The long-awaited 2026 Toyota Hilux is finally here. We are a bit surprised to find out how different it is from the Toyota Tacoma we get in the U.S. Here are all the specs and everything we know so far. Let’s dig in!
The Toyota Hilux is a very popular midsize pickup truck that is on sales in many markets around the world. The Hilux fights for best seller title against the Ford Ranger in Australia. It’s on sale in the U.K., Europe, South America, and much of Asia. It’s on sale pretty much anywhere that is not USA or Canada.
Toyota calls this 2026 model – the 9th generation, but it has many carryover parts. While the 2.8-liter I4 turbo-diesel carries on, most new Hilux pickups will be equipped a mild 48-volt diesel/electric hybrid. The truck is equipped with an electric motor/generator that helps the truck smooth out engine start/stop transitions and provides an 11 horsepower boost when accelerating. The base 2.8L turbio-diesel is rated at 201 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque when paired to the 6-speed automatic transmission. If you choose a 6-speed manual transmission, the torque rating goes down to a still respectable 310 lb-ft.
This is very different to what we get in the United States. The Toyota Tacoma is by far the best-selling midsize pickup truck here. The Tacoma is still much larger than the Hilux in the overall dimensions. The Tacoma is offered with a 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine or a gas/electric hybrid.
Toyota said that an all-electric Hilux is coming sometime in 2026. It will be equipped with a two-motor AWD/4WD system and a Lithium-ion battery pack. Toyota did not specify any other numbers. We do not know anything about the Hilux BEV’s power, range, charging speed, payload, or towing. This information will come in the first half of 2026.
Toyota said that a hydrogen fuel-cell EV (FCEV) version of the Hilux is coming on sale in 2028. Toyota did not yet specify which country of market will have the production FCEV Hilux. Will we see a Tacoma BEV and/or a Tacoma FCEV around the 2030 time? It is possible.
The new Hilux should have similar payload ratings to what it had before, and it will be rated to tow up to 3,500 kgs or 7,700 lbs as before.
Please join us in the below for all of the details about the new Toyota Hilux!
