Toyota has finally dropped the first official teaser for the next-generation Hilux.
It’s fair to say that the new Hilux is one of the most highly anticipated vehicles of the decade, given that the current-gen models still dominate South Africa’s sales charts with over 3,500 units making their way off the showroom floor every month.
Naturally, Toyota has kept a tight lid on any details about the next-gen bakkie, leaving fans with little to go on besides the occasional leaked image.
These days will soon be behind us, however, as the company’s Thailand division has published the first official teaser video of the new Hilux.
What’s more, the automaker has confirmed that the new pickup will be unveiled one week from now on Monday, 10 November 2025.
Toyota teases the new Hilux
The promotional video is only 15 seconds long, but the short clip shows the silhouette of the new bakkie in double cab form, complete with a sharp set of slim LED daytime running lights and C-shaped LED taillights.
Interestingly, it looks like the overall shape of the Hilux isn’t radically different from the one we have now.
Toyota seems to have bucked the current trend of boxy, muscular bodies that several other pickups have adopted over the last few years, such as the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, GWM P500, or Kia Tasman.
Instead, the carmaker appears to be playing it safe with a design that is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the current Hilux (in other words, anyone who’s looked at a road in their life).
That being said, it’s curious that the Hilux exterior doesn’t seem to borrow any design elements from the brand’s other recent 4x4s like the Prado or Land Cruiser FJ.
One area where that is likely to be the case is the interior, as an alleged outline of the cabin leaked back in August.
The outline shows a cabin that’s very similar to the Prado and FJ, with an identical gear selector, climate control panel, a large landscape infotainment screen, and a digital instrument cluster with an octagonal housing unit.
The promo video doesn’t show the interior so this is still unconfirmed, but it makes sense that Toyota would use a similar design language for all its 4x4s for the next generation.
One thing that’s still a complete mystery is the powertrain selection, as the Japanese automaker has been keeping this info under lock and key.
The general expectation is that it will still be offered with the tried-and-trusted 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre GD-6 turbocharged diesel engines.
The workhorse single cabs will presumably have a manual gearbox, while the higher-end units will all have an automatic shifter.
The bigger question is whether the bakkie will feature new-energy vehicle (NEV) drivetrains at launch, such as a traditional hybrid (HEV), or plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Given that the new Hilux will be with us for years to come, it’s fair to assume that Toyota will include one or more NEV options to cover markets like Europe.
However, it remains to be seen what will ultimately be offered in South Africa.
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