2026 Toyota HiLux: Next-gen ute spied looking much like the current one

The 2026 Toyota HiLux is getting closer to being revealed, and these fresh spy shots once again show the next-generation ute will share plenty with its top-selling predecessor.

Instagram account kurdistan_automotive_blog_ shared images of a camouflaged prototype recently undergoing testing in Thailand, where the HiLux is produced for markets including Australia.

The new HiLux is expected to be revealed later this year, which points to a local launch late this year or (more likely) early in 2026.

As we’ve seen from previous spy photos, the doors and roofline appear unchanged; we’ve seen Toyota do the same with the latest Camry’s front doors and roofline.

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While there’s fresh front- and rear-end styling, the new HiLux appears to be more of an evolution of the current model, which first went on sale in 2015 and rides on a platform dating back to 2004.

Up front, the headlights appear to have a similar shape to the outgoing model, but the grille looks wider and has a honeycomb pattern.

The tail-lights somewhat resemble those of North America’s Tacoma, which moved to Toyota’s latest TNGA-F ladder-frame architecture with its latest generation and adopted a turbocharged hybrid powertrain.

It appears unlikely this new engine will be offered in the Thai-built HiLux, with the current 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel – which more recently gained a 48V mild-hybrid ‘V-Active’ system – likely to carry over, as it did in the new Prado 250 Series, according to a report from Thai publication Headlight Magazine.

The current HiLux is also offered with a less powerful 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four, as well as a naturally aspirated 2.7-litre petrol four.

Whether the diesel engines will be upgraded to meet Euro 6 emissions regulations – and therefore potentially require AdBlue – is not yet clear.

It’s unlikely Toyota will add a six-cylinder option – such as the 3.3-litre V6 turbo-diesel in its LandCruiser 300 Series – to the HiLux to take on V6 diesel versions of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.

If the Camry is any guide, we can expect a completely overhauled interior with Toyota’s latest generation of infotainment.

Above: Previous spy photos from Headlight Magazine

The multimedia touchscreen could also grow. The Prado, for example, moved to a 12.3-inch unit with its latest generation, while the outgoing HiLux features an 8.0-inch unit.

Whether the semi-redesign will be enough to vault the HiLux back to the top of the Australian sales charts is unclear.

While the HiLux (pictured below) continues to dominate in 4×2 ute sales, the Ranger’s advantage in 4×4 sales allowed it to push past the Toyota for the first time in 2023.

That saw the Ranger become Australia’s best-selling new vehicle, a title it held onto in 2024 and which it may keep in 2025.

MORE: Everything Toyota HiLux