful electric motor generator, and a battery pack. The result is a combined system output of 457 PS with 790 Nm of torque, and it is coupled to a 10-speed automatic gearbox and a 4WD system.

Since the Land Cruiser Hybrid is set to debut next year, the full-size frame-based SUV will finally get an electrified heart. But with the growing popularity of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) that combine the best features of an EV and ICE, it looks like we can expect Toyota to also launch a PHEV variant of the LC300.

Based on a report by Japanese publication Creative Trend, a plug-in hybrid Land Cruiser 300 is apparently already in the works, and it will still have a 3.5L twin-turbo V6. However, it will reportedly get a more powerful electric motor and a larger battery pack. This will enable the Land Cruiser to cover significantly more ground in both EV and HEV modes while consuming less fuel.

But thanks to the additional equipment, the PHEV Land Cruiser could face weight, packaging, and fuel capacity issues. Since the LC300 is already heavy as it is, its curb weight could take a hit. Moreover, the three-row Land Cruiser could only be offered as a two-row SUV since the PHEV hardware could eat into the cabin space. Last but not least, the plug-in hybrid version of the Land Cruiser could get a smaller fuel tank.

For reference, both the gasoline and diesel-powered Land Cruiser 300 get an 80-liter fuel tank. However, the Land Cruiser HEV and the LX700H only come with a smaller 68-liter tank. With the PHEV version set to get more electrified equipment, the fuel tank of the plug-in hybrid Land Cruiser 300 could only be rated for 50 liters.

With PHEVs continuing to grow in popularity, Toyota’s supposed plan to have a plug-in hybrid LC300 could be just what the full-size SUV needs in the electrified car market. The only questions now are when we can expect Toyota to launch it, and could Toyota Motor PH bring it here alongside the HEV model?