The Toyota Hilux Thread

Looks decent. But still the same doors and mirrors? Seems like a lot of the previous gen have been carried over.

Toyota execs be like, "hold my beer and let's see for how long we can sell the Hilux die hards the same old shiiit" :ROFL:

I don't see why they can't produce a complete next-gen vehicle. Ffs rock the boat a bit Toyouta.
Dare to live or something along those lines.
 
Discover the new Toyota Hilux: the must-know game-changing features of SA’s beloved bakkie

More details have emerged following the official reveal of the new Toyota Hilux in Thailand, and no doubt South Africans will be champing at the bit to continue its status as the country’s favourite bakkie.

We know that the new Hilux will also be built at the Prospecton plant in Durban, but at this stage, we know only that it will be released sometime in 2026, with models and specifications still under wraps.

Powertrains

According to the official Australian press release, all grades of the new Hilux will be powered by the company’s 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, producing 150kW and 500Nm of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Variants fitted with a six-speed manual transmission develop 420Nm of torque.

At this stage, there is no official word on whether the 2.4-litre turbo diesel or petrol options will be available locally.

Toyota’s 48-volt V-Active technology will also be standard on automatic double-cab SR grades and above, with an additional 8.5kW and 65Nm of thrust when starting off.

As part of Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation, a hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) variant is scheduled to join the line-up in 2028.

For the first time, there will be a battery-electric powertrain aimed at fleet and business customers.

Available in double-cab 4x4 SR and SR5 guise, BEV grades will be introduced in 2026 and will be underpinned with an electric motor on each axle, paired with a lithium-ion battery.

It has a combined output of 144kW, while the 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery enables a claimed range of more than 300 kilometres.

Further details on the BEV powertrain will be revealed closer to launch in 2026.

 
Why new Hilux uses Toyota’s old engines and drivetrains

The 9th-generation Hilux doesn’t have any new engines. Or gearboxes. Is Toyota being cheap or does it know more about real double cab customer engine and drivetrain needs than its rivals?

New Hilux is aways a generational vehicle event. Globally, it’s one of the most influential vehicles of all time and in South Africa, it remains by far the most successful model line.

But despite Toyota’s dominant market share locally, Hilux is facing increasing competition. Especially in the lucrative double cab market, where Ford’s Ranger has often outsold it. By offering more advanced powertrains, drivetrains, and much better cabin comfort.

Then there are the Chinese. Rapid engineering iteration and class-defining infotainment and tech integration have created increasingly sophisticated Chinese double cabs. And Chinese powertrain engineers are now investing in diesel engine technology, an area they’ve traditionally lacked, to create even better rivals to Hilux.

The Toyota way is traditional

Market leadership is burdensome. When you are the best, there’s always the risk of changing too much and creating an unintended weakness. Toyota’s bakkie knowledge is proven. And it knows what customers, especially South African bakkie buyers, need. And needs and wants, aren’t the same thing.

Durability and mechanical integrity have long been pillars of the Hilux product. It’s never had the best tech, most powerful engines, or smoothest transmission, but everything works. And keeps working. For a very long time. Which is why Hilux bakkies have such impressive residual values.

With new Hilux, very little has changed regarding its deep mechanical engineering. And for some buyers in the double cab market, that will be a problem. But is the old tech really that much of an issue?

The carry-over engine issue

New Hilux is not onboarding any new engines. And this is significant because, traditionally, a new-generation Hilux has also meant at least one new engine.

From 7th to 8th generation Hilux, the big introduction was 2.8 GD. Toyota’s versatile 4-cylinder turbodiesel, which has gone on to power everything from Hilux and Fortuner, to Land Cruiser Prado and 70 Series. But from 8th to 9th generation Hilux, there’s nothing new.

The new Hilux range will continue with carry-over engines. That means the lead engine remains Toyota’s 2GD-FTV. It’s a proven engine, with 150 kW and 500 Nm, so there’s not much to question about in terms of engine outputs.

Any engine is judged by its rivals, and Ford’s soon-to-be-discontinued 2.0 BiTurbo diesel is rated at 154 kW and 500 Nm. So there’s no question that Hilux’s engine is on-standard, despite market expectations that it should always be making more power.

When new Hilux arrives in the local market next year, Ranger will no longer be offering the 2.0 BiTurbo. This creates a significant powertrain gap in the South African market for legacy double-cab bakkies with proven engines rated at 500 Nm, the torque figure bakkie owners want for overtaking and towing performance. It’s the need and wants question. That difference between expectations that gen-9 Hilux should have a new engine, with more power. And the reality that 500 Nm is plenty and Hilux’s 3.5t tow rating is more than most customers will ever use.

