Toyota Hilux 2026

On 10 November, 2025, Toyota revealed a generational update for arguably one of its most important nameplates in history, the Hilux Now in its ninth generation, the Toyota Hilux is not just a function-first pickup truck but also a hardcore utilitarian means of transport. It now boasts an improved focus on the in-cabin experience with better creature comforts and even environmentally friendly powertrains, including a hybrid and an all-electric version too.

In India, it has always been one of the few non-commercial pickup trucks one can buy, and it will continue to be a unicorn even when the new-generation model arrives on July 28. So what does it bring to the table, and will it serve your purpose? Let’s find out:

If you think the current Hilux sold in India looks butch and dominating, this new Hilux takes that quotient and dials it up multiple notches. It looks like it has taken all the steroids it possibly could, which will surely give it such a road presence that only a few other vehicles could match on our roads.

The nose, while retaining the same chunky styling, looks a lot more modern. The LED headlights look much sleeker than before, with sleek LED DRLs connected by a central bar bearing Toyota’s badge. The grille has a wide hexagonal mesh pattern, flanked by sharp angular piano black openings. Unlike the current model, the ninth-generation Hilux sports a distinct bumper that looks like it's been bolstered to bash through anything that comes in its way. The bumper also incorporates the LED fog lights in another angular housing, while a bash plate rounds out the design down below. 

In profile, it continues with the dual-cab design with four doors in total, followed by an open bed behind. It still stands long and tall with chunky wheel arches and massive gaps between them and the alloy wheels.

Depending on the variant and powertrain, the Hilux is available with 18- and 17-inch alloy wheels, finished in various shades and textures. According to Toyota, these new wheels have better aero optimisation and also help save some weight. While the front design is a genuine revolution over the existing design, the styling changes at the rear are more of an evolution, with a similar flat trunk with bold TOYOTA lettering.

The shape of the taillights, too, is similar, but the elements within them are sleeker, more modern. Rounding up the design is a chunky bumper finished in black.

Toyota says that the new Hilux is based on a new ‘Tough and Agile’ design language, and we can see what they mean. It combines its new sleek lighting elements with the inherent toughness that the Hilux is known for, giving this pickup truck a more modern and powerful look at the same time.

Objectively, the cabin of the Toyota Hilux was not just behind the times, but also felt too basic for the price with its drab design and ancient tech. The new cabin design, however, is inspired by the legendary Land Cruiser, which immediately feels a lot more modern and premium. 

Just like the exterior, the overall design is very boxy, very functional, and the all-black theme further adds to that sense of purpose. The dashboard is chunky, the central console is chunky, the central AC vents are boxy, and so are the spokes that make up the steering wheel, which is probably the only non-boxy thing, along with a few other knobs, in the entire cabin. 

A floating infotainment system takes up centre stage, but as you’d expect from a Toyota, function and ease of use have been prioritised with a host of physical buttons and toggles. Given that ingress/egress won’t exactly be the most graceful of affairs in this tall pickup truck, you get grab handles on either side that can be used for support. Toyota says that the quality has been improved with padded materials and a thicker upholstery covering for the front seat cushions. The front seats also have eight-way powered adjustability.

Practicality 

Practicality seems to be good enough inside the cabin with a locking glove box and an upper cooled box, large enough to hold two 600ml drink bottles, according to Toyota.

There are cupholders in the central console and push-rotate lids that open on either side of the dashboard.

For a car costing nearly Rs 40 lakh on-road, the current Toyota Hilux is a bit rudimentary when it comes to features. It doesn’t miss out on anything particularly important or functional, but the tech and feel-good features are either dated or feel sparse for the price. Good news is, with this makeover, it hasn’t just taken inspiration from the Land Cruiser in terms of design but also from the tech package with new 12.3-inch screens. The main screen features Toyota’s Smart Connect with built-in navigation and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

The fully digital driver’s display is highly customisable and features different themes depending on the drive mode, along with three layouts that have a single, dual or triple dial layout.

Some other features on the 2026 Toyota Hilux include a wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree camera with gradient readout, Type-C charging ports, push-button start/stop, powered front seats with lumbar support, and a rear central armrest.

Features like 7 airbags, vehicle stability control (VSM), hill assist, front and rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchors were already part of the Toyota Hilux’s safety suite, and the carmaker has now added a Level-2 ADAS kit to its package, which includes functions like Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (iACC), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), amongst others. It also gets an electronic parking brake instead of a manual lever.

Just like the Toyota Fortuner, the new Hilux too makes use of a 2.8-litre diesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid tech that gives a minuscule assist in fuel efficiency and low-speed pickups. Even the output figures are the same with 204 PS and 500 Nm, which can be sent to all four wheels using the traditional four-wheel drive system.

We expect the same 6-speed automatic torque converter to be on offer when launched in India. 

Interestingly, this generation of the Toyota Hilux is also available with an all-electric alternative, which makes use of a 59.2 kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack with more than 125kW of DC fast charging capacity. It has two electric motors, one at the front and the other at the rear axle, giving the pickup truck a full-time all-wheel drive setup. Here are the specifications:

Note: The towing capacity of the electric Hilux is significantly lower at 1,600 kg versus 3,500 kg for the Hybrid 48V. There’s a difference in payload too, with 710–715 kg for the EV versus more than 1,000 kg for the Hybrid 48V.

Fun fact: Toyota has also confirmed that the Hilux range will be further extended to include a hydrogen fuel cell model. For the uninitiated, these are different from flex fuel vehicles, which run on a blend of ethanol and petrol.

For now, we just expect the diesel variant to come to Indian shores; the electric isn’t expected anytime soon.

The Toyota Hilux has always been a niche lifestyle pickup in India, bought more for its rugged appeal and legendary reliability than outright practicality. While its capability has never been in doubt, the dated cabin and limited features made it feel overpriced.

The ninth-generation Hilux is expected to fix those shortcomings with a bolder design, a much more modern cabin, better features and improved safety, while retaining the toughness and off-road ability that have made the Hilux an icon. The mild-hybrid diesel should also make it a bit more efficient without changing its core character.

We expect it to remain a niche choice, but if you're looking for a premium lifestyle pickup that can go almost anywhere, the new Hilux feels like a much stronger package than before.