- Local engineering firm Walkinshaw handles the conversion from LHD to RHD.
- An equivalent model in the US costs almost half as much.
- Toyota is backing the re-engineered truck with a five-year warranty.
Australia’s love affair with big pickup trucks has continued with the local launch of the Toyota Tundra. It joins a growing list of trucks to launch Down Under in recent years, including the Ram 1500, Ford F-150, and Chevrolet Silverado.
The Tundra’s local launch marks the culmination of six years of work and a soft launch earlier this year, where 300 test vehicles were delivered to select customers to analyze and critique. Like its rivals, the Tundra is not built in right-hand drive configuration by Toyota. Instead, Australian engineering firm Walkinshaw has been tasked with converting all LHD models to comply with local regulations.
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Converting the Tundra to RHD is an extensive process and requires each vehicle to be stripped down to its frame and then rebuilt. As you’d imagine, this adds to the cost and means the Tundra is much more expensive than it is in the US.
In fact, it’ll set back local buyers AU$155,990 (before on-road costs), or the equivalent of ~$101,900 at current exchange rates and be sold exclusively in Limited guise with the i-Force Max powertrain. A comparable version in the US starts at $58,005.
The Tundra’s i-Force Max system consists of a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 working alongside a motor generator to deliver a combined 326 kW (437 hp) and 790 Nm (583 lb-ft) of torque. This grunt is sent to the wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. A selectable four-wheel drive system comes standard, offering rear- and four-wheel driving modes.
Visually, the Tundra sold in Australia looks identical to the US model and will be offered in Glacier White, Frosted White, Graphite, Silver Storm, Eclipse Black, Feverish Red, Vintage Brown Pearl, Jungle Khaki, and Saturn Blue. Local shoppers will be pleased to know the integrated tow hitch is good for 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs), while an optional 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs) towing kit is also available.
This package also includes a trailer brake controller, two different tow modes, and a trailer backup guide that automatically controls the steering. The payload sits at 758 kg (1,671 lbs), roughly the same as the much smaller Hilux.
Toyota hasn’t skimped on safety features, adding the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which includes autonomous emergency braking, emergency steering assist, active cruise control, lane trace assist, lane departure alert, blind-spot monitors, and a panoramic view monitor. There are plenty of creature comforts found inside, too. These include a 14-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system.
All Tundra models sold locally include Toyota’s standard five-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty.
