The new 2026 Toyota Hilux look has revealed from brochure images which show a new design stronger than the face of the Toyota Hilux, which is a sharp contrast to the current model. The next-gen pick-up gets stylish LED DRLs mounted on the edge of the bonnet, vertical fog lamps and an all-new squared-off grille which makes the vehicle look sharper and more aggressive.
Bold New Front End Design
The leaked images also suggest that Toyota will try to modernize the Hilux’s looks but its still keep its tough image. While headlamps are placed just below the LED DRLs and gives a two-tier lighting up front, the front is dominated by a new design. This design ethos apparently seems to have been inspired by Toyota’s overall design language where the flog lamps are squattedly located at the bumpers’ ends.
The honeycomb mesh grille now stretches wider, making the truck more imposing on the road. This re-profiled grille design combines well with the re-sculpted front headlights to produce a unified, slightly more modern look that ought to work just as well for lifestyle purchasers as it will for commercial operators.
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Familiar Silhouette With Updated Details
Although there are extensive changes to front and rear of the vehicle, the 2026 Hilux keeps its winning proportions. The door panels are pretty much the same as the current model, indicating that Toyota has stayed with the evolution instead of revolution approach. Side steps further add to everyday practicality and a black B-pillar along with chunky wheel arches ensure that the vehicle’s sporty spirit remains uncompromised.
Alloy wheels have also been given a makeover, with a black/grey colour scheme that complements the updated styling of the truck. A shark fin antenna is mooted in the leaked images too – contributing towards the modern connectivity of the car.
Platform Strategy And Launch Timeline
Instead of switching to an all-new platform, the 2026 Hilux will be based on an updated iteration of the company’s IMV system. That’s different to rivals like the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton, both of which received all-new platforms in recent years. The new one will be the third generation of the IMV ladder-frame platform first introduced in 2004 and substantially updated in 2015.
Expected Launch And Market Impact
The 2026 Toyota Hilux will go on sale in the second half of 2025 and production will kick start by 2026. That timeframe puts it among the prospective longest-running utes, and at an 11-year spread from when the current generation of the ute began production in 2015.
Prototype models have been photographed testing in Thailand, Toyota’s major production hub for markets worldwide, including Australia. The prototypes feature C-shaped taillights inspired by those of the North American Tacoma pickup, and a big stamped Toyota logo on the tailgate at the rear end.
Technical Specifications Expected
Engine options on the current Hilux include a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that makes 201.15 bhp and 500 Nm of torque with the automatic gearbox. It is believed that the 2026 model could debut mild-hybrid technology, but at the time of publishing, no exact powertrain details were available.
Key current specifications include:
Propulsion: 2.8L diesel, 201.15 bhp, 500 Nm torque
Size: 5,325mm (L), 1,855mm (W), 1,815mm (H)
Ground clearance: 225mm
Fuel capacity: 80 litres
Mileage: 12.60 kmpl (ARAI certified)