Upcoming next-gen Toyota Hilux: what to expect

A few days ago, Toyota unveiled the next-generation Hilux (as the Hilux Travo) in Thailand. The aforementioned, of course, was cause for much hype and fanfare due to the nameplate’s popularity in the local market. There’s also the fact that the reveal was done in Thailand - the exact place where the Philippine market gets its Hilux units. 

But as a more exciting follow-up to this, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced that the ninth-gen model is due to arrive next year. With that said, many are anticipating its impending arrival with bated breath. And with good reason. 

The model, after all, has not received a full model change since 2015 - that’s almost 10 years ago. So, what can we expect from the upcoming ninth-generation Toyota Hilux? Let’s find out here. 

Possible BEV version

In Thailand, the Toyota Hilux Travo was released with the Travo-e battery electric vehicle (BEV) trim. If this entered the market, it could make for a potent competitor to other electrified pickup trucks already in the market. We’re talking about the BYD Shark 6 DM-O, the Changan Nevo Hunter K50, and the Radar RD6 ECON. 

For reference, the Toyota Hilux Travo-e BEV uses a dual eAxle powertrain that can generate up to 193 horsepower (hp). It also has a range of 315 kilometers (km), thanks to its 52.9 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. 

Charging the all-electric Toyota Hilux, meanwhile, is done via a CCS2 direct current (DC) port with a maximum power capacity of 125 kilowatts (kW). 

Like the regular Toyota Hilux Travo, the Travo-e uses leaf springs, albeit with a De-dion upgrade for better stability and ride comfort. Otherwise, having leaf springs means that it retains the same cargo capacity as the internal combustion-powered versions. 

Upgraded GD turbodiesel

Of course, the next-generation Toyota Hilux coming to the Philippines will retain several turbodiesel trims. And yes, it will likely retain the 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV inline-four.

In Thailand, however, the all-new Toyota-made pickup truck now sports an idle-stop-start function, which is touted to provide better fuel economy than before. Otherwise, the said engine, like the Thai-spec version, will carry over the same 201 hp and 500 Nm of torque output. 

In all likelihood, the Philippine market will also receive variants that sport a rear-wheel or four-wheel drive with a rear differential lock. There’s also a good chance that the market will have access to variants with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. 

In addition, the mainline variant lineup of the next-gen Hilux will exclusively use the 2.8-liter mill, while the 2.4-liter option will become relegated to TMP’s “fleet” Hilux trims. Take this with a grain of salt, though. 

For those curious, here’s a summary of the Thai-spec Toyota Hilux Travo Overland’s mechanical specs: 

Engine	2.8-liter inline-4 turbodiesel with idle-start-stop
Drivetrain	Four-wheel drive with rear differential lock
Transmission	Six-speed automatic
Horsepower	201
Torque	500 Nm
Front suspension	Double-wishbone
Rear suspension	Leaf-spring
Brakes	Front disc, rear drums

Same IMV goodness

As evident from the stance and proportions of the Thai-spec next-gen Toyota Hilux, what we’re getting will also rock the good ol’ Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform. 

For some, the utilization of this veritable platform could be a deal breaker. Some might even say that this will provide the same rigid ladder frame ride quality that’s already given by the current Hilux versions we have locally. 

Then again, Toyota’s IMV Platform also means the same level of ruggedness and durability. After all, A good number of IMV models, such as the current Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, and more recently, the Tamaraw, have already proven to be worth their salt when it comes to hardiness in the face of (often) brutal Philippine road conditions. 

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Modernized styling

If one squints hard enough, the upcoming Toyota Hilux appears to bear the same silhouette as the older generation. 

A closer inspection of its front end, however, shows that it now sports a more modern-looking fascia. 

Specifically, it comes with a lot of angular details on its front bumper, a flat-looking mesh grille, and an eagle-eyed pair of LED headlamp clusters. It somewhat bears a mix of design details from the aggressive-looking Veloz and the hyper-modern vibes of the North American version of the Toyota RAV4. 

A more refined interior

Inside, we can expect the upcoming Toyota Hilux to bear a more refined interior. 

As clued in by the Thai-spec version, the all-new Hilux will have a horizontally-oriented dash with neatly arranged control surfaces. It will also sport a 12.3–inch digital gauge cluster and a similarly-sized infotainment system, as well as a steering wheel that looks like the dead ringer for the one found on the Philippine-spec Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. 

Also new for the next-gen Hilux’s interior are Softex leather upholstery, physical air-conditioning buttons, a redesigned center console, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and an electronic parking brake. 

Final thoughts

So, there you have it, the five things we can expect from the upcoming next-gen Toyota Hilux. For now, however, consider all of these as mere speculations based on the one in Thailand. TMP, after all, has yet to reveal the full specs list of the all-new model. 

This is especially true when it comes to the BEV version, since it's going to be a whole new ball game compared to marketing, selling, and dealing with the after-sales needs of the traditional diesel pickup truck. But who knows, pleasant surprises have happened in the local industry, after all. Fingers crossed!

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