2024 Toyota Prado hybrid warming for Oz

When the new 2024 Toyota Prado finally arrives in Australia in the third quarter of 2024, it’ll be available with only one four-cylinder engine – essentially the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel it’s had since 2015.

But that could change following increasing customer and dealer demand for the all-new, stump-pulling 2.4-litre turbo-petrol ‘i-FORCE MAX’ hybrid powertrain available in the new Prado overseas.

Outputting 243kW/630Nm, the four-cylinder petrol-electric system delivers significantly more power and torque than the 48-volt mild-hybrid turbo-diesel (150kW/500Nm) Prado coming to Australia, and will almost certainly also offer improved acceleration and refinement.

However, thanks to an 35kW electric motor integrated within its eight-speed automatic transmission (and a 1.87kWh NiMH battery pack to charge it), it’s expected to be more expensive – and won’t be able to tow as much as the current Prado, which is rated to 3000kg.

Toyota Australia is yet to confirm the new Prado’s towing capacity, but the diesel version is almost certain to retain or improve on its predecessor’s three-tonne towing capability.

Fitted as standard to all US versions of the Prado (or Toyota LandCruiser 250 Series, as it’s badged in North America), the potent new i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain will tow up to 2720kg (6000 pounds).

Similarly, Toyota is yet to announce the new Prado’s fuel consumption or capacity, but because it rides on the same ladder frame and wheelbase as the LandCruiser 300 Series (and its top-hinged tailgate won’t allow the spare wheel to be relocated from underneath), it’s likely to get the same fuel 110-litre fuel capacity – meaning the diesel won’t match the outgoing Prado’s 150-litre capacity and circa-1500km range, but should still manage about 1000km.

However, despite its lower towing – and potentially driving range – figures, the turbo-petrol hybrid Prado is being investigated for potential release Down Under, Toyota Australia’s vice-president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley confirmed to carsales.

“There’s certainly a lot of talk around hybrid and a lot of customers are interested in hybrid, so that is something we’re definitely going to be looking at in the future,” he said.

“There is one in the US. We’ll be certainly looking at that vehicle and its suitability for the Australian market going forward.”

Asked if the brawny petrol-electric powertrain would command a hefty price premium over the diesel Prado in Australia, Hanley said: “Australian consumers will buy anything that they believe is capable of affordable.”

Apart from the LandCruiser 250 and 300 Series, the new Toyota Tundra and Tacoma pick-ups are also based on the same TNGA-F architecture, and the new 2.4-litre turbo hybrid powertrain is also available in the Tacoma, which is even more closely related to the next-gen Toyota HiLux.

That means it could also be offered later in the lifecycle of the new HiLux, following the new ute’s Australian release around 2025.

Toyota’s 2.4-litre i-FORCE MAX powertrain is already available here in the Lexus RX, as well as models not sold in Australia like the Toyota Crown and Toyota Grand Highlander.

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