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The Toyota Hilux BEV is the brand’s first all-electric version of its pick-up, priced from £57,845, and qualifying for the £5,000 plug-in van grant, with customer deliveries from mid-June.
The new 59.2kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery delivers a driving range up to 159 miles (WLTP combined) and up to 236 miles on the city cycle.
The Hilux BEV can be charged from 10-80 per cent capacity within 30 minutes using a DC 150kW rapid charging. AC charging up to 10kW, for example using a domestic or public wallbox, will deliver a 10-100 per cent charge in around 6.5 hours.
The load space of the BEV is equal to that of the Diesel 48V mild hybrid model and the payload is 710-715kg, depending on the model grade. The Hilux BEV can tow up to 1,600kg (compared to 3,500kg for the Diesel). The Hilux BEV has a kerb weight of 2,420 – 2,625kg.
With the all-new model, the Hilux moves to a single Double Cab body type. This will feature a five-seat interior as standard, with a two-seat conversion to be available later in 2026.
The all-electric Hilux is introduced with two equipment grades. The Icon, priced from £57,845, features include alloy wheels, side steps and Multi-Terrain Select and Downhill Assist Control systems to support driving in different off-road conditions. Standard equipment for the Invincible, priced from £60,695, includes leather upholstery, a wireless charger and LED headlights. Prices don’t include the £5,000 grant support.
The Hilux BEV has permanent AWD and Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), a five-mode electronic control system programmed for use in a BEV powertrain, adapting vehicle performance to suit different off-road conditions. In the Hilux BEV, the system applies precise, direct control of drive torque and braking, replicating the effect of using a low range transmission.
The driver can choose settings appropriate for different surfaces:
• Rock, for trails and climbs with large boulders and stones
• Sand, for beaches, desert trails and loose sandy surfaces
• Mud, for wet and mushy tracks and fields
• Dirt, for dirt roads and gravel tracks
• Mogul, for bumpy terrain – offered for the first time in a BEV.
MTS also provides an automatic mode with which the system adopts the most suitable setting according to vehicle behaviour and driver inputs.
The powertrain comprises front and rear eAxles that combine an electric transaxle and inverter in a single compact and lightweight unit. The front eAxle produces 80kW and 205Nm of torque and the rear unit 128kW and 268Nm.
The permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) system provides constant and precise control of drive torque delivery between the front and rear axles, in ratios from 100:0 to 0:100.
The battery has been designed specifically for installation within the Hilux’s frame. The requirement for the new Hilux BEV to be able tackle challenging off-road conditions called for specific measures to protect the battery from damage. A key consideration was the risk posed by excessive twisting forces in the frame when travelling over rough ground. Toyota met this challenge by designing flexibility into the frame and creating a new sub-frame that prevents the battery from being affected by torsional forces.
The battery is further protected by being located within the vehicle’s frame and by a robust undercover. The frame’s side rails are reinforced with aluminium impact-absorbing sections that provide extra protection in the event of a collision.
This is Toyota’s first use of BEV technology in a body-on-frame vehicle, a construction type that has been key to Hilux’s built-in strength and capabilities from the start.
The BEV underwent the same rigorous testing programme as other models in the new Hilux range, together with additional tests specific to its electric powertrain. These included deep-water driving to confirm the pick-up’s 700mm wading depth; high-speed water intrusion checks; off-road durability trials; and total immersion of the battery. To help safeguard against water entering the electric motor, the eAxle breather is set high up on the unit.
The Hilux BEV features a de Dion rigid axle with leaf springs which allows the eAxle to be accommodated without risking damage or compromising the pick-up’s ability to tackle very rough terrain.
The BEV’s 29° approach and 24° departure angles, 500mm wheel articulation and 700mm wading depth are values similar to those of other ninth generation Hilux models. There is a lowering of ground clearance to 212mm and a modest reduction in break-over angle to 20°, due to the location of the battery beneath the vehicle floor.
At launch, the Hilux BEV offers three body colour choices.
Toyota has confirmed that the range will be extended with a hydrogen fuel cell model, expected to be launched in 2028.
