2025 Toyota Tundra review

Watch Alex test drive the Toyota Tundra through Chittering, or read the review on this page.

After years of development and rumour, Toyota has finally brought the huge, US-market Tundra dual-cab ute to Australia in fully sanctioned right-hand drive form.

Built in Texas and converted to right hand drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne, the Australian market Tundra was six years in development. That’s partly because the US-sourced left-hand drive Tundras are torn down to their chassis before emerging as right-hand drive vehicles.

This work partially explains the starting price of $169,580 – a lot for a ute but it’s also a lot of ute. Pricing is on par with the RAM 1500 Limited but about $14,000 more than a Ford F-150 Lariat – both of which have twin-turbo V6s but no hybrid system like the Tundra.

Surprisingly for some, the Tundra utilises a petrol/electric hybrid drive system, helping address what is often seen as one of the excesses of these large utes – fuel consumption.

Cleverly though, the Tundra still produces plenty of grunt from its twin-turbo petrol V6 hybrid system. Its 326kW and 790Nm means it produces more torque than the equivalently priced RAM 1500, and the Tundra’s towing capacity for a braked trailer is rated at 4500kg against the RAM’s 4200kg.

Being a hybrid, you’d be forgiven for expecting the Tundra to sound like a Corolla hybrid, but in keeping with many buyers’ expectations of these vehicles, the Tundra does have a gratifying burble to it. 

The interior could be described as like that of a scaled-up Hilux, and those familiar with recent Toyota four-wheel drives will feel at home in the Tundra. The width of the cabin, and therefore the distance between the driver and passenger, is noticeable.

The quality of the right-hand drive conversion is factory level, and there’s very little to disclose that it started life with the steering wheel on the other side.

2025 Toyota Tundra Specifications