The Toyota Hilux Thread

Toyota Hilux Legend 55: New SA Launch Date Confirmed

Initially penned in to make local landfall in July 2025, Toyota South Africa has now announced the new launch date for the Hilux Legend 55.

Preceded by the Legend 35, 40, 45 and 50, the 55 is the fifth heritage-inspired Hilux to come from Toyota South Africa’s stable since this nameplate was introduced to the South African market in 1969.

Sporting a bespoke body hue, the Legend 55 was unveiled at Toyota South Africa Motors’ (TSAM) 2025 State of the Motoring Industry (SOMI) event. The upcoming model features several model-specific exterior design items, including a unique styling package and newly designed sports bar. In addition to these elements, the 55-badged model also features a bash plate, roller shutter and a tow bar. However, perhaps the most notable addition to the 55 package is the fitment of a widebody kit, which sits atop an uprated Wide Tread suspension setup.

When will the Toyota Hilux Legend 55 launch in South Africa?

TSAM has confirmed the Hilux Legend 55 will launch in South Africa in August 2025. Further details will be announced at the launch, the firm says.

 
2026 Toyota Hilux Leaks Early!

The 2026 Toyota Hilux has leaked early, giving us a quick look at what we can expect when it launches in South Africa next year. Here’s what we know so far.

The 2026 Toyota Hilux has appeared on the Internet, thanks to a brochure leak and using our in-house designers, we’ve come up with what we think is an accurate representation of the production version. Some sources have suggested a global reveal before the end of 2025.

Expected to continue with its impressive offroad abilities and legendary reliability, the 2026 Toyota Hilux comes with an evolutionary design. Sure, it is cliched, but this is one of Toyota’s bread-and-butter models and the brand can’t afford to polarise its audience. Remember that this double-cab bakkie has been Toyota South Africa’s best-selling vehicle for 50 years.

The double-cab bakkie segment has changed radically since the last all-new 8th-generation Hilux was revealed. We’re in the era of radically shorter product lifecycles and we’ve seen newcomers enter the market as well as established brands overhaul their lineup.


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2026 Toyota Hilux: Exterior & Interior Leaked

Thanks to a leaked brochure and drawings, we’ve been given a glimpse into how the new Toyota Hilux could look – inside and out!

The eighth-generation Hilux was introduced in 2015. Now, following a 10-year lifecycle – including a few facelifts, and the introduction of the GR-Sport and 48V derivatives – the current model will soon bow out for its successor, with reports suggesting the ninth iteration of Toyota’s best-selling bakkie will be revealed towards the end of 2025.

As the end of the year, and the probable debut of the new Hilux, steadily draws near, the Japanese automaker has held its cards close to its chest as to exactly what we can expect from the new model – the latter including powertrain, platform, exterior and interior. However, a brochure showcasing the exterior design and drawings depicting the new iteration’s interior have now been leaked.


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New Toyota Hilux for 2026: Leaked patent images show us the exterior and Prado-like cabin

There is a great deal of anticipation surrounding the new-generation Toyota Hilux, and it is coming closer to fruition, with recent spy shots as well as leaked brochure pages and patent images all giving us a good idea of what to expect.

Numerous sources abroad suggest the new bakkie could be unveiled internationally before the end of 2025, and although its local introduction remains unconfirmed, there is a good chance that we’ll see it before the end of 2026.

What appear to be legitimate patent images have leaked onto the internet courtesy of Cars_Secrets on Instagram, correlating with recent brochure scans and spy shots of disguised prototypes. However, these all suggest that the 2026 Hilux is more of a comprehensive update than an all-new model.

The use of the current model’s doors and roof structure suggests that the new Hilux is based on a modified version of the current IMV underpinnings, which date back to 2004. The current shape has been around internationally since 2015.

Earlier reports had suggested that it would move to the more modern TNGA-F architecture, which underpins its American cousin, the Tacoma, as well as the latest Land Cruiser 300 and Prado SUVs.

While its shape remains familiar, Toyota has completely redesigned the front and rear ends, with slim new headlights making an appearance alongside a more rectangular grille. At the back, we see fresh taillights, featuring a more angular shape and 3D-style LED light clusters.

The leaked patent images reveal a completely redesigned interior, however, replacing the current bakkie’s dated fascia with an all-new cockpit layout that closely mimics the latest Prado’s interior.


