Toyota Hilux EV review
The Hilux EV is fast and refined, though its ability as an electric work truck is limited
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Cars with four wheel drive
Electric
Jump to:
Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
Dan Jones
Updated: 5 November 2026
How we test cars
There is no shortage of electric options in almost every car category these days – barring pick-ups. It remains a niche market that has struggled to get off the ground, but if there was one car that might tap into the obvious potential that’s there, you’d put money on it being the Toyota Hilux EV.
It’s a popular model, the Hilux, proven by the fact that Toyota has sold over 27 million examples since the lineage spawned in 1968. When you also consider that the brand has been one of the leaders in the transition to electrification, it seems the Hilux EV has everything it needs to be a success.
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This new electric pick-up joins the Hilux range alongside the launch of the ninth generation; an update that brings with it a much-needed interior and exterior revamp, plus various technical upgrades. Has Toyota hit the ground running with its first electric pick-up truck, though, and can it beat fierce competition from the KGM Musso EV and Isuzu D-Max EV?
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Read more: Best pick-up trucks 2026
Verdict
The Hilux EV is quicker off the line and more refined to drive than many combustion-powered pick-ups, and its interior is a step above most of its fully-electric rivals, like the Isuzu D-Max. It does fall flat in important areas, however, including its maximum towing and load capacities – both key areas for a pick-up. Then there’s its electric range, which is competitive with its rivals, but ultimately suffers the same fate in that it’s more suitable as a runaround than for repeated days of hard labour on a single charge.
What's new?
- November 2026: we get behind the wheel of the new Toyota Hilux EV for the first time
- June 2026: order books open in the UK, priced from around £58k
- November 2025: the first-ever all-electric Toyota Hilux is announced with a 59.2 kWh battery and 149-mile range
Pros
- More refined than combustion-powered pick-ups
- Larger load bay than most rivals
- Charges faster than other electric pick-ups
Cons
- Short EV range
- Lower payload than many rivals
- Disappointing max tow weight
What's new?
- November 2026: we get behind the wheel of the new Toyota Hilux EV for the first time
- June 2026: order books open in the UK, priced from around £58k
- November 2025: the first-ever all-electric Toyota Hilux is announced with a 59.2 kWh battery and 149-mile range
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Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- Spritely performance off the line
- Decent motorway cruising characteristics
- Charges faster than rivals
Weaknesses
- Short EV range
- Lower towing capacity than rivals
How fast is it and which motor is best?
Every Toyota Hilux EV comes with two electric motors; one powering the front wheels and one powering the rear. In total, that gives you 193bhp (with most of the grunt going to the back) and an official 0-62mph sprint of 9.0sec.
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Model
0-62mph
Max speed
Toyota Hilux EV
9.0sec
87mph
Isuzu D-Max EV
10.1sec
80mph
KGM Musso EV
8.0sec
110mph
That’s about a second slower than the KGM Musso EV but faster than the Isuzu D-Max EV. Since the power delivery is instant, the Hilux EV is even quicker than conventional diesel pick-up trucks such as the D-Max 2.2D and Hilux diesel, both of which take 12sec to cover the same sprint.
With a maximum towing capacity of 1600kg, the Hilux EV pulls less than the Musso EV (2,300kg) and is some way off the D-Max EV’s 3500kg capacity (which, remarkably, matches the diesel Hilux).
Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?
There’s no getting away from the fact that pick-up trucks are heavy, so throwing an electric battery into the mix doesn’t help matters. To counteract that extra weight, the Hilux has a firm suspension setup that isn’t particularly comfortable at slow speeds.
Much like in the D-Max EV, you feel almost every lump and bump as you drive around town, making it feel unsettled. Fortunately, the ride becomes more composed as speeds increase, so it is a relatively comfortable motorway cruiser.
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The benefit of the firm suspension is that the Hilux EV is surprisingly controlled over undulations, so there’s less body lean through faster corners than combustion rivals, including the D-Max.
Better still, where many pick-ups have vague steering, the new electric power steering in the Hilux EV gives you a better idea of what’s going on with the front wheels. Sure, you still turn the steering wheel far more from lock-to-lock than in an SUV (making it better for off-road driving), but it’s good compared to most pick-ups.
Unfortunately, while the Hilux EV does have some admirable qualities here, the handling overall isn’t great.
Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?
Since there’s no engine buzzing away in the background, the Hilux EV is, naturally, more refined than combustion-powered pick-up trucks. We actually think it’s a rather nice departure from the norm.
There isn’t much wind or road noise around town, but there is suspension noise as you negotiate broken roads and imperfections. As speeds increase, wind noise remains fairly well-contained, but road noise increases, largely due to the tyres.
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Unlike most electric cars, you don’t have multiple modes of regenerative braking with the Hilux EV. Instead, you can choose between one-pedal driving or a blended braking mode, which acts like an automatic regen setting.
