48V Mild Hybrid Toyota Land Cruiser Now On Sale At £80k

The pure diesel version of the latest Toyota Land Cruiser wasn't long for the European market, having been on sale here for around a year. It's now been superseded by a version with the same basic setup, but it's now gone hybrid, which would seem on the surface to go against the Land Cruiser's reputation for being able to withstand pretty much any punishment you care to throw at it.

There doesn't seem to be much reason to worry, though. Like the hybrid powertrain for the Hilux introduced earlier this year (and being carried over into the new generation), the process for turning the Land Cruiser into a ‘hybrid’ essentially involves adding a 48V motor-generator and a small battery to the car’s existing 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox.

In other words, it’s not going to go anywhere on electric power alone, and you definitely can’t plug it in. It’s a hybrid in the very loosest sense of the term, and Toyota says the main benefits are a smoother, more responsive operation for the engine’s stop/start system and a bit of extra low-end grunt – something that should bring palpable benefits when off-roading.

Speaking of which, Toyota’s made sure the Land Cruiser’s very mild hybridisation hasn’t impacted its ability in the rough stuff. The motor-generator unit has been attached high up on the engine so it doesn’t have an impact on the car’s 700mm wading depth.

The battery, meanwhile, is waterproofed and protected by a dust filter, and the belt tensioner – the thing that operates the generator – has a high-strength aramid core and a water-absorbing cotton fabric layer.

The very light electrification doesn't bring any changes to the Land Cruiser’s 201bhp and 369lb ft of torque. The battery can provide an extra 16bhp and 48lb ft compared to the non-hybrid on start-up, though.

The UK range has been cut down to a single model too, the Invincible grade in five-seater form. That means there's sadly no longer a way of getting the excellent retro circular headlights found on last year's First Edition. That single grade now costs from £80,740 – an increase of nearly £6000 over what the Land Cruiser cost at launch last year. Once again, though, we suspect Toyota won't be able to keep up with demand for it.