2025 Toyota Tundra confirmed for November launch

Toyota Australia has confirmed the 2025 Tundra full-size pick-up will join its local fleet in November this year.

Following a nine-month evaluation process where 300 vehicles were leased out to potential owners to use as they see fit and test the vehicles, TMCA now says the Tundra will be in Toyota dealers from mid-November.

Manufactured at a Toyota plant in the USA in left-hand-drive configuration only, the Tundra will be imported to Australia and re-manufactured to right-hand-drive by the Walkinshaw Group at its Melbourne facility.

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Walkinshaw has the runs on the board in this re-engineering business, as it does similar work with RAM vehicles for Ateco Automotive and the Chevrolet Silverado for GMSV, but Ryan Walkinshaw says the work with Toyota is different as it is a full factory operation with the Toyota Corporation.

Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, said of the collaboration, “The Tundra has been completely re-engineered by Toyota engineers working in close collaboration with Walkinshaw and uses many parts and components from other Toyota vehicles such as LandCruiser 300 Series, to ensure the very highest quality standards.”

This project marks the first time such a program has been approved and undertaken by Toyota anywhere in the world, where a left-hand drive vehicle is exported to another country, re-engineered by a third-party partner and sold by TMC.

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“It really was a massive effort on behalf of everyone involved and I’m proud that we have been able to gain final approval from our parent company for what is a global Toyota first,” Mr Hanley concluded.

The Tundra rides on Toyota’s TNGA-F platform that underpins the LandCruiser 300 Series and incoming 250 Series Prado. As such, Walkinshaw was able to use some LC300 components in the left- to right-hand drive process.

Powered exclusively by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that makes 326kW and 790Nm and drives through a 10-speed automatic transmission and part-time dual-range transfer case, the Tundra also has a 4500kg towing capacity. Its payload is a relatively low 758kg, which is comparable with other 1500-class full-size American pick-ups. The engine is paired with a 36kW/250Nm electric motor generator and 6.5Ah nickel metal hydride battery (Ni-MH) that delivers total system maximum outputs of 326kW and 790Nm.

From November the Tundra will only be available in the existing Limited model, with a new, higher specification variant set to join the line-up in 2025.

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The Tundra Limited is well-equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels; LED lights; leather-accented seats with power adjustment, heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger; 14-inch multimedia touchscreen with a 12-speaker JB audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto compatibility; 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster; dual-zone climate control; and an in-built trailer brake controller. The upper spec model is set to take the luxury further with new levels of equipment and styling.

Toyota Australia is clearly adding the Tundra as a premium ute with high towing capacity, rather than an off-road vehicle. Yes, it has 4x4 with low range, but the models being offered here lack features like Crawl Control, downhill assist and a locking rear diff, all of which are available in LC300 and US-spec Tundra variants.

Pricing for the 2025 Tundra Limited is yet to be disclosed, but we are tipping you won’t get much change from $150,000 if you want one.