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The future is bright.
While 2025 has been chock-a-block busy with new-vehicle launches and releases, 2026 is already shaping up to be over the top as the Aussie car market is tipped to experience ever-increasing volumes of new vehicles flooding our shores.
And the SUV/4WD/off-roader realm is among the most bustling sections of the market.
Here are our top three off-roaders to look forward to in 2026.
Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series hybrid
Where would any kind of 4WD list be without a LandCruiser?
Toyota’s first hybrid LandCruiser 300 Series will also be the most powerful LandCruiser ever, the company reckons.
The hybrid Cruiser will have a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine mated to a high-output parallel one-motor electric system for reported combined outputs of 341kW/790Nm. For reference, the current line-up’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel produces 227kW and 700Nm.
This hybrid powertrain is claimed to improve fuel efficiency, boost torque, as well as improve responsiveness, and overall output – all handy enhancements on a vehicle that will likely be driven on some of the world’s toughest terrain.
Toyota also reckons the hybrid system will improve throttle control and torque delivery, both crucial in an off-road vehicle.
Buyers of the upcoming hybrid LC300 will also enjoy the spoils of the current non-hybrid line-up’s latest major upgrade in 2025, which included a boosted suite of safety tech and an improved multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).
The hybrid will benefit from features such as remote air conditioning, cloud-based navigation, and updated instrument clusters.
In more good news for those thinking about buying a hybrid Cruiser for touring and towing, the new Cruiser will retain the current LC300’s 3500kg towing capacity.
When: The hybrid LC300 is expected in Australia in the first half of 2026.
Pricing: Expected to top $150,000 for a GR-S before on-road costs.
Nissan Patrol Y63
The Patrol is right up there with the Cruiser when it comes time to argue about which is the best large 4WD wagon in Australia. Just like the Cruiser, the Patrol is a big, comfortable and capable adventure machine that holds a special place in the hearts of many adventure-loving Aussies.
And now the next-generation Patrol is set to further stoke the fire of that red-hot “Which is best?” campfire debate.
While the current-gen 5.6-litre V8 Patrol (298kW and 560Nm) still has a legion of fans – and, rest assured, that engine won’t be done away with just yet – the new Patrol will be offered with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 (317kW and 700Nm) or a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 (236kW and 386Nm).
Nissan claims that the new engine options will improve real-world power and fuel consumption.
If it follows suit with the new Patrols already on sale in markets such as the Middle East, Australia’s next-gen Patrol will likely have a two-screen set-up – a 14.3-inch multimedia system and a 14.3-inch digital instrument cluster – positioned in front of the driver.
We can also expect a rear diff lock, height-adjustable air suspension, six drive modes, and a 700mm wading depth.
The next-gen Patrol’s cabin is also tipped to be bigger than the current Patrol’s.
When: Fourth quarter of 2026.
Pricing: Expected to top $110,000 for a Ti-L before on-road costs.
GWM Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel
GWM’s products have formed a substantial part of the Chinese new-vehicle influx in Australia. And the company’s Tank 300 and 500, and Cannon utes have recorded solid sales and ever-growing levels of praise as time goes on.
It doesn’t hurt that these vehicles have proven to be quite effective in a variety of off-road scenarios.
Adding to its current fleet of offerings, GWM is expected to to launch a new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine option in the Tank 500. That engine will also be offered in the Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute.
Power and torque outputs have not even been hinted at yet, but Prado-like figures of 150kW and 500Nm will have to be on the cards for it to be considered competitive.
The Tank 500 is already offered here with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol/hybrid engine (255kW and 548Nm) and the 2.0-litre turbo petrol/plug-in hybrid Hi4-T – and that new variant is good for combined outputs 300kW and 750Nm, according to GWM Australia.
Off-road, the current Tank 500, a body-on-frame 4WD equipped with a full-time, dual-range BorgWarner transfer case and up to three diff locks (front, centre and rear, depending on the variant), delivers impressive results, so it’s likely the new 3.0-litre diesel will retain that level of performance.
Even more intriguing than news of the 3.0-litre diesel is the fact that talk persists about development work on a 4.0-litre petrol V8 powertrain that may be offered in Australia.
When: First half of 2026.
Pricing: Expect upwards of $65,000 before on-road costs.
