All-new Ninth-Gen Toyota Hilux Bows With ICE, BEV & FCEV Power

After being teased last week, the veil finally comes off the all-new ninth-gen Toyota Hilux pick-up truck. Unveiled in Thailand earlier today, the latest iteration of arguably one of Toyota’s most venerable and iconic offerings also sees a range of powertrain types confirmed.

The latter consists firstly of a tradition combustion (ICE) choice in the form of a familiar (carried-over) 2.8-litre turbo-diesel mill, followed secondly by a dual-motored battery electric (BEV) choice that bowed alongside.

Though not shown, Toyota also confirmed a hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) powertrain choice, but this comes much later – circa 2028. For now, both the turbo-diesel and BEV choices will go on sale first in Thailand starting next week at the annual Thai Motor Expo.

For the Thai market, the new ninth-gen Hilux (HIlux Travo) is offered in regular dual-cab, suicide-doored 'Smart Cab, and of course single-cab body forms. (Images: Headlightmag.com)

All-New Design

Visually, the new ninth-gen Hilux – marketed as the Hilux Travo and Hilux Travo-e in Thailand – now dons all-new styling inside and out. The exterior design was led by Toyota’s development team in Australia in collaboration with Thai and Japanese counterparts.

As for dimensions, it’s roughly similar as before. Total length reads at 5,320 mm whilst wheelbase length reads at 3,085 mm. Depending on variant, total width ranges between 1,855 mm and 1,885 mm, whilst total height stands at 1,815 mm.

Range-topping Hilux Travo Overland (left) and base-spec Hilux Travo 4Trex (right) pictured. Note the different bumper designs, as well as the shared new headlight and grille designs too.
(Images: Headlightmag.com)

The LED taillights are new too, as is the Toyota script badge pressed into the tailgate.
(Image: Headlightmag.com)

Depending on variant, ground clearance figures range between 224 mm and 225 mm. Also varied here are the flatbed sizes in relations to cabin choice. We’ll highlight the figures of the double-cab which measures 1,555 mm long, 1,540 mm wide and 480 mm tall.

Touting a new ‘Cyber Sumo’ theme, the new Hilux now rocks a sharper-looking front end inspired by the “Sonkyu starting pose used by sumo wrestlers.” New here too are the body-coloured grille and distinct ‘Toyota’ script badge above it.

Higher-end variants also gain black wheel arch cladding, though all smart- and dual-cab guises now boast flat-bed side-steps integrated into the rear bumper. (Images: Headlightmag.com)

Elsewhere, higher-end guises gain black wheel arch claddings, along with a different front bumper design with distinct corner inserts. Other new bits include full-LED lighting up front and in the rear, and new Toyota script pressed into the tailgate.

Critically, all double-cab – and coach-doored ‘smart cab’ – variants now rock a new Ford Ranger-like side-steps integrated into the rear bumper to offer easier flatbed access. New too are the design of the alloy wheels plus flatbed sport bar brimmed in select variants.

Similarly, the cabin has been fully revised to largely mirror the latest-gen Land Cruiser 250 (Prado). (Images: Headlightmag.com)

Like the exterior, the interior of the new Hilux has been fully revamped too as it now borrows heavy and rather bold cues from the latest-gen Land Cruiser 250 (Prado). Higher-end guises even offer dual-12.3-inch digital displays to boot.

Overall, the heavily revamped visual changes inside and out do a good at masking the new Hilux’s largely carried over – but also heavily revised – IMV platform bones it underpins.

New Hilux in 'Smart-Cab' form featuring 'suicide' or 'coach' doors. Underneath, all variant underpin the carried over IMV platform, but it has been beefed up significantly. (Images: Headlightmag.com)

Beefed Up & Modernised Chassis

For its IMV platform base mentioned, Toyota engineers in both Thailand and Australia have increased both the structure’s strength and rigidity. Included too is a new electric power steering module plus new and more supple ‘Dynamic Cloud’ suspension tuning.

For the all-electric Hilux Travo-e specifically, it gains bespoke De-Dion suspension setup, as well as a ‘Diamond Guard Underbody Protection Plate’ covering its floor-mounted 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Whilst the new TSS 3.0 ADAS suite is reserved for higher-end variants, lower-end guises do benefit with basics such as BSM (left), rear-view camera (right), RCTA, as well as rear distance sensor.
(Images: Headlightmag.com)

As for safety, the new ninth-gen Hilux see higher-end guises gain the full Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) ADAS suite. Lower-end variants instead gain a ‘watered-down’ iteration of which.

