Surprising nobody, Toyota Australia has confirmed its US-built Tundra full-size pickup will go on full retail sale in mid-November, reflecting our continued demand for jumbo dual-cabs.
The announcement follows Toyota’s roll out of 300 Tundras to hand-picked customers last year under a conditional lease agreement. These locally right-hand-drive converted Tundras were leased under the condition users reported back to the manufacturer how they performed in a variety of Australian conditions.
Prices for the re-engineered Tundra remain unknown, but we previously reported the 326kW/790Nm petrol hybrid V6 with 4500kg towing capacity cost $145,990 before on-roads in Limited grade.
The Toyota Tundra is locked in for Australia!
But no locked-in retail price just two months before it goes on sale suggests Toyota’s trying to offer something more competitive.
Rivalling Ram 1500 Big Horn costs from $119,950; Ford’s F-150 is from $106,950 and the Chevy Silverado $130,500, all of which have also been right-hand-drive converted on Aussie shores.
Toyota said the Limited grade would be joined by an even higher-specification model in 2025, to “appeal to buyers looking for a full-size pickup truck with upscale comfort,” said Sean Hanley, vice president of sales and marketing at Toyota Australia.
The Tundra competes with the likes of the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado
Sales expectations were being kept under wraps, but Hanley said Tundra “isn’t going to be the number one best-seller in a Toyota dealership, but it will play its role.”
Has Tundra missed the full-size pickup boat?
The Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 and the Chevrolet Silverado had the US-sourced pickup market to itself until last year when Ford’s F-150 joined the party.
After the segment’s rapid growth in recent years, demand has plateaued. Just over 10,000 full-size pickups sold in 2023 (up from 8500 the previous year), while this year’s figures are tracking down a few percent.
A look inside the Toyota Tundra
The Tundra’s missed early adopters, so will likely have to wrestle sales from rivals. But typical buyers will be towing large boats, caravans or horse floats, and be travelling long distances, making Toyota’s 260 nationwide dealers a winning advantage over the competition.
What are the Tundra’s vitals?
The Tundra’s re-engineering is a global first for Toyota.
“It’s the first time, anywhere in the world, we at Toyota have taken a vehicle built in a country that’s not Japan, exported it to a third country (Australia), re-engineered it with a local partner, undertaken final assembly in a non-Toyota factory and sold it as a 100 per cent Toyota branded vehicle,” Hanley explained.
The Toyota Tundra will be able to tow 4500kg
Toyota Australia has worked with its parent company, its US affiliate and local partner Walkinshaw Automotive Group to create the right-hand-drive version for our market.
Walkinshaw’s Melbourne production facility performs the right-hand-drive re-engineering, and, we’re promised, “Meet Toyota’s global standards for quality, durability and reliability, said Hanley.
He also emphasised: “Anyone who refers to the right-hand-drive Tundra as a mere conversion is massively under-calling what’s been achieved here. This vehicle sets a new benchmark for re-engineering a full-size pickup truck from left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive.”
Powering the Tundra is a hybrid V6 petrol engine
The Tundra’s built on the same body-on-frame TNGA-F platform as the LandCruiser 300 Series, and original parts from it and the Lexus LX have been used in the re-engineering.
It’s 600mm longer than a double-cab HiLux, features a multi-link coil sprung rear suspension (rather than leaf springs), part-time 4WD and Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid V6 mated to a 10-speed auto. It’ll hit 100km/h in around 6.5 seconds and offers fuel economy of 11.7L/100km combined.
The Limited grade is hugely equipped, with highlights including heated, ventilated and power synthetic leather seats, 12.3-inch digital driver display, 14-inch infotainment, dual zone climate control, JBL audio, 20-inch alloy wheels and comprehensive safety assist systems.
All-important pricing and full specifications will be revealed closer to the Tundra’s November on-sale date.
