The hybrid version of the Lexus LX four-wheel-drive is drawing closer to following its Toyota sibling into Australian showrooms.
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Hybrid power is under consideration for the 2026 Lexus LX off-road SUV in Australia amid plans to introduce its Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series sibling.
The LX700h and LandCruiser Hybrid use a 'performance hybrid' version of the Toyota group's petrol-electric technology, with one electric motor between the engine and gearbox, rather than a complex dual-motor drive unit aimed at lower fuel efficiency.
The boss of Lexus Australia has given the best indication yet that the hybrid LX is bound for local showrooms.
"At the end of the day, we've got nothing right now to confirm on the Lexus side of the business, with that performance hybrid. But stay tuned," Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas told local media.
Pressed on whether Lexus should've introduced the 'performance hybrid' system before its 'mainstream' sibling Toyota, Pappas said: "I can't really comment on the Toyota side and the timing, but yeah, we've got nothing to confirm right now."
Much of the work to engineer the LX's hybrid system for Australia has likely already been done in preparing the LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid for local showrooms, due from March next year.
It combines a 3.4-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine with an electric motor for combined outputs in overseas markets of 336kW and 790Nm.
In Japan, the split in outputs is attributed to 300kW/650Nm from the V6 – down from 305kW/650Nm in regular LX600 non-hybrid variants – and 40kW/290Nm from the electric motor.
The low power of the electric motor means it is intended for short bursts of electric-only driving at very low speeds, or taking the load off the V6 under acceleration, rather than a 50:50 blend of petrol and electric driving, as Toyota hybrid passenger cars are capable of.
Fuel consumption in Japanese WLTC testing is rated at 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres for the LX600 in non-Overtrail guise, and 10.8L/100km for the LX700h – a saving of 14 per cent.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for the related LandCruiser Hybrid, but Toyota has indicated it will carry a "slight premium" over the GR Sport and Sahara ZX model grades it will be based on.
Those LandCruiser variants are diesel-powered, as the Toyota does not offer a non-hybrid petrol option like its Lexus sibling.
As a result, the premium commanded by the hybrid grade may be smaller for the LX, as LX600 twin-turbo petrol V6 grades are $3500 dearer than equivalent LX500d twin-turbo V6 diesels.
The current Lexus LX is priced from $158,700 plus on-road costs for the LX500d Luxury, rising to $162,200 plus on-roads for an equivalent LX600 Luxury, and topping out at $220,950 for the flagship four-seat LX600 Ultra Luxury.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