With the latter, the amount of regenerative braking will depend on what’s coming ahead of you. If there’s traffic, the Hilux EV will brake as you approach the other cars; if there isn’t, it will coast. The system takes some getting used to, and the severity with which it brakes can feel intrusive at times.
What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?
Given how heavy the Hilux EV is, its 59.2kWh (usable capacity) battery only delivers an official range of 160 miles – and that’s before you start loading heavy equipment onto its bed. That’s well below the Musso EV, and means the Hilux is suited to short, local journeys as opposed to consecutive days of hard off-road labour.
Model
Battery size (usable)
Official (WLTP) range
Toyota Hilux EV
59.2kWh
Up to 160 miles
Isuzu D-Max EV
64.0kWh
Up to 163 miles
KGM Musso EV
80.6kWh
Up to 236 miles
Petrol- and diesel-powered pick-ups will go considerably further between fuel stops, and they’ll be quicker to refuel, considering the Hilux EV’s maximum charge rate of 125kW means a 10-80% top-up will take 30min at a public charger. Plug in at a 7kW home charger, meanwhile, and the Hilux EV will get from 0-100% in around 6hr 30min.
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Model
Peak charging rate
Min 10-80% charge time
Toyota Hilux
125kW
30min
Isuzu D-Max EV
50kW
60 min
KGM Musso EV
120kW
40 min
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I find it hard to find a use case for the Hilux EV because of its short range (even without a full load). At least it charges faster than its rivals, making long drives a little easier.
Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
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Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- Robust interior with good material quality
- Chunky physical buttons for most features
- Comfortable driving position
Weaknesses
- Infotainment system isn’t intuitive
- No adjustable lumbar support on entry level
What does the interior look like and is it well made?
The old 2016-2025 Toyota Hilux’s interior barely changed from previous versions, so it has looked dated for a while now. However, the present ninth-generation received a total revamp in this area, with the Hilux now sharing most of its layout with the Toyota Land Cruiser.
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Most of the Hilux EV’s surfaces are built from hard, scratchy materials, which in this case actually serves to make the vehicle look and feel sturdier. After all, if you’re jumping in and out in dirty work boots, having easy-to-clean plastic surfaces isn’t a bad thing.
That’s not to say that you won’t find soft-touch materials in some areas, such as the door and the central armrest – places that you’ll often need to rest your arms comfortably. Those softer details allow the Hilux EV to tread the line between workhorse and everyday truck far better than the Isuzu D-Max EV, which is less plush overall.
The sturdy interior feel extends through to the build quality, so everything seems rugged and extremely well put together. This is exactly what you’d want in a pick-up.
Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?
Those after a high driving position will be in their element in the Hilux. It puts you so high above the road that you have to climb into the driver’s seat using the step beneath the door.
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Once you’re in, it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel, with every version getting plenty of steering wheel and driver’s seat adjustment. The entry-level Icon trim gives you manual adjustment, while the Invincible trim adds electric seats and adjustable lumbar support.
The view out of both versions really is commanding, with great visibility out of the front and at junctions thanks to thin windscreen pillars.
Large rear windows give you a decent view of your blind spot, which is helped by the standard-fit blind spot monitoring system. There’s also a large rear window, giving you a good idea what’s behind you, though the view is quite limited here.
Combine that with the Hilux’s massive dimensions, and you’ll be glad that every version comes with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The camera even includes guiding lines if you want to attach a trailer.
Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?
One of the great things about the Hilux EV’s interior is the fact that you have physical controls for most of the functions that you’ll use often on the move, including the air conditioning.
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There are chunky buttons on the steering wheel that cover audio and cruise control, and down by the gear selector, there are the buttons and dials to control the 4x4 settings, Multi-Terrain Select system, and drive modes.
The Hilux is less straightforward in other areas, unfortunately, because you rely heavily on the 12.3in digital instrument display or the 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system. The graphics on both are clear but look dated, and the Toyota software that they use is less than intuitive.
Both screens have various menus to scroll through, and, rather confusingly, features seem to be hidden in the wrong places between them. For example, you’d expect all of the driving assists to be within the touchscreen’s vehicle menu, but they’re actually within the driver display, and use acronyms that you’ve likely never heard of (we certainly hadn’t).
At least you get Android Auto/Apple CarPlay as standard to bring a little more familiarity to the infotainment system.
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I like that the Hilux EV has so many small storage spaces, and found the covered cubby above the glovebox was handy for quickly grabbing items.
Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
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Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- Lots of front space
- Handy side-step for easy load bed access
Weaknesses
- Lower max payload than D-Max EV
- No Extended Cab version
How much space does it have for people?
A pair of broad six-footers will have loads of room up front in the Hilux EV, with its tall and wide cab providing excellent head, leg and shoulder room.
