The next-generation Toyota HiLux could make its global debut within a matter of weeks, according to an overseas media report.
Thai website Car250 claims the new HiLux is set to launch at the Thailand Motor Expo, which will be held from November 28 to December 10, 2025.
An Australian launch is expected to follow in the first half of 2026, with first customer deliveries likely to begin around the middle of next year.
While a plug-in hybrid version is expected to be revealed in March 2026, reports suggest a hybrid variant will headline the November unveiling – though it’s not clear whether this will be a mild-hybrid, or if the popular ute will finally adopt a traditional hybrid system like the one that powers the Toyota RAV4 and Camry.
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However, it’s likely the current powertrain lineup will remain unchanged for the time being, with the HiLux expected to continue with the choice of four-cylinder 2.4-litre or 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engines – the latter currently produces 150kW and 500Nm, with the help of 48-volt mild-hybrid technology in some variants.
Earlier reports out of Japan suggested Toyota could be preparing its new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine to eventually be used in the HiLux, with the auto giant already testing the engine in the ute platform – and giving test drives to selected media outlets locally.
With an estimated 224kW on tap, the new petrol engine is said to have been developed to accommodate synthetic petrol and liquid hydrogen, in preparation for their increased availability in the coming decade.
Rather than being an all-new HiLux, it’s believed the new-generation model will be a significant facelift of the current vehicle – much in the same way the current GR 86 sports coupe is a major reworking of the first-generation Toyota 86.
Several automakers have been choosing to extend the lifecycles of their petrol and diesel models, rather than investing in a clean-sheet design, given the uncertainty of government regulations across dozens of markets.
And after seven years as Australia’s top-selling ute and new vehicle overall (before being topped by the Ford Ranger in 2023 and 2024), the HiLux faces increasing competition from a variety of new and all-new utes.
Following leaked patent images and spy photos of camouflaged prototypes being tested overseas, much of the car’s exterior design has already been seen.
While the doors and roofline will carry over from the current decade-old model, Toyota will freshen up the front and rear ends with new bodywork and lighting – including slimline headlights and a honeycomb grille, bringing the HiLux into line with the company’s current design language.
Inside, a new cabin will take inspiration from the likes of the latest LandCruiser and Prado, with a large ‘floating’ infotainment screen in the centre of a V-shaped dashboard.
The current HiLux is priced between $27,370 and $74,310 before on-road costs, for the entry-level WorkMate 4×2 single-cab/chassis and the flagship GR Sport 4×4 dual-cab respectively, but those prices are likely to go up with the introduction of the new-generation model amid Australia’s new punitive federal emissions legislation.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest on the 2026 Toyota HiLux as it comes to hand.
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