Plans for what appear to be a HiLux EV have surfaced from international media in a Toyota product presentation slide.
Electric Cars
The 2026 Toyota HiLux is poised to be offered with a fully-electric powertrain, according to leaks from this year’s Tokyo motor show.
A presentation slide shown to Malaysian media – subsequently shared on Instagram – depicts the next 12-month product rollout from Toyota, likely applying to that nation only.
It includes two mid-size utes shrouded in darkness, both with silhouettes akin to the HiLux – and one clearly labelled as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV).
Other models present in the image include the facelifted bZ4X, the emerging-market Yaris Ativ, and the new LandCruiser FJ – indicating the slide is not wholly applicable to the Australian market, as only the mid-size electric SUV is offered locally.
However, Toyota’s next-generation HiLux is expected to break cover soon, and Australia is a key region for the brand’s new workhorse.
The leaked information indicates an internal-combustion engine will still be offered, which government documents previously reported by Drive pointing to the standard fitment of a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel.
It would see the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel dropped, as with the current entry-level 2.7-litre petrol engine, both of which currently only meet Euro 5 emissions rules, and not Euro 6d mandates in effect from December – one of the reasons the new LandCruiser FJ will not be offered in local showrooms.
The electric version, however, could be an iteration on the HiLux Revo concept, a 4x2 tailpipe emissions-free prototype that was brought to Australia two years ago for internal testing.
Details of that electric HiLux are still unknown, but it was primarily focused on the Thailand market and featured a circa-250km driving range from a full charge, according to the dashboard reading.
Given advancements in electric motor and battery technology, an electric HiLux may increase its range and could offer diesel-exceeding performance.
If the electric HiLux is confirmed for Australia, it would be unique in the market as one of the only battery-powered workhorses.
LDV first brought its eT60 Down Under in late 2022, offering a 130kW/310Nm single electric motor driving the rear axle.
The LDV’s 88.5kWh battery enables a 330km driving range rating beased on the WLTP standard, but its $92,990 before on-road costs price tag and segment-lagging 1000kg braked towing capacity have contributed to the eT60’s slow uptake.
Isuzu is also tipped to bring an all-electric version of its D-Max ute to Australia next year, though local specifications are yet to be locked in.
In the UK, the D-Max EV features a combined 140kW output from dual electric motors, as well as a claimed 263km driving range from a 66.9kWh battery.
However, the Isuzu electric ute does lay claim to a segment-standard 3500kg braked towing capacity, but with a projected price north of $100,000, it could – again – be pricing that holds the D-Max EV from buyers.
More details of the next-generation Toyota HiLux are expected to surface in the coming months.
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
