New Toyota Hilux gets diesel and electric power for £42k

On sale June Price from £42,845 incl. VAT

The all-new version of the workhorse of the world, the Toyota Hilux, is going to arrive in Britain this summer. It'll be the ninth incarnation of the pick-up truck — and it could be the most important model yet.

For starters, it will include multiple fuel types for maximum flexibility. It'll retain the 2.8-litre four-cylinder mild hybrid diesel engine, but importantly an all-electric version will join the range for the first time – making the Hilux one of just a few electric pick-ups on sale – and a hydrogen fuel cell version is poised to follow in 2028.

More broadly speaking, the ninth-gen will be the first Toyota Hilux to get electric power steering, while four-wheel drive will be standard across the range. 

That mild hybrid four-cylinder – which is paired with a 48-volt battery – was introduced to the Hilux range earlier this year, and is expected to be the most popular choice among buyers. There's no mention of any improvements over today's engine, so we’re expecting it to put out the same 201bhp and 369lb ft of torque, while retaining the 10ish-sec 0-62mph time and 108mph top speed. Other key stats include a one-tonne payload and up to 3.5 tonnes of towing capacity. Meaty indeed. 

The EV, meanwhile, will be built with the same body-on-frame construction as the above diesel, gaining specific changes to better shield the battery from the elements. That may be of particular interest to off-road junkies, since Toyota says this version can wade through water of the same depth as the pre-existing combustion Hilux.

It will be equipped with a 59.2kWh (usable capacity) lithium-ion battery that achieves a range of 160 miles under official WLTP figures. Power isn’t specified, but Toyota says the motors will deliver 151lb ft to the front wheels and 198lb ft to the rear – similar to the total output of the mild-hybrid diesel. It'll have a 715kg payload and 1600kg towing capacity, which is not as much as the Isuzu D-Max EV can manage.

There’s a ‘Multi-Terrain Select’ system in there too, which can adapt the car for various scenarios including ice, mud, and sand.

If neither of these engine options pique your interest, Toyota has confirmed a hydrogen derivative will be arriving in 2028. It says this has come as a commitment to “realising the potential of hydrogen” in Europe, in-line with wider adoption and increased infrastructure support. This isn’t the first time Toyota has turned to hydrogen of course – remember the Mirai? But while that car was good, it’s arguable that it arrived a little too soon. Perhaps the Hilux’s hydrogen spin-off will find more luck. 

The new Hilux will be offered solely in double-cab form (as per customer demand), despite recent the recent increases in double cab tax. Toyota says it follows a ‘Tough and Agile’ approach, drawing inspiration from the current Land Cruiser. That means lots of wedges, straight lines and muscular panels. 

Smaller details include sharp headlights connected by a thin central bar, with the brand badge reimagined in a throwback font. The new Hilux also sits higher up than the outgoing model to boost visibility and add a little more road presence. 

Elsewhere, the front bumper has been completely reprofiled, and the wheel arch cladding thickened up. The rear has sprouted a small tailgate wing, a more pronounced bumper and a different taillights – splitting into two individual bubbles per corner. It sounds like a lot of changes, but we reckon it still looks noticeably Hilux. 

A new feature for the ninth-gen Hilux is a rear deck step that improves access, while select versions will get different side steps. Using either of these, you’ll climb into a refreshed interior which sports a fresh centre console, headed by a 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system and an equally-sized driver’s display. The various suspension settings and off-road controls are bundled together, just below the climate control switches, to make them easier to find. 

The suite of safety and assistance systems has grown too, with the Hilux getting Low Speed Acceleration Suppression and Proactive Driving Assist, plus a tweaked Blind Spot monitor and Emergency Driving Stop system. Over-the-air updates will also be issued to ensure your Hilux continues to be at the top of its game. 

Four trim levels will be available with the diesel variant: Active, Icon, Invincible and Invincible X. Entry-level Active trim gets additional safety features compared with the outgoing model, plus a new digital instrument display, a rear deck step and electric power steering.

Icon trim adds some extra creature comforts, including 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats, the 12.3in touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and wireless smartphone charging.

Stepping up to Invincible trim gets you some leather upholstery inside, al electrically-adjustable driver's seat and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Top-spec Invincible X adds 18in alloys and more rugged styling, as well as a JBL sound system, heated rear seats and a Multi-Terrain Monitor.

The Hilux EV is available exclusively in either Icon or Invincible trim. Icon models include alloy wheels, side steps and terrain assist systems. Invincible models come with leather upholstery, wireless phone charging and LED headlights.

Pricing for the diesel variant starts at £42,845 including VAT, which is just slightly less than what you'd pay for a Ford Ranger. Meanwhile, EV variants cost from £57,845, when you factor in VAT and a £5000 saving from the Government's plug-in van grant. That's much cheaper than the D-Max EV and Maxus eTerron 9.

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