The latter brims lower-end guises with Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), rear distance sensor, not forgetting a rear-view camera as standard equipment.

For Thailand, Toyota carried over the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 4-cyl mill to power all ICE variants. The 2.4-litre mill previously available has been dropped in this ninth-gen Hilux.

A Familiar Oil-Burner

Under the hood, all-new Hilux Travo variants for Thailand are powered exclusively using a sole 2.8-litre turbo-diesel mill. Though carried over from the previous gen, it has been improved further in all aspects.

Said mill now boasts peak outputs of 204 PS, whilst peak torque reads at 420 Nm for variants primed with the 6-speed manual transmission option, or 500 Nm for variants adopting the improved 6-speed automatic choice.

With the revised powertrain comes a brand new MTS (Multi-Terrain Select) 4x4 suite. Besides 2H, 4H and 4L diff-lock modes, it also brings Auto, Dirt (4H), Sand, Mud, Deep Snow/Muddy/Deep Groves, as well as Rock Stone Floor (4L) terrain modes. (Image: Headlightmag.com).

Improved 4x4 Driveline

Toyota continues to brim the ninth-gen Hilux with a part-time four-wheel-drive (4WD) offering 2H, 4H and 4L diff-locking modes. However, there’s now a brand-new Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) selectable drive and terrain modes suite.

The latter works when either 4H or 4L is engaged, offering Auto (automatic adaptation), Dirt (4H only), Sand, Mud, Deep Snow/Muddy/Deep Grooves, and Rock Stone Floor (4L only) modes for drivers to choose from.

In other words, this new Hilux remains highly capable of traversing various terrain types still despite the promise of added on-road refinement through the supple new ‘Dynamic Cloud’ suspension tuning mentioned.

A charged new addition is the Hilux Travo-e BEV variant. Besides an all-electric powertrain, this variant also gains bespoke De-Dion suspension setup plus an added 'Diamond Guard Underbody Protection Plate' for its 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. (Image: Headlightmag.com.) 

All-New BEV Option Aimed For Fleet Buyers

Of course, the most charged new headline here – literally speaking – is the brand new Hilux Travo-e BEV variant. For The Land of Smiles, Toyota will offer it solely in dual-cab guise, and the automaker intends to market it primarily to fleet buyers.

Underneath, the 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mentioned juices a pair of e-motors – one up front, and another powering the rear axle. Altogether, the Japanese automaking giant touts a combined peak output of 196 PS whilst peak torque reads at 206 Nm (front) and 269 Nm (rear).

The Travo-e packs a dual-motor setup outputting 196 PS and both 206 Nm (front) and 269 Nm (rear) of twist. The claimed 315 KM (NEDC) range may not sit well with some, but at least the setup accepts 125 kW DC charging inputs on top of 10 KW AC. (Images: Headlightmag.com)

Oddly though, the battery pack mentioned can draw in 10 kW of AC charging inputs – not the usual 11 kW or Chinese-esque 6.6 kW. Nevertheless, DC charging is also available, and it draws in up to 125 kW.

With a full charge, the Hilux Travo-e has a claimed NEDC-rated maximum range of 315 KM, which equates to roughly 268 KM if you prefer the WLTP standards instead. We’ll leave it to you to gauge these figures in the comments below.

Whilst range may be questionable, at least Toyota will offer Thai buyers of the Hilux Travo-e with an 8-year or 160,000 KM EV battery warranty coverage. This comes on top of a 5-year or 150,000 KM base vehicle warranty specifically for this BEV variant too.

Range-topping Hilux Travo 2.8 Overland Plus 6AT 4TREK (4x4) variant pictured. This flagship is tagged at approximately RM175,691 in Thailand. (Image: Headlightmag.com)

Prices

For the Thai market, the latest-gen Toyota Hilux sees 18 variants available in total, with prices starting from as low as THB767,000 (roughly RM98,650) and peaking as high as THB1,366,000 (approx. RM175,691).

For Thailand, all ICE-powered variants see their prices include a 3-year or 100,000 KM warranty coverage.

Of course, the lone exception here is the Travo-e 4TREK AWD variant. It now stands as the priciest offering of the lot with its princely price tag of THB1,491,000 (approx. RM191,770) – yes, the BEV variant commands a stiff premium.

Check out more images of the new ninth-gen Toyota Hilux in the extensive gallery we’ve prepared below…