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Toyota Australia executives insist they are not resting on their laurels with the 2026 Toyota HiLux, despite a lack of wholesale change in its first major model update in 10 years.
The ninth-generation HiLux arrives in showrooms this month bearing the same core engine and chassis architecture as its predecessor – even based on ‘Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle’ (IMV) underpinnings which date back to 2004.
Despite that, Toyota is hopeful the 2026 HiLux will continue as one of the country’s most popular new cars, renewing its fight against the evergreen Ford Ranger and other rivals with a revised design, more compliant ride, improved cabin comfort and additional technology – updates which have coincided with an uptick in price.
Speaking with Open Road, Toyota Australia senior product planning specialist Rodney Lyons said he was confident Toyota had made a significant change to the HiLux blueprint.
“With the new-generation vehicle coming out, I think it can go pretty close to being number one again,” Lyons said.
“I'm not sure it's something that we're actively chasing. We're just aiming to have that vehicle appeal to as many people as possible.”
Pressed directly on the online criticism over the HiLux’s lack of wholesale change, Lyons was quick to water-down talk of Toyota resting on its laurels with the ninth-generation model.
“I wouldn't say ‘resting on laurels’ is the right term. I think the tried and tested parts of the Hilux mean that many people are still buying this car for its durability and its capability,” he said.
“There are other things that we don't want to sacrifice to be able to maybe appeal to a more urban-style ute or anything like that. We know the older generation HiLux is very strong in a lot of those areas, so we just want to make sure that is maintained. That's what we'll continue to do going forward, and I think so far we've got the product line-up to continue to appeal to a lot of people.
“If that changes in the future, then we'll have to look to respond.”
One thing Toyota wasn’t willing to change was the HiLux’s existing availability of a manual transmission option. As it stands, the new-generation HiLux is the only mid-size utility to offer it, Toyota citing worthwhile demand for a manual to continue.
“When we were developing this new line-up, we went through a rationalisation of the line-up to make it simpler and easier for customers and dealers to understand,” Lyons explained.
“The take-up of the of the manual wasn't enough to continue justifying it for every grade, but there's still the entry grade 4x2 plus the SR 4x4 double cab and then SR5 as well.
“I don't have the exact numbers, but I would say it would be less than 10 per cent of the take-up would be manual [which is enough].”
Lyons conceded Toyota revisited the drawing board “a couple of times” over the course of the ninth-generation HiLux’s development, in light of improved rivals, among them the Ford Ranger and an onslaught of Chinese rivals including the BYD Shark 6.
“It has been a pretty interesting five years,” said Lyons. “I think in the pickup space we're only going to see more and more change in the Australian market.
“We are really focused on listening to our customers’ needs and responding to those, but we may be not so responsive to what other brands are up to, for example.”
Toyota has left the door open to the HiLux Mini – a South American-based ute which is smaller in stature and geared more towards urban environments – eventually joining the HiLux in Australia.
“There could be a possibility in the future, I suppose,” said Lyons. “We're always looking to Toyota products globally to see where they can fit in our market and meet our customer needs and meet all the regulation requirements for Australia.
“But at the moment, you know, we've got the Hilux, and we think that that can continue to do the job.”
