Next-generation Toyota Hilux – New details go public

The next-generation Toyota Hilux will be unveiled in 2025 and will eventually be offered with a variety of powertrains alongside the traditional petrol and diesel options.

In recent weeks, more and more details have emerged about the upcoming bakkie as we get ever closer to its unveiling.

At the Bangkok International Motor Show, following the unveiling of the battery-powered Isuzu D-Max, Toyota executives on the sidelines confirmed to the media that the automaker should have a battery-electric (BEV) version of the next-gen Hilux ready to go to market before 2026, reported Reuters.

In fact, there is likely to be a host of electrified propulsion methods on offer with internal combustion (ICE), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and even hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) drivetrains currently being studied by Toyota for their commercial viability.

The company unveiled a battery-powered Hilux prototype towards the tail end of 2022 offering a driving potential of approximately 230km, which it stated will be used for further development of the eco-conscious technologies.

It didn’t announce any output or performance statistics at the time, but e-motors are generally not a BEV’s weak points so it’s safe to say that the electric Hilux won’t compromise on any of the bakkie’s utilitarian abilities.

Battery tech has also come a long way since then so when the Hilux BEV eventually goes into production it should boast plenty more range.

According to CarsGuide, Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s VP of Sales and Marketing, also said the firm is working on producing a PHEV option of the upcoming Hilux with over 200km of pure-electric driving range which it would love to offer to its customers.

In September last year, Toyota revealed that it developed 10 Hilux FCEV units, too, incorporating core elements from the Mirai sedan.

The system stores hydrogen in three high-pressure fuel tanks, which when filled completely gives the Hilux FCEV an expected driving range of more than 600km.

These vehicles are currently undergoing “rigorous testing around the world to ensure safety, dynamic performance, functionality, and durability meet the high standards required of a production model,” said the manufacturer.

Regardless of the development cycles of these powertrains, emission regulations will undoubtedly play a role in the manufacturer’s product portfolio for the next-gen Hilux, said Hanley.

A Tacoma-inspired design

The upcoming Hilux will adopt the automaker’s new TNGA-F chassis and therefore grow in size compared to the current model.

Japanese publication Response has the dimensions of the new bakkie pegged at 5,355mm long, 1,860mm wide, and 1,800mm tall – making it 30mm longer, 60mm wider, and 15mm lower than the current Hilux Double Cab S.

Given the refined architecture that underpins luxury models like the Land Cruiser 300 and next-gen Prado, the new Hilux should also provide enhanced ride comfort and noise levels, as well as improved on- and off-road performance in comparison to the present generation, which isn’t known to be the best-handling or plushest bakkie out on the roads.

It’s further expected that the new Hilux will share many design elements with the Tacoma, the entry-level Toyota bakkie in the US market.

Consequently, it should see a squarer portfolio than the current iteration with more aggressive styling.

With the Hilux now moving upwards in the echelons of the bakkie realm, the Hilux Champ is set to take its place as the workhorse in the family.