Toyota 2025 Tundra Platinum: It will be a seismic shift in the Australian automotive landscape as Toyota launches its flagship pickup truck on the continent.
Finally, the 2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum arrives on Australian shores and has been guaranteed to shake up the ute world down under with an intoxicating blend of USA-sized muscle and premium luxury.
A Brave New Challenger For the Australian Bakkie Scene
For decades now, Australian pickup lovers have longingly eyed the North American market, where full-sized pickups have reigned supreme since forever, and where the Tundra has spent practically its entire life.
After centuries of anticipation, Toyota Australia has announced that the 2025 Tundra Platinum has officially landed, as part of the brand’s push into the largest car market in the universe.
The introduction comes at a crucial stage with Australian shoppers continuing to migrate toward bigger, more practical duo-purpose vehicles for work and play.
But Toyota didn’t arrive at its decision to bring the Tundra to Australia in a vacuum – it’s the culmination of years spent conducting market research and noting that customers wanted to consider more significant alternatives to the mid-sized HiLux that has served as the company’s utility flagship in the region for decades.
“We have been listening to customers in Australia who have requested some thing bigger, more powerful and more luxurious than our existing models.” said Sarah Mitchell, Toyota Australia’s Marketing Director.
“The demand for a truck like this was clear, and the 2025 Tundra Platinum is our response — combining Toyota’s legendary reliability and dependability with a connectivity and capability previously unseen in our local portfolio.”
A Powerful Performance That’s Also Smartly Engineered
Beneath the intimidating bonnet of the 2025 Tundra Platinum resides Toyota’s most capable powertrain ever.
The Japanese giant’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid, which pairs a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with an electric motor integrated into a 10-speed automatic transmission, will be retained Down Under.
This powertrain combo produces a whale of 437hp (326kW) and an earth-moving 790Nm of torque – numbers that make the Tundra one of the most powerful pickups in the Australian segment.
This intelligent hybrid system doesn’t only provide that heart-pumping performance but also surprising efficiency for a car this size, with combined fuel consumption from earlier Australian testing pegging figures at between 10.0-10.5L/100km.
The Tundra’s performance credentials don’t stop at its powertrain. Instead, the truck rests on Toyota’s new TNGA-F platform, which is both stiffer and lighter than its predecessors.
The rear suspension makes use of an advanced multi-link design with coil springs instead of the leaf springs that remain common in many competitors, providing a ride that manages to combine comfort with load-carrying ability.
Its engineering is impressive as it results in a claimed 4,500 kg (braked) towing capacity and over 900 kg in payload; the Australian spec Tundra Platinum boasts these figures.
These numbers guarantee the Tundra is practical for both commercial uses and recreational tasks including the towing of boats and caravans, which is hugely favoured amongst Australian buyers.
Out Roust The Litany of Driving Modes
You might think the Tundra’s spec sheet reads with the same turgid grandeur as one of Bill Gates’ monologues, but Toyota’s engineers have worked hard to ensure the truck is manageable in Australian conditions.
The electronically assisted steering offers good feedback while keeping low-speed maneuvers less arduous, and the system suspension is quite sophisticated with good body roll management when cornering.
Standard on the Tundra Platinum is Toyota’s sophisticated four-wheel-drive system, with a terrain-select feature that gives drivers the ability to configure performance depending on the surface: mud, sand, rock, or snow.
This helps to supplement the standard limited-slip differential and available crawl control function for impressive off-road performance.
“We have conducted extensive testing over Australian terrain to ensure that the Tundra meets the highest standards in Australian conditions,” said David Carter, Chief Engineer for Toyota Australia.
“From the outback to the urban environment, we’ve been tuning the suspension and drivetrain responses for tastes and conditions specific to your driving.”
Luxury Pickup, Platinum-Grade Redefines Comfort
Tundra Platinum interior represents a paradigm shift for Australian-sold pick-up trucks.
In fact, the cabin feels more premium than what you see in most luxury SUVs than work vehicles, with all the premium materials and design touches you’d expect in a high-end vehicle.
The new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system at the center of the dashboard is the most important piece of interior tech, with wireless wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, satellite navigation, and a customizable interface.
The well-integrated system is complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which equips drivers with an abundance of information, and in stunning crisp, and high-resolution displays.
The 2023 Ford Explorer Platinum comes standard with premium leather upholstery, heated/ventilated seating in both the front row, and 12-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way adjustment for the passenger.
There is ample head and legroom, greater than most of their Australian-market rivals, and the rear bench is wide enough to fit three adults.
Amenities aren’t forgotten for rear passengers, either, with dedicated climate controls, multiple USB ports, and optional heated seats.
