2026 Toyota Hilux Goes Electric! All-new Hilux Makes Its Global Debut

After giving us a sneak peek into the new Hilux, Toyota has fully revealed the ninth-generation pickup truck at the Thailand Motor Expo 2025. With sleeker styling, a new interior and even a fully-electric version, it carries forward the legacy of the Hilux, which is one of Toyota’s most recognised brands worldwide. What all has changed? Let’s take a look:

Exterior: Sleek And Sophisticated

On the outside, the Hilux gets a major revamp with a more modern design philosophy to keep up with the times. At the front, it now gets a larger grille with the classic style ‘TOYOTA’ motif instead of the badge. Then there are the slimmer LED headlamps with C-shaped signatures for a meaner look. The front bumper also gets more aggressive with a faux skid plate and sharp cuts and creases.

Towards the side, it retains muscular haunches and flared wheel arches. The IC-powered versions get black off-road focused alloy wheels, while the EV gets aero-style wheelcaps for better aerodynamics. 

At the rear, it retains the minimal look of the outgoing Hilux but now with revised LED taillamps, ‘Hilux’-branded plastic insert and a boxy bumper too. Notably, this time around, Toyota is only offering the Hilux in the dual-cab bodystyle.

Interior And Features: Modern And Refreshing

Inside, Toyota has used an all-black theme with a brand new dashboard layout and steering wheel with a boxy design theme all around for an extra rugged feel. In terms of equipment on offer, the new Hilux gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless charger, powered and ventilated front seats, drive modes and rear USB charging ports. 

In terms of safety, it gets an enhanced Level 2 ADAS suite, which now includes features such as blind-spot monitoring, Safe Exit Assist and a 360-degree camera as well. Toyota is likely to offer this in addition to other features such as 7 airbags, electronic stability control, electronic parking brake with auto hold and hill descent control.

Powertrain: Fully-electric!

Under the hood, for the first time, the Hilux gets an EV version packing in a 59.2kWh battery pack with a WLTP-certified range of 242 Km. This gets paired to a dual-motor setup putting out 196 PS and 205 Nm of torque. Toyota also says the Hilux EV can carry up to 715 Kg of payload with a towing capacity of up to 1600 Kg.

Besides this, Toyota is offering the Hilux with 2.8-litre diesel and 2.7-litre petrol engines, both of which are paired to a 48V mild-hybrid system, for the UK market. When the new Hilux is launched for the Indian market, it is likely to get the 2.8-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine shared with the Fortuner NeoDrive.

Along with these powertrains, Toyota also confirmed that a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell EV version is also scheduled to launch in 2028.

Why Is It Important For India?

While the Hilux is a more niche-focused pickup that is oriented for recreational purposes, it is still based on the IMV platform, which also underpins our beloved Fortuner. So, we can expect the new Fortuner to follow similar footsteps in terms of design, interior, features and powertrain.

And, Indians love the Fortuner wholeheartedly!

Still Some Time Away

We expect Toyota to price it in the Rs 35 to 45 lakh (ex-showroom) range. While sales for the UK market will commence in June 2026, the new Hilux is only expected to make its debut in India in 2027. In terms of rivals, it will compete with other lifestyle pickup trucks such as the Isuzu V-Cross and the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck. 

ZigSays…

The Hilux has always been one of the most iconic pickup trucks worldwide, and this new generation gives it a much-needed breath of fresh air in the face of newer competitors and an almost decade-old production run of the outgoing car. While we wait for more details, we wish Toyota would bring this to our shores soon, given the lack of many options in the lifestyle pickup truck segment in India.