Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux Breaks Cover, Offered In ICE, Hybrid, EV, Fuel Cell Powertrains

Toyota previously announced an onslaught of 15 launches in India by 2030. The new Hilux could be one of them.

The ninth generation of the Toyota Hilux has broken covers for the first time. The upcoming iteration of the pickup truck will be offered with several kinds of powertrain options including internal combustion engines (ICE), hybrid, full-electric (EV), and fuel-cell electric. Toyota will start rolling out the battery-powered version of the pickup truck from December this year with Thailand likely to be the first recipient of the new-gen Hilux.

Following this, the Hilux will start reaching other international markets including Japan and Europe next year onwards. However, the fuel-cell version of the UTE will come out not before 2028.

Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux: Exterior Design

The new-gen Toyota Hilux gets more evolutionary exterior updates which are based on the new “Tough and Agile” design philosophy. Up front, the new Hilux gets a pair of new slim LED headlights connected by a central bar which carries the “TOYOTA” lettering in bold. Below the Toyota branding sits a honeycomb-patterned grille on the ICE variants, while the Hilux EV features a largely closed-off panel. Flanking the grille are functional air intakes, and a robust skid plate adds to the truck’s muscular stance.

The side profile of the new Hilux features distinct alloy wheel designs tailored to each powertrain, a theme that extends to the body cladding as well — black for the ICE variants and body-coloured for the EVs. At the rear, the design is defined by large, vertically oriented tail-lamps with C-shaped LED DRLs, prominent “TOYOTA” lettering across the tailgate, a black handle bearing the ‘HILUX’ badge with an integrated stop lamp, and a sturdy, sculpted bumper.

Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux: Interiors & Features

It must be noted that based on customer feedback, the new Hilux now comes exclusively in the Double Cab layout. Inside the cabin, it is visibly more modern than its predecessor. The redesigned dashboard houses a 12.3-inch touchscreen instrument panel and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, along with a new three-spoke steering wheel bearing the ‘TOYOTA’ inscription. 

The centre console hosts an array of physical controls for HVAC functions, all-wheel drive, and drive modes. Highlight features include a wireless charging pad, blind spot monitor, rear USB charging ports, connected car technology, powered and ventilated front seats, multi-terrain and 360-degree monitoring systems, over-the-air (OTA) updates, Safe Exit Assist, and a driver monitoring system.

In addition, the new Hilux is equipped with an enhanced version of Toyota’s Safety Sense ADAS suite, which now includes features such as Low Speed Acceleration Suppression, Proactive Driving Assist, and an Emergency Driving Stop System.

Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux: Multiple Powertrains

As mentioned earlier, the new Hilux will be available with a wide array of powertrain options including fully electric and fuel-cell. Interestingly, it will be based on the same IMV platform as the outgoing Hilux, making it the first Toyota EV to be underpinned by a ladder frame chassis. It packs a 59.2 kWh battery pack that supplies energy to front and rear electric motors, thus providing all-wheel drive capabilities. 

Toyota claims torque outputs of 205 Nm on the front axle and 268.6 Nm at the rear. The battery offers a WLTP driving range of approximately 240 km. Besides the battery-powered drivetrain, the new Hilux will be available with the familiar 2.7-litre petrol and 2.8-litre diesel engines. The diesel variant adopts the same 48V mild-hybrid system as the Fortuner NeoDrive, offering additional torque assistance during acceleration. 

To preserve cabin space, Toyota has positioned the battery beneath the rear seats, while maintaining a payload capacity of one tonne and a towing capacity of 3,500 kg. Both the EV and ICE versions of the new Hilux retain the same 700 mm wading depth as the current model and benefit from a new Multi-Terrain Select system, which adjusts brake and torque control to enhance performance across various surfaces. This new-gen model also marks the introduction of electric power steering for the Hilux, although select markets will continue with the existing hydraulic setup.

Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux: India launch on cards?

Toyota launched the Hilux in India in 2022, and though it might not sell in huge volumes, the pickup truck has a very high demand among hardcore adventure lovers. As a result, there’s a long waiting period for the same. Hence, the new-gen Hilux will more likely make it to India at some point in the future.

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