Toyota Australia has finally responded to growing interest in the plug-in hybrid segment by adding a new RAV4 PHEV to its line-up, so could the electrification of its dual-cab ute be next?
Pressure has been mounting on the Japanese manufacturer for quite some time, as the Australian line-up has long lacked a plug-in hybrid in place of a closed-loop system.
The segment has been heating up. BYD was the first to enter the Australian PHEV ute market with its Shark 6, while the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV was next. The Toyota HiLux's main competitor – the Ford Ranger – is set to be equipped with plug-in technology and is due in showrooms within the next few months.
Not to mention, the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will be cracking down hard on manufacturers of high-emitting petrol and diesel vehicles, which you can read about more here.
At the risk of falling behind in the market and possibly even copping big fines via the NVES, could Toyota bring out a PHEV or hybrid HiLux?
Will Toyota make a PHEV HiLux?
Toyota has not announced any plans for a PHEV or a hybrid powertrain for the HiLux yet.
Toyota currently has a 48-volt hybrid system, which is more like a mild hybrid to help the vehicle run efficiently, but it is not yet at the point of having something like its closed-loop or PHEV systems available.
At this stage, it seems unlikely that the HiLux will ever become a PHEV. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia's head of sales and marketing, told Drive that by 2030, the vast majority of Toyotas will have some form of electrification.
"We've made it very clear many times that nothing's changed. By the end of 2030, the vast majority of our cars will have some form of electrification, whether it's hybrid plug-in, hybrid battery, electric vehicle or fuel-cell electric vehicle."
While this may seem like a big hint at the HiLux's electrification, Hanley steered the conversation closer to the possibility of biofuels.
"I'm going to add one more because this is something I want to put on the radar: biofuels. People have discarded biofuels a little, and I think there's a future for some cars to reduce emissions through biofuels.
"We think that you can still build a combustion engine and reduce emissions, which is a firm part of Toyota's multi-pathway strategy. We've never deviated from that. We've never deviated from that position in the last few years, despite getting hugely criticised for it, and we don't intend to deviate from it."
We have discussed the two readily available biofuels, E85 and E10, here, but the crux is that E85 requires a lot more volume to provide the same amount of energy as regular petrol, and E10 simply does not run as clean to meet growing emissions regulations.
It's unlikely we will see a biofuel Toyota any time soon, as things like fuel bowsers, market research, and research into the fuel as a whole will take a lot of time.
According to spy photos and overseas reports, the 2026 HiLux appears to be a heavy facelift of the current HiLux, which dates back to 2015, rather than an all-new ute designed from the ground up.
Spy photos captured by Sank Ritthiphon Saiyaphrom for the Thai website HeadlightMag show that Toyota has not bothered to camouflage the passenger cabin's doors and structure, which are the same as those of the current model.
Reports suggest the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine will carry over to the new model, though HeadlightMag speculates there may be engineering changes to improve its emissions.
As for emissions requirements, Toyota is well positioned in its fleet to abide by NVES regulations. To put it simply, NVES covers the entire fleet, which gives Toyota some leeway to exceed emission requirements for the HiLux if it came down to it.
Finally, Toyota has hinted that its market strategy will see the SUV segment become number one, putting extreme emphasis on the new PHEV RAV4. This could likely see the HiLux slide further down the importance scale for a PHEV update.
"We certainly haven't given up on HiLux, and we have no intentions of giving up on HiLux, and we still think it's going to be a big part of our line-up going forward. I do truly believe that it's kind of hit its peak, the new competitors and new entries will stimulate it for a period, but not for a long period," said Hanley.
"I think SUVs will eventually [overtake ute sales]. Not this year, but ute will still be number one. But I reckon watch 2026."
While this is all speculative, the crux is that a PHEV HiLux is likely not coming any time soon. However, brands have surprised us previously, and it could still be on the cards at some point.
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
