No Toyota HiLux hybrid any time soon

Don’t hold your breath for a hybrid version of the Toyota HiLux ute – at least not in the short term.

Toyota Australia has all but ruled out a petrol-electric or diesel-electric version of its top-selling HiLux in its current generation, and it all comes down to timing and economics.

With a circa-10-year model lifespan, the current HiLux went on sale in 2015 and is in the twilight of its existence.

While Toyota has not announced when the current HiLux will be replaced, it’s expected the changeover will happen around 2025, leaving only two years or so until fresh artillery arrives against the might of the new Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and upcoming Mitsubishi Triton.

It would be difficult for Toyota to justify the substantial investment required to add an electric motor and battery pack during the latter part of the current HiLux’s model cycle.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley suggested there was very little chance we’d see a hybrid version of the current ute.

He said it was “unlikely in this generation car” and added “that’s why we brought the 48-volt system”.

The 48V system he’s referring to uses a small battery pack and electric motor to reduce fuel use in stop-start city driving.

Unlike other manufacturers, Toyota refuses to refer to the technology as a mild-hybrid system, which will be fitted to four-wheel drive versions of the SR5 and Rogue from next year.

Curiously, it won’t be available on the upcoming GR Sport, despite it being the new pinnacle of the HiLux range.

Toyota will no doubt be keen to defend its dominance in the ute market and its reputation for hybrid vehicles. The Japanese brand accounts for around 90 per cent of all petrol-electric vehicle sales in Australia.

But others are fighting back and the ute market is untapped when it comes to hybrids. It could therefore become a race to go hybrid.

Ford has made it clear it is working on a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger and it could be imminent, but so far there’s no confirmation of release date.

And Mitsubishi is expected to release a hybrid version of its new Triton within the next couple of years, followed by a battery-electric version.

Either way, Toyota is working on electrifying Australia’s top-selling ute and most popular new vehicle overall.

A hybrid and/or fully electric version of the HiLux is due by the end of the decade as part of Toyota’s promise to electrify all of its models apart from the high-performance GR cars.

Toyota recently brought the REVO HiLux BEV concept to Australia to conduct local evaluation and testing.

While there are no plans to sell any potential production versions of the EV ute in Australia, Hanley suggests the technology will play a role in the brand’s moves to reduce emissions in future.

He said he was “pleasantly surprised how advanced” the electric ute concept was.

“We’re keeping that car [in Australia] for a while now and we’re going to extensively test it now.

“I’m more than confident that technology has a role somewhere.”

Toyota also has its eye on the hydrogen-powered HiLux recently unveiled in the UK.

“Our product planners will certainly get involved in that vehicle,” said Hanley. “In the fullness of time hopefully we’ll get access to it.”

While hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles are still a long way from mainstream – with some suggesting the tech doesn’t make sense – Toyota believes FCEV power could play a role for heavy-duty four-wheel drives, allowing quick refuelling and longer driving ranges than existing battery packs.