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There are plenty of handy storage cubbies in the front, too. Those include large door bins, a slot for your phone on the centre console, a cubby inside the armrest, a glovebox, a compartment above the glovebox, and cupholders at either end of the dashboard (each with its own lid).
In the rear, six-foot passengers will have more than enough legroom, but they’ll find headroom to be tight. You’ll be able to squeeze three adults across the rear, but it’s far better suited to a pair of adults.
How much room does it have for luggage?
The Hilux EV’s loading deck measures 1555mm long by 1540mm wide, so you’ll be able to fit a standard-sized pallet in. It’s a little bigger than the Isuzu D-Max EV Double-cab’s loading area (1495mm x 1530mm) but shorter than the Extended Cab version of that pick-up (1805mm x 1530mm).
Model
Load bed length (mm)
Load bed width (mm)
Load bed height (mm)
Toyota Hilux EV
1,555
1,540
480
Isuzu D-Max EV (Extended cab)
1,805
1,530
490
Isuzu D-Max EV (Double cab)
1,495
1,530
490
KGM Musso EV
1,345
1,515
510
It also can’t carry as much as that rival, with a peak payload weight of just 715kg. For reference, the KGM Musso EV can manage up to 690kg, but the D-Max is rated up to a whopping 1015kg, which isn’t that far off its combustion variant (1205kg)
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In the Hilux EV, access to the load bed is quite convenient thanks to a handy step on either side, allowing you to climb up and over the bay more easily.
My test car had an optional load bed cover equipped, and I found that really useful for keeping luggage safely locked away. I’d recommend it.
Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- Long warranty
- Generous equipment list from standard
- Lots of safety systems
Weaknesses
- Expensive for private buyers
- Low payload increases tax for some buyers
How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?
There are two trim levels available, and you can specify whether you want them to have five seats or two (the latter being for commercial use).
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The entry-level Icon trim costs around the same as the top-spec Isuzu D-Max EV (when you include VAT and the Government’s electric car grant), but a fair bit more than the KGM Musso EV.
At least it gets plenty of standard equipment, including 17in alloy wheels, electrically folding and heated wing mirrors, LED headlights with automatic high beam, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Your other option is the Invincible trim, which adds privacy glass, some exterior styling tweaks, an eight-speaker stereo (up from four) and the bits that we’ve already mentioned. Of course, this version adds even more to the price.
If you’re a commercial buyer, the sub-one-tonne payload means you won’t benefit from the same tax cuts as you will with the D-Max EV. You’ll also want to go for the two-seat option to keep tax costs as low as possible.
Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?
Toyota placed 17th out of the 30 manufacturers included in the 2026 What Car? Reliability survey, but since we exclude pick-ups in our research, we don’t have specific reliability data for the Hilux.
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To give you peace of mind, Toyota offers one of the longest standard warranties around at 10 years or 100,000 miles – provided you keep up with the service schedule, that is.
Isuzu offers a shorter five-year warranty but covers you up to 125,000 miles, while KGM offers five years or 100,000 miles.
How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?
Unlike the diesel D-Max, no version of the Hilux has been crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP.
Even so, it comes with plenty of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, road sign assist, a driver monitoring system, rear-cross traffic alert and lots of airbags.
To help dissuade thieves, every Hilux EV comes with an intruder alarm and immobiliser.
Buy it if…
- You want a pick-up to use as a runaround (on a farm, for example)
- You need it to be quick off the line
- Having a pick-up that charges quickly (relatively speaking) is important to you
Don’t buy it if…
- You need to tow or carry a large payload
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- You plan to regularly cover long journeys
- You want the cheapest electric pick-up
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Even with the Government grant included, the Hilux EV is expensive as a private purchase. I’d be tempted to look at large electric SUVs before going ahead.
Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
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Toyota Hilux EV alternatives
Toyota Hilux EV specifications
RRP price range
FAQs
Is Toyota making an electric Hilux?
Yes, and you can buy it now. It comes with a 59.2kWh (usable capacity) battery, can cover up to 160 miles between charges and has all-wheel drive.
How much is the Toyota Hilux EV?
If you’re a private buyer, the Hilux EV is quite expensive, costing around the same as the Isuzu D-Max EV but way more than the KGM Musso EV. Commercial buyers will want to go for the two-seat versions to minimise tax payments.
What is the range of the new Hilux EV?
With a 59.2kWh (usable capacity) battery, the Hilux EV can manage up to 160 miles between charges. That isn’t great, but matches the Isuzu D-Max EV.
What is the max payload of the Toyota Hilux EV?
You can carry up to 715kg in the Hilux EV. That’s less than the Isuzu D-Max EV (which manages over one tonne) but more than the KGM Musso EV.
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About the writer
Name: Dan Jones
Title: Senior Reviewer
Follow Dan Jones on
Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric.
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