Toyota HiLux goes electric to counter rising ute rivals
Toyota responds to the threat posed by new ute rivals with a suite of upgrades for its best-selling HiLux ute, including a fleet-oriented battery electric variant.
Toyota will skip the plug-in hybrid electric phase and go straight to a full battery electric version of its new HiLux, joining LDV and KGM as one of only three mainstream manufacturers to offer an electric dual cab 4x4 ute.
The news comes hard on the heels of Toyota confirming its new eighth-generation HiLux range, due in dealerships before the end of 2025, will no longer offer four-cylinder petrol or entry-level diesel variants, with the MY26 range powered exclusively by the brand’s established 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, boosted by the fitment of mild-hybrid tech on select higher grade variants.
Due in the first half of 2026 the new HiLux BEV features similar ‘Cyber Sumo’ styling as the recently launched ICE-powered range, along with the same all-new interior, upgraded chassis, safety and multimedia upgrades.
But the BEV will be available in a more limited lineup of SR5 4x4 double-cab pick-up and SR 4x4 double-cab pick-up or cab chassis, with Toyota primarily targeting mining, farming and fleet industries with its new zero tailpipe emissions model.
Prototypes of the HiLux BEV have been under evaluation with mining company BHP for the past 12-months, with Toyota claiming its electric ute retains the HiLux’s proven strength, durability, reliability and class-leading off-road capability.
The HiLux BEV features the same body-on-frame vehicle architecture as its ICE-powered stablemates but houses a 59.2kWh lithium-ion battery within the frame, ensuring a low centre of gravity and no compromise or intrusion into the cabin space or tub.
Fitment of the 80-cell battery within the chassis rails ensures it is well protected from twisting forces when driving off-road, with the battery further protected by dedicated underbody protection plates, says Toyota.
Official range figures are still to be confirmed but Toyota’s own in-house testing estimates an NEDC range of approximately 315km, which converts to around 268km on the more realistic WLTP cycle.
The battery can be fast charged using a 150kW DC charger from 10-80% in about 30 minutes, or charged on AC power from 10-100% in about six and a half hours.
Drive is provided by a pair of front and rear electric e-Axles that deliver 205Nm of torque through the front wheels and 268Nm to the rear, with the new BEV variant being the first HiLux to offer a full-time electronically controlled all-wheel drive system.
The all-wheel drive system is mated to Toyota’s five-mode multi-terrain system with different settings for Rock, Sand, Mud, Dirt and Moguls.
Toyota says the HiLux BEV maintains the same off-road capability as its diesel-powered counterparts, with a 700mm wading depth, 29-degree approach and 25-degree departure angles, and 218mm of ground clearance.
While final figures are yet to be confirmed, the HiLux BEV is expected to have a payload of about 715kg, around 250kg less than a diesel-powered SR5, and a braked towing capacity of 2,000kg, versus 3,500kg for the diesel.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the new HiLux BEV would deliver Australian customers an electric ute that retains all the functionality and performance expected of the HiLux nameplate.
“Adding a BEV variant to the HiLux range in 2026 will be a boon for businesses looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their light-commercial vehicle fleet, and showcases Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to electrification,” Mr Hanley said.
Toyota’s latest step into electrification follows its introduction of 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to high-specification variants of the previous generation HiLux in early 2024.
Since then, BYD and Ford have introduced plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) versions of the Shark and Ranger dual-cab 4x4 utes respectively, with the PHEV-only BYD Shark roaring up the sales charts to record 16,398 sales for the 11 months to November.
This compares with 48,439 Ford Ranger sales, but Ford doesn’t separate its PHEV, diesel and petrol sales. The superseded version of Toyota’s HiLux 4x4 chalked up 41,255 sales over the same period.
The latest sales data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) described PHEVs as standout performers across passenger, SUV and light commercial segments, where PHEV sales reached 4,768 for the month, up 83.3 per cent on November 2024.
Year to date, PHEV sales have surged 130.6% to 47,565 units as more models enter the market and consumer awareness increases, the FACI said.
Comparable sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are harder to trace as Tesla and Polestar do not share their sales data with the FCAI, but sales of all other brand BEVs total 64,426 units, a reduction of 1.6% year to date.
Despite this, Toyota currently has no confirmed plan to introduce its own HiLux PHEV, placing its faith instead on the new HiLux BEV and a forthcoming hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) version due 2028.
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