Let’s talk about the Toyota Land Cruiser, a car so tough it could probably smash through a concrete wall and then climb a mountain just for kicks. This isn’t a car; it’s a statement. A four-wheeled middle finger to anything soft, weak, or urban. But hold on a second, Toyota’s decided to make this unyielding off-road beast a tad more eco-conscious with a 48V mild hybrid system. Is this a masterstroke or a disguised midlife crisis for a car that’s always been a diesel-guzzling giant? Let’s dive in.
The Land Cruiser has been a legend for decades. It’s the car that takes you to places where even mountain goats with vertigo wouldn’t dare venture. Built on a ladder chassis so sturdy it’d probably still be standing after the apocalypse, this thing is a tank. But in 2025, Toyota did something nobody saw coming: they slipped a little electric motor into this diesel behemoth. No plug-in hybrid nonsense, no fully electric malarkey, just a 48V mild hybrid system that gives the 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel a slight nudge. Picture a bodybuilder downing an espresso shot for a bit of extra pep.
Let’s get a bit technical, but not too dull. The 2.8-liter diesel still pumps out 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque, enough to tow a small caravan to the moon. The electric motor, a modest chap with 16 hp and 65 Nm, is paired with a lithium-ion battery weighing just 7.6 kg. This isn’t some hefty battery turning your car into a sluggish snail; it’s a lightweight helper that makes the Land Cruiser accelerate a bit smoother, sip a bit less fuel, and start a tad quieter. Toyota promises about a 5% improvement in fuel economy, meaning you’re just under 10 liters per 100 km. Not exactly Prius-level frugality, but for a car that looks like it eats rocks for breakfast, that’s not bad.
What makes this system special? Well, it’s cleverly tucked away. The electric motor and battery are mounted high in the engine bay, so you can still wade through 70 cm of water without your car spluttering like a drowned cat. The system helps with acceleration, smooths out the stop-start function, and ensures the car doesn’t sound like a tractor when you restart it. But let’s be real: if you’re buying a Land Cruiser, it’s not for whisper-quiet city cruises. You’re buying this beast because you want nature to bow down to you.
The design of the new Land Cruiser is a nod to its roots. The First Edition, with its retro round headlights, pays homage to the old models that looked like they belonged in a war zone. The standard versions get square headlights, which are also pretty cool but a bit less nostalgic. At 4.92 meters long and with a chassis 30% stiffer thanks to the GA-F platform, this is a car that feels like it could lift your house and carry it to another postcode. Inside, the cabin is modern, with a digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen reminding you it’s 2025, not 1985.
But let’s talk about the real deal: off-road prowess. The Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V makes no compromises. It’s still a 4x4 monster that tackles mud, rocks, and steep slopes like it’s a walk in the park. The extra electric power even helps with obstacles, as if the car’s saying, “Oh, a tree trunk? A quick sip of juice, and we’re over it.” And with a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, you can haul your entire household, including that hideous sofa your aunt gave you.
Anything to gripe about? Well, yeah. The price, for starters. In Belgium, the Land Cruiser 250 starts at around €98,900 for the First Edition, and that’s without the hybrid tech. With the 48V system, you’d think the price might soften a bit due to lower CO2 emissions, but let’s not be naive—this is still a car that delivers a hefty punch to your wallet. And then there’s the fact that this isn’t a true hybrid. You can’t drive fully electric, so if you were hoping for silent wilderness cruises, forget it. This is a diesel with an electric sidekick, not a Tesla in disguise.
Still, there’s something charming about this approach. Toyota could’ve stuffed the Land Cruiser with a heavy battery and a plug, but instead, they chose a solution that keeps the car’s soul intact. This is still a Land Cruiser: an indestructible, no-nonsense machine that takes you anywhere, now with a slight green edge. It’s like a Viking deciding to carry a pocketknife alongside his axe—it doesn’t make him less fearsome, just a bit more practical.
So, who’s this car for? The adventurer who loves rough terrain but also wants to nod toward a slightly cleaner future. The person who wants a car that could beat a bear in a wrestling match while dabbling in the eco-trend. The Toyota Land Cruiser Hybrid 48V is a compromise that doesn’t feel like one. It’s a beast with a battery, a colossus with a touch of class.
For those who want to go fully electric, check out our marketplace where you can search for and buy 100% electric cars: https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
