Japan is the last major market to receive the updated 2027 Land Cruiser 300, following rollouts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Australia earlier this year. According to Japanese outlet Creative Trend, the changes go beyond a mid-cycle refresh: Toyota is killing off the non-electrified gasoline V6 entirely, expanding the diesel lineup with a new entry-level trim, and making the hybrid the flagship powertrain for the first time in the model’s history.
The Gas V6 Is Gone, Replaced By 457 Hybrid Horses
Toyota
The i-Force Max hybrid setup pairs a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with a single electric motor built into the 10-speed automatic, producing a combined 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque — figures that already made headlines when the same powertrain debuted in Australia at nearly Lexus LX 700h money. Adding the battery under the cargo area does come with tradeoffs: fuel capacity drops from 21.1 to 18 gallons, and the hybrid system adds 375 lbs over the outgoing gas V6, though Toyota managed to preserve the SUV’s 27.6-inch water wading depth by waterproofing the pack — addressing one of the few real complaints that’s followed this powertrain since its first global launch.
A Cheaper Way In, Courtesy Of Diesel
Toyota
While the gas engine disappears, the diesel range is actually growing. A twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 diesel carries over at 304 hp and 516 lb-ft, now joined by a new entry-level GX trim that becomes the most affordable way into a Land Cruiser 300 — a five-seat, cloth-upholstered base model with a 7-inch digital cluster and 18-inch wheels. Leaked Japanese pricing puts the GX Diesel at about $39,500, while the flagship HEV GR Sport tops out at roughly $63,900 — over $24,000 apart within the same nameplate.
Still Nowhere Near America
None of this changes anything for US buyers. America hasn’t sold the full-size Land Cruiser since the 200-series left after the 2021 model year, and today’s US-market “Land Cruiser” is actually the smaller 250-series, badged Prado everywhere else, making do with a 326-hp four-cylinder hybrid. The 300-series continuing to get more powerful, more diesel-friendly, and more thoroughly hybridized in every market except this one has become a running theme rather than a surprise at this point.