All-new ninth-generation Toyota Hilux marks iconic pickup’s new era with first-ever BEV variant


Ever since its very first generation, the Toyota Hilux has achieved legendary status for its durability, performance, and value. Now a decade after the launch of the eighth-generation model, the all-new ninth-generation 2025 Toyota Hilux builds on that legacy while marking a new chapter for the iconic nameplate with the introduction of the first-ever fully battery electric (BEV) Toyota Hilux — in line with the company’s “multi pathway” philosophy.

The all-new ninth-generation 2025 Toyota Hilux now takes on what the company calls “Cyber Sumo” styling motif for a tough, futuristic, and advanced look. It sports an all-new front and rear end, wearing the “TOYOTA” wordmark instead of the traditional Toyota logo.

The front end adopts a sharper, more aggressive look, featuring a new body-coloured grille flanked by redesigned LED headlights, while LED taillights now come as standard. Beyond the refreshed front and rear, the central section — including the cabin, doors, roof, and glass — remains largely unchanged from its predecessor.

Moving inside, the Hilux features a completely redesigned and modernised cabin that draws inspiration from the new Toyota Land Cruiser. The interior adopts a square, utilitarian layout with well-placed physical buttons for functionality and ease of use.

It comes equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch central infotainment display, with higher variants upgrading to a 12.3-inch unit, both supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Depending on the variant, the cabin can also be specified with leather upholstery and an electronically adjustable driver’s seat.

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Despite being branded as the ninth-generation model, replete with a new “Travo” suffix in Thailand (of which each denotes a new generation), the all-new Toyota Hilux actually rides on a carry-over IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) platform, with much of its underpinnings and powertrain carried over from its predecessor.

Nevertheless, all ICE variants now share the same updated 2.8-litre turbodiesel mild-hybrid engine, and is available in 4×2 or 4×4 driveline configurations, as well as six-speed manual or automatic transmission options. Output is rated at 204 hp and 420 Nm with the manual, and 500 Nm with the automatic.

Toyota also claims this latest powertrain is 5.8% more efficient than the previous 2.4-litre engine and 7.5% more efficient than the outgoing 2.8-litre unit.

As for the BEV variant, known in Thailand as the Hilux Travo-e, it marks the first-ever fully electric pickup from the brand. It features a dual-motor setup with four-wheel drive (4WD) via an e-Axle system. The front motor produces 112 hp and 205 Nm, while the rear motor delivers 176 hp and 269 Nm, for a combined output of 196 hp.

The BEV is powered by a 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery with a range of 315 km (NEDC). The system supports 10 kW of AC charging while DC charging is rated for 125 kW. To prevent any mishaps during intense off-roading, the battery and electric drive system are protected by the marque’s Diamond Guard technology. 

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The chassis itself has also seen several key improvements, Toyota claims, including additional body floor welding points for enhanced cabin strength and stability, a larger steering column for improved control, new rubber hydraulic engine mounts to reduce cabin vibrations, and a new Dynamic Cloud Suspension system that delivers a smoother, more comfortable ride while maintaining off-road readiness.

The new Hilux now offers 500 mm of wheel articulation, 700 mm of water wading depth, and a 2,000 kg towing capacity. Equipped with Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) and Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) systems, the pickup is engineered to tackle a wide range of driving conditions. It also offers six drive modes — Sand, Dirt, Mud, Rock, Deep Snow, and Auto — to optimise traction and performance across various surfaces.

Along with these new improvements, the all-new Toyota Hilux is also kitted with a more comprehensive suite of Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Notable new features include Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Pre Collision System(PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), and Automatic High Beams (AHB). 

In Thailand, the Hilux Travo is offered in 14 configurations across four trim levels — Prerunner, 4TREX, Overland, and the fully electric Travo-e Double Cab. The Prerunner and 4TREX variants are available in both single- and double-cab body styles, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The Overland trim, on the other hand, is offered exclusively with an automatic transmission, available in both single- and double-cab versions.

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