At Every Turn, Technological Innovation
The Tundra Platinum’s technological sophistication goes far beyond its infotainment. Toyota’s latest Safety Sense package is fitted to the Australian-spec model, consisting of:
Pillar 1: Advanced Pre-Collision System with pedestrian and cyclist detection
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go feature
Lane Tracing Assist With Lane Departure Alert
Automatic high beam
Road sign recognition
Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
The Tundra also marks the introduction of Toyota’s new Panoramic View Monitor system to Australia, with multiple cameras working in unison to provide a 360-degree view around the vehicle — a godsend when trying to manoeuvre a vehicle of this size into tight spots.
A standard 12-speaker JBL Premium Audio system provides immersive sound quality with strategically positioned speakers and a sophisticated digital signal processor that audiophiles will love. Wireless charging comes standard and there are multiple USB-A and USB-C ports around the cabin.
No other vehicle in Australia has thrown a shoe at the 2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum.
Starting from $112,990 (plus on-roads), it puts the Nissan above regular dual-cab utes like the HiLux and Ford Ranger, though makes a strong pitch towards luxury SUV customers and European-branded workhorse models like the Volkswagen Amarok.
The Platinum grade will be the first variant to land in Toyota Australia, with other trim levels likely to be introduced in late 2025 and early 2026.
The first allocation is just 1,000 units for the 2025 calendar year, but Toyota says production will ramp up if demand dictates.
THE TUNDRA PLATINUM| MARKETING QUOTE “Tundra Platinum is a new story for Toyota in Australia,” said Toyota Australia’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Michael Davidson.
“It provides our customers with an option to step up from the HiLux but stay within the Toyota family, as well as attract new customers who may need to look outside of the Toyota brand in the past to consider premium European vehicles.”
Australian-Specific Gear Updates
To tailor the Tundra to suit Australian conditions perfectly, Toyota has made a number of modifications specific to the market. These include:
Suspension tweaks specifically for Australian roads
More robust dust sealing for outback driving
Enhanced cooling packages for high heat operation
Navigation data is prepared in accordance with Australia and its associated default voice recognition calibration.
Upgraded fuel system to suit the different quality of fuel available around the country
Well-considered changes such as these showcase Toyota’s determination to ensure the Tundra behaves in the same impressive manner in local conditions as it does in its original North American market.
Environmental Factors and Potential for Future Expansion
Toyota say of the 2025 Tundra Platinum’s hybrid powertrain, However, while the Tundra’s hybrid powertrain may deliver more economical performance than conventional V8 engines, the complexity of the full-size pickup truck market means that further advances in electric power remain a priority.
Additionally, the Tundra platform is adaptable for future powertrain advancements — a plug-in hybrid variant will be possible and may improve fuel economy significantly while allowing for pure electric driving for short distances.
Jessica Wong, Environmental Strategy Manager at Toyota Australia, said:
“Current hybrid technology is an important first step, but we’re already developing next-generation technologies that will improve the environmental performance of our large vehicles further without compromising the performance that is the hallmark of our larger offerings.”
In step with the future, this commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with Toyota’s global strategy to lower its carbon footprint and continue to serve the varied business needs of customers across the world.
The Start of a New Era for Toyota in Australia
And so it is that we meet the 2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum in Australia, representing something of a watershed moment for the evolution of the country’s pickup segment.
By Americanizing its proportions and putting its engineering precision and premium luxury appointments in place under the hood, Toyota has created something that doesn’t quite fit into a box.
With Australian audiences increasingly looking towards larger, more capable vehicles for both work and play, the Tundra comes perfectly to the party at the very moment their preferences are changing.
From taking on rugged and difficult off-road terrain to towing heavy loads to simply creating a comfortable, luxurious driving experience for the family to enjoy during those jaunts, the Tundra Platinum shows Toyota understands the rapidly changing Australian automotive landscape.
Blending burly mechanics with hedonistic opulence and the famous Toyota dependability, the 2025 Tundra Platinum appears well-positioned to make a noticeable dent in the Australian marketplace, if for no other reason than redefining expectations of a premium truck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: That’s the towing capacity of the Tundra sold in Australia?
A: The 2025 Tundra Platinum has up to 4,500 kg tow capacity (braked), so it’s able to tow large caravans, boats and trailers.
Q: Does Tundra offer a diesel engine?
A: No, the Australian-spec Tundra will only come with the hybrid i-FORCE MAX powertrain shared with other Tundras, which marries a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor.
Q: What is the new Tundra’s warranty coverage?
The 2025 Tundra is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. A: Toyota Australia is providing a 5-year/unlimited kilometer warranty for the Tundra, and an 8-year/160,000 km warranty for the hybrid components.
Q: Is the Tundra built in Australia?
A: No, the 2025 Tundra will come in from Toyota’s San Antonio, Texas manufacturing plant with modifications for the Australian market.