Quick Highlights:
- Latest spy shots show single-cab HiLux testing in Thailand with fresh front-end styling.
- Interior leak reveals major tech upgrade with dual 12.3-inch screens.
- Still rides on the old IMV platform, not the newer TNGA-F chassis.
- Expected to retain 2.4- and 2.8-litre turbo-diesels, with mild-hybrid and possible PHEV.
Toyota’s HiLux has been the backbone of work sites, farms, and adventure trails across the globe for decades. But with the Ford Ranger stealing its thunder in Australia over the past two years, the next chapter of this legendary ute carries higher stakes than ever. Now, thanks to fresh spy shots from Thailand—the HiLux’s home turf—we have the clearest look yet at what the 2026 model has in store.
Familiar Shape, Sharper Face
Images shared by the Instagram account AutonetMagz show a single-cab HiLux prototype running camo wraps on Thai roads. While Australia only gets a cab-chassis in this body style, the sighting confirms Toyota’s intention to keep the HiLux range broad—beyond just dual-cabs.
The spy shots reveal slimmer, more angular headlights and a wider grille, paired with chunkier tail-lights that wrap further around the flanks. Proportions remain largely unchanged, which means the HiLux still won’t fit an Aussie or Euro pallet between its wheel arches—a trick the Ranger has mastered to win buyers.
The doors and roof appear carried over from the outgoing model, hinting at more of a heavy facelift than a ground-up redesign. Behind the sharper styling is the same IMV ladder-frame platform that dates back to 2004, rather than the modern TNGA-F underpinnings that support Toyota’s Tacoma, Tundra, and LandCruiser.
Interior Tech Finally Steps Up
If the exterior feels like Toyota is playing it safe, the inside tells a very different story. This is where the HiLux finally makes a proper leap into the modern era. Patent sketches and leaked shots shared by cars_secrets on Instagram give us our best look yet at the new cabin—and it’s a big departure from the utilitarian layout we’ve known for the past decade.
Front and center are two 12.3-inch displays, according to leaks—one serving as a digital instrument cluster and the other as a touchscreen infotainment hub. This effectively doubles the screen real estate compared with today’s modest 8.0-inch unit. A redesigned dashboard, chunkier center console, and an electronic parking brake push the HiLux closer to Toyota’s SUV family, particularly the new Prado, rather than its bare-bones workhorse past.
Adding weight to the leaks, Thai outlet Headlight Magazine and Kurdistan_Automotive_Blog on Instagram have both published photos of camouflaged prototypes under testing. While the camouflage hides surface details, the proportions and driving position line up with the interior sketches, confirming this isn’t just internet rumor—it’s a legitimate step forward.
For buyers used to seeing the Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok, or even the new BYD Shark flaunt modern cabins with giant screens and plush fittings, the HiLux’s upgrade was overdue. Toyota seems to have listened, and the result looks set to bridge the gap between rugged utility and everyday comfort in a way we haven’t seen from the HiLux before.
Powertrains: Old Faithfuls With a Twist
Under the hood, Toyota isn’t rocking the boat too much. Expect the current 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines to return, with the 2.8-litre tipped to move to an eight-speed automatic (up from six) and mild-hybrid assistance in select trims. Outputs should remain close to today’s 150kW/500Nm (with 48V assist) and 165kW/550Nm in the GR Sport.
The entry-level 2.7-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is tipped to continue in some markets, though it’s increasingly niche as most rivals have dropped petrol altogether. Toyota is also considering a plug-in hybrid variant, possibly a 2.5-litre petrol-electric setup borrowed from the RAV4 PHEV—though a six-cylinder diesel to rival Ford’s 3.0 V6 seems off the table.
Whether the diesels will be upgraded to Euro 6 standards with AdBlue treatment is still an open question. Given tightening regulations in Europe and Asia, this may be unavoidable.
Sales Battle: HiLux vs Ranger
For almost two straight decades, the HiLux was Australia’s outright sales king. In 2023, the Ford Ranger overtook the HiLux to become Australia’s top-selling vehicle, driven by strong demand for 4×4 models. Since then, it has been able to stay on top throughout late 2023 into 2024 and 2025, and Toyota has had to really think about their strategy.
Yes, the HiLux crushes it in 4×2 sales, but will this semi-redesign (new screens, new mild-hybrid diesels and sharper styling) be enough to reclaim the 4×4 crown?
However, the HiLux remains an absolute beast worldwide; in 2024, it sold 142,865 units in Thailand, followed by Australia (53,499), Brazil (50,026), and South Africa (32,656), according to JATO Dynamics analyst Felipe Munoz. This makes it a real global vehicle, not just an Australian obsession.
When Will We See It?
Toyota is expected to unveil the new HiLux in Thailand later this year, with an Australian arrival penciled in for early 2026. Single-cab, extra-cab, and dual-cab variants will remain in the lineup, ensuring Toyota keeps one of the broadest ute ranges in the business.
Whether that breadth—and a long-overdue tech upgrade—will be enough to topple the Ranger is another matter. But if history has taught us anything, it’s this: never bet against the HiLux.
Sources: AutonetMagz (Instagram), cars_secrets (Instagram), Headlight Magazine (Thailand), kurdistan_automotive_blog (Instagram), JATO Dynamics via Felipe Munoz.
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