Toyota’s market research is peerless, and it believes that a large-capacity 4-cylinder diesel with simple turbocharging is what South African bakkie owners prefer. As opposed to the complexity of dual-stage turbocharging.

Crucially, the continuation of 2GD-FTV as new Hilux’s lead engine also means the continuation of its chain-driven timing chain, which is proven to be the most durable and reliable configuration for running engine ancillaries and timing. As demonstrated by Ford’s decision to discontinue the 2.0 BiTurbo diesel, with its wet-belt timing set-up.

 
There’s an all-new Toyota Hilux… and it’s electric

Although you’ll still be able to buy a 2.8-litre diesel, and a hydrogen fuel cell version is also on the cards

This is the brand-new, ninth-generation Toyota Hilux pickup truck, and in absolutely gargantuan news it is now all-electric.

Yep, you’ll now be able to have your indestructible truck as an EV. The Hilux BEV will still be a classic body-on-frame pickup, but it’ll feature two electric motors for 193bhp and 349lb ft of torque. It’ll also get a payload of 715kg, a wading depth of 700mm, a 1,600kg towing capacity and a relatively small 59.2kWh battery. Toyota is projecting a WLTP range of around 150 miles. Ah.

But wait! Toyota is continuing with its ‘multipath philosophy’ which it says will provide customers with “multiple powertrain options to best meet their needs and local driving conditions”.

As a result, you’ll still be able to get the 2.8-litre diesel engine connected to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. That setup only made it into the eighth-gen Hilux in 2025 and allowed for a beefier 201bhp and 369lb ft. It also means a one-tonne payload and 3,500kg towing capacity.

 
New Toyota Hilux: SA Launch Date Confirmed

Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed when the new, ninth-generation Hilux will make its local debut.

In October 2025, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) confirmed the highly-anticipated new Land Cruiser FJ will launch in our market in 2026. However, that’s not the only vehicle the Japanese marque is planning on introducing to our shores in the coming 12 months. In addition to the modern FJ – and several other Toyotas scheduled to arrive here, which you can read about in the upcoming December 2025 issue of CAR Magazine – the new Hilux will also make its local debut.

New Toyota Hilux SA Launch Date

TSAM has confirmed the new Hilux will make its local debut in 2026, with the Aichi-based automaker’s SA arm saying the ninth iteration will feature powertrain options specifically engineered for South African conditions.

“The next-generation Hilux embodies Toyota’s global vision of sustainable mobility, while staying true to our customers’ needs. In South Africa, Hilux isn’t just a vehicle – it’s a way of life. The new model blends future-ready electrification with the strength, reliability, and performance our customers know and trust,” said Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSAM.

www.carmag.co.za

New Toyota Hilux: SA Launch Date Confirmed

Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed when the recently-revealed new Hilux will make its local debut...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
New Hilux – what looks new but isn’t

The new Hilux might use old engines and gearboxes, but the design is definitely all-new, or is it? Will Hilux buyers be happy with another decade of (very) average rear seat comfort because of a legacy platform?

But often all that exterior design, hides aged engineering underneath. Toyota’s new Hilux looks more futuristic than many expected. The aerodynamic front end is a smart design, because bakkies are notoriously poor aerodynamically.

Looks can be very deceiving. And automotive designers are experts at making vehicles look bigger, smaller, taller, thinner or wider. Using the ratio of metal to glass, body panel proportions, and vehicle stance to influence perception.

Yet all the clever design and sneaky imitation features, like the Hilux’s version of the Ranger’s box step, doesn’t answer the driving questions about ths new bakkie. Which is how much investment Toyota has really made in the frame and cabin space?

Hilux chassis is tough enough

The 9th-generation Hilux will be built on a frame that is anything but new.

Toyota supporters will argue that Hilux’s proven durability, especially in farm applications and across millions of kilometres of severe dirt-road use, proves that its steel ladder frame doesn’t need an upgrade. And they might be right.

Take the Land Cruiser 70-Series example. These Toyotas have effectively been using the same steel ladder frame design for nearly four decades and enjoy universal customer approval. Despite being very uncomfortable for passengers.

But the issue is that Hilux’s IVM platform dates back to the late 2000s – and other bakkies have evolved a lot since then, with newer platforms. Toyota did comprehensively reengineer the chassis from the 7th to the 8th generation Hilux in 2015. Between the 8th and 9th-generation? Not so much…

Digital design tools and available automotive-grade steels are continuously evolving. And not using all that technological advancement, by creating an entirely new frame for Hilux, is a thing. Especially with so many newer rivals in the market.

Toyota has mentioned that the new Hilux, built on the legacy IMV platform, does feature an upgraded spot-welding profile. But that’s now quite the same as a completely new design, which can optimise strength, reduce weight, and allow for a bigger, better, cab-design, with more space and comfort. Which is what most double cab bakkie customers really want.

 
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