A report out of Japan has shed new light on what to expect from the next-generation Toyota HiLux, with Best Car magazine claiming the updated ute will be available with a plug-in hybrid option when it arrives next year.

If the report proves accurate, it’ll be a major shift for Australia’s top-selling ute, which has so far only flirted with electrification through mild-hybrid diesel tech. The addition of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) would see the HiLux take the fight to new-age rivals like the BYD Shark, GWM Cannon Alpha and upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV.

Toyota hasn’t confirmed any technical specs, but rumours point to the hybrid system being borrowed from the RAV4 – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. That could give the HiLux a decent electric-only range.

There’s still some uncertainty around what’s happening under the skin. While Best Car reckons the new HiLux could switch to Toyota’s GA-F platform – the same bones used by the LandCruiser 300 Series and new Prado – spy photos suggest it might just be a heavily updated version of the current setup. 

The trusty 2.8-litre turbo-diesel looks set to stick around, now paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to help cut fuel use without sacrificing torque. That engine will reportedly be matched to Toyota’s newer eight-speed auto, bringing the drivetrain more in line with its larger SUV siblings.

Looking further ahead, Toyota has floated the possibility of full electric and even hydrogen-powered versions of the HiLux down the track – though those are still a few years away. Toyota has confirmed an electric ute is coming to Europe by 2027, so the groundwork is already being laid.

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