 
Toyota Hilux Legend 55: SA Price Confirmed

The fifth heritage-inspired Hilux to come from Toyota South Africa’s stable since this nameplate was introduced to our shores in 1969, the Hilux Legend 55 will soon launch in SA. Now, before its official local debut, Toyota SA has confirmed to CAR Magazine how much the new model will cost in our market.

2025 Toyota Hilux Legend 55 Price in SA

A quartet of Hilux Legend 55 models will be available: two double-cab derivatives and two Xtra Cab variants. The former and latter will be priced from R885 700 and R935 900 (4×4), and R728 300 and R813 700 (4×4), respectively.

Toyota Hilux Legend 55 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Double Cab AT — R935 900
Toyota Hilux Legend 55 2.8 GD-6 Double Cab AT — R885 700
Toyota Hilux Legend 55 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Xtra Cab AT — R813 700
Toyota Hilux Legend 55 2.8 GD-6 Xtra Cab AT — R728 300

The Legend 55 will employ the Japanese automaker’s tried-and-tested 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel powertrain. Power and torque outputs remain unconfirmed, however. Yet, we expect the six-speed automatic transmission these models are equipped with will deliver 150 kW and 500 N.m to the road.

 
Toyota Hilux Legend 55 (2025) Price & Specs

The Toyota Hilux Legend 55 has hit the market in SA, offered in both extended- and double-cab guise (though not in widebody form). Here’s pricing for this special-edition bakkie…

- Legend 55 has officially joined Hilux range
- 4 derivatives offered across 2 body styles
- R26 500 premium over standard Legend

Waiting patiently for the Toyota Hilux Legend 55 to arrive? Well, it’s finally here. Yes, this special-edition bakkie has officially hit the market in South Africa, offered in both extended- and double-cab form. Interestingly, however, it seems the widebody configuration has been ditched.

As a reminder, the locally built Hilux Legend 55 – which was conceived to celebrate 55 years of the Hilux nameplate in South Africa, so technically arrives a year late – was first displayed in widebody prototype form at the Japanese firm’s 2025 State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) address at Kyalami back in January.

What engine powers the Hilux Legend 55?

Toyota SA Motors offers the new Hilux Legend 55 in both 4×2 and 4×4 guise, and in both the extended- and double-cab body styles. Power comes from the automaker’s familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which delivers the standard 150 kW and 500 Nm via a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Despite an earlier promise of “performance enhancements”, that means the Legend 55 misses out on the higher-output version of this oil-burning motor, which generates 165 kW and 550 Nm in the widebody Hilux GR-Sport (and indeed in the flagship Fortuner GR-Sport). It thus also forgoes the 48V mild-hybrid system fitted to certain Raider and Legend derivatives.

How much is the Toyota Hilux Legend 55 in SA?

DERIVATIVE PRICE

Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 Xtra Cab 4×2 6AT Legend 55 R728 300
Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 Xtra Cab 4×4 6AT Legend 55 R813 700
Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 Double Cab 4×2 6AT Legend 55 R885 700
Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 Double Cab 4×4 6AT Legend 55 R935 900

The prices above include Toyota’s 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-service/90 000 km service plan.


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Why the Toyota Hilux Legend 55 isn’t a ‘widebody’

Wondering why the production version of the freshly launched Toyota Hilux Legend 55 misses out on the widebody configuration of the prototype? We have the answer…

- - New Hilux Legend 55 does not feature a widebody configuration
Toyota SA Motors cites limited supply of wide-track rear axles
- Brand not presenting Legend 55 as “a performance derivative”

Back in January at its 2025 State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) address, Toyota South Africa Motors displayed a prototype version of the Hilux Legend 55, complete with a widebody configuration. However, when the production model hit the market earlier this week, we immediately noticed it instead featured the standard body.

Why? Well, having scoured the official specification sheet and confirmed the freshly launched Legend 55 indeed runs the standard 1 540 mm front and 1 550 mm rear tracks (as opposed to the beefier 1 675 mm front and 1 705 mm rear tracks employed by the flagship widebody Hilux GR-Sport, which is built at the same Prospecton factory in KwaZulu-Natal), we asked Toyota SA Motors for clarity on the matter.

 
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