- Toyota revealed a new light commercial van version of the Land Cruiser for the UK.
- The SUV features a large cargo area offering up to 2,000 liters of usable load space.
- All 2026 Land Cruisers in Europe and the UK gain a mild-hybrid turbodiesel powertrain.
The new Land Cruiser isn’t just a rugged off-roader anymore, it’s also the latest addition to Toyota’s professional workhorse lineup in the UK. In a factory-backed conversion, Toyota has turned the SUV into a commercial vehicle by swapping out the rear seats for a cavernous cargo area, all while keeping its serious off-road hardware intact.
On top of that, Toyota has confirmed that all UK and European versions of the Land Cruiser will adopt a mild-hybrid diesel powertrain by the end of the year.
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The Commercial-spec Land Cruiser is a UK-exclusive variant, converted at Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. It’s aimed at professional buyers who want the off-road muscle of a Land Cruiser but don’t need the seating capacity or open-bed versatility of a Hilux pickup. In other words, it’s for those who need to haul gear, not passengers.
Looks Like an SUV, Works Like a Van
From the outside, you’d be hard-pressed to tell this version apart from the standard Land Cruiser, aside from the steel panels replacing the rear-side windows. Inside, though, the transformation is simple. Gone are the rear seats, replaced with a flat cargo floor and a metal bulkhead featuring a mesh upper section to separate the front cabin. The boot is lined with a durable tray and stretches 1,685 mm (66.3 inches) in length.
Overall, the cargo capacity of the model is 2,000 lt (70.6 cubic feet), which is a little worse than the 2,216 lt (78.3 cubic feet) of its predecessor. While this amount of space will probably be enough for the target audience, it can’t match a dedicated van like the compact Toyota Pro Ace City that comes with a load volume of 3,800 liters (134.2 cubic feet). Still, the SUV has a generous 3.5-tonne (7,000-pound) towing capacity.
Toyota UK
Toyota says the latest LCV version comes better equipped than before. Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats and steering wheel, a powered tailgate with a separate window hatch, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, electronic parking brake, dual-zone climate control, a 9-inch infotainment screen, and Toyota’s Safety Sense driver assistance suite.
Underneath, nothing changes. The LCV version keeps the same 2.8-liter diesel engine and full-time four-wheel-drive system with selectable drive modes, so all the core off-road chops remain untouched.
The Land Cruiser Commercial will go on sale in the UK this August, with a starting price of £52,729 ($70,600). The first deliveries are expected in September. Chances are that the model won’t be offered elsewhere, although the modifications could easily be applied to left-hand-drive examples.
Mild-Hybrid Diesel Power Joins the Lineup
Alongside the debut of the LCV conversion, Toyota also announced a broader powertrain update for the Land Cruiser across Europe and the UK. As originally promised during the model’s 2023 launch, the SUV is switching to a more efficient mild-hybrid diesel setup, replacing the non-electrified unit.
The familiar 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel is now combined with a Hybrid 48V system, including an electric motor generator, a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 4.3Ah, and a DC to DC power converter. The same setup has been used in the Australian-spec Land Cruiser Prado and the Hilux pickup.
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Output from the diesel alone remains at 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque, while the hybrid system adds up to 16 hp (12 kW) and 65 Nm (48 lb-ft) when fully charged. More importantly, Toyota expects lower CO2 emissions compared to the previous diesel-only setup.
The company claims that the mild hybrid version offers “smoother, quieter and more responsive engine stop-start system” as well as a “smooth, linear and powerful acceleration from start-off”. Furthermore, the new components have been designed to “withstand harsh environments”, so the off-road capabilities of the SUV are not compromised, including the 700 mm (27.6-inch) wading depth.
Deliveries of the hybrid Land Cruiser are set to begin in Europe by the end of 2025. UK availability will follow in 2026, including the Commercial variant, which will also benefit from the updated powertrain.
Toyota Europe
