2025 Toyota Tundra: Australian specifications

It may be at least a year away from release, but Toyota Australia has announced full specifications for the 2025 Toyota Tundra, showing exactly where the full-size US-built pick-up will sit compared to its rivals – the RAM 1500, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

However, there’s no pricing yet because currency exchange rates will change by the time customer versions of the Tundra are imported from North America, converted to right-hand drive by the Walkinshaw Group in Melbourne and then rolled into Toyota dealerships – which probably won’t happen until early 2025.

The first of 300 Toyota Tundra Limited vehicles has already started cruising around Australia as part of a 12-month real-world test before full-scale ‘remanufacturing’ and sales commence – if the gargantuan dual-cab 4x4 ute meets Toyota’s much-publicised quality, durability and reliability standards.

carsales understands that’s almost a certainty and that the third-generation Tundra – released in the US in 2022 – will get Toyota HQ’s approval for Australian release following a significant investment and an exhaustive five-year development process.

That will give Toyota Australia access to a lucrative and booming full-size pick-up market locally, where the RAM 1500 is the most popular and affordable factory-backed model with a $98,950 entry price. The new V6-only Ford F-150 starts at $106,950 and the Chevy Silverado at $128,000.

The 280 customers and 20 Toyota Australia staff who will be conducting real-world testing will lease the vehicle for $2500 per month, which covers vehicle registration, insurance, service and repair costs.

Like many Toyotas, the Tundra will come with six-month/10,000km service intervals – significantly shorter than the Ford F-150’s 12-month/15,000km intervals.

During last week’s first media drive of the Australian production-spec Tundra (watch this space for our first written and video review in mid-January 2024), Toyota Australia confirmed that just one model grade – the Tundra Limited – will be offered locally, along with one top-shelf V6 hybrid powertrain dubbed i-Force MAX.

Replacing the 4.6- and 5.7-litre petrol V8s available in previous Tundras, the electrified six-cylinder petrol powertrain pairs a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 (290kW/649Nm) with an electric motor (36kW/250Nm) and a 1.8kWh nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery.

Peak outputs are a brawny 326kW and 790Nm – slightly more power and considerably more torque than all three factory-backed rivals.

Countering its class-leading power and torque figures are ventilated disc brakes at the front (354mm) and rear (335mm), along with an array of safety features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Active cruise control is standard, as is a blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and eight airbags.

As well as bragging rights when it comes to powertrain performance, the hybrid system can drive the Tundra for short distances in pure EV mode and, although Toyota was at pains to point out it’s not a full hybrid powertrain and the electric motor boost is designed primarily to deliver more towing muscle at ultra-low revs.

There are no official fuel economy figures from Toyota yet, but the hybrid system should help the Tundra deliver better fuel efficiency than all of its rivals as well – but it would want to, given its 122-litre fuel tank is significantly smaller than its three competitors.

The Tundra requires 95 RON premium petrol.

Like its three arch-rivals, the Toyota Tundra is rated to tow up to 4.5 tonnes with a braked trailer and has a tow ball down-weight limit of 450kg.

All Tundra Limited models will come standard with an electronic trailer brake controller, along with an Aussie 12-pin plug and a tow bar, tongue, hitch and 50mm tow ball, providing a 3500kg towing capacity.

If you want the full 4500kg towing capacity you’ll have to pay extra for a genuine 70mm tow ball and hitch accessory, but Toyota hasn’t said how much this will cost yet.

Scroll to the bottom of the page for the full list of vital statistics, but as it stands the Tundra has a claimed kerb weight of 2778kg, gross vehicle mass (GVM) is 3536kg and a payload of 758kg – although Toyota says that last figure might change.

Gross combined mass (GCM) is rated at 7825kg so if you want to tow 4.5 tonnes you’re looking at almost 7.3 tonnes combined, leaving around just 550kg for passengers and gear – and that's without subtracting another 450kg of downball weight (assuming 10% of trailer mass).

The lead engineer for the RHD Tundra project, Ray Munday, said the vehicle’s multi-link rear suspension, built-in trailer tech, dual tow-specific drive modes and extensive testing across Australia contribute to the big ute’s towing competency.

“We’ve been able to do long-distance real-world testing across the country, everywhere from our site down in Altona, all the way up to Darwin and pretty much continuously towing a four and a half ton trailer,” he said.

A trailer reversing guide is also part of the package and because Toyota’s Texan-built pick-up is being pitched as an on-road ‘premium tow machine’, it’s not available with a locking rear diff, all-terrain tyres, a suspension lift kit or several other off-road goodies that many Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux owners are accustomed to.

Instead, RHD Aussie Toyota Tundra models feature a part-time 4WD system that defaults to rear-wheel drive (2H) and can be switched into 4x4 (4H and 4L) on unsealed roads only, given it locks the centre differential in these modes.

Low-range gearing will provide low-speed off-road capability, but the standard fitment of 20-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone Dueler H/T tyres designed for high mileage and low noise is a clear signal of its intended purpose.

Approach and departure angles of 23- and 21-degrees respectively will also prohibit hard-core bush-bashing, not to mention its long 3700mm wheelbase and rather average ground clearance of 216mm.

Instead, Toyota dealers will be pointing buyers who want an off-road vehicle in the direction of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and the upcoming new Prado.

Toyota Australia won’t talk about price yet, but given all the gear fitted as standard to the Tundra Limited, it could be a $140,000 vehicle before on-road costs are added – and possibly a lot more.

As well offering the only petrol-electric hybrid powertrain in its class, the 2025 Toyota Tundra Limited comes with LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights, heated and power folding exterior mirrors with tilt-down reversing function, an active front spoiler to reduce fuel consumption, plus a tub management system featuring side rails with moveable tie-down points

Nine colour options will be on the Tundra menu, including metallic, crystal pearl and solid paint finishes.

The interior is fitted as standard with power-operated black synthetic leather-clad seats with heating and cooling functionality, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch central touch-screen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto functionality.

There’s no sunroof but a surround-view parking monitor will come in handy, as will four front and rear parking sensors.

Dual-zone climate control with rear vents, keyless entry and start, five USB ports and a 12V accessory socket – but no 220V power points – are fitted, as is a large wireless smartphone charger, a 12-speaker JBL audio system, tinted rear windows and power windows all round.

The rear windscreen is fixed, unlike some US Tundra model grades that have power operation.

Stay tuned for our first Australia review including tow testing from 5.00pm (AEST) on Thursday, January 18.

Dimensions

Engine

i-Force MAX hybrid system

Transmission

Chassis

Exterior

Interior

Safety

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