Toyota’s first fully electric pickup truck arrives with rugged specs

Toyota launched its first-ever fully electric pickup truck, the new ninth-generation Hilux BEV. The Hilux line has a huge global legacy, selling more than 27 million units over the past seven decades. The new variant is an important shift for the Japanese brand as it expands its footprint in the market for electric cars. By engineering its first body-on-frame battery electric vehicle, Toyota wants to provide zero-emission transportation without sacrificing the rugged dependability that commercial truck buyers expect.

Customers in the United Kingdom and Australia can already place orders for this new electric truck. In the UK, the Toyota Hilux BEV starts at $57,910 before value-added tax (VAT) for the entry-level model. Australian customers can buy the base model starting at AUD $74,990 before local taxes. Unfortunately, drivers in the United States will not see this vehicle in local showrooms. Toyota has never sold the gas-powered Hilux in America, and import tariffs make a US launch financially impossible for the automaker.

The new electric Hilux has a Double Cab body that measures 209.4 inches in overall length and rides on a 121.5 inches wheelbase. The overall width is 73 inches across all versions, and the total height sits at 72.6 inches.

Designers built the truck around a styling theme called "Tough and Agile." Because EVs require less cooling airflow than internal combustion models, the front end drops the traditional open radiator grille entirely. The smooth front fascia sports a raised geometric pattern beneath the hood to add visual texture, with ultra-slim LED headlight units finishing off the fresh look. Instead of the familiar modern corporate logo, the classic "TOYOTA" name stretches across the front section in traditional block lettering. The truck also rides on model-specific, lightweight 17-inch aerodynamic wheels to reduce wind resistance.

To keep the vehicle stable under heavy commercial workloads, Toyota installed reinforced front and rear eAxles. These compact units combine the electric transaxle and the power inverter into a single lightweight package. The front motor generates 80 kW and 151 lb-ft of torque, while the larger rear motor delivers 128 kW and 198 lb-ft of torque. Working together, this dual-motor powertrain creates a permanent all-wheel-drive system with a combined output of 278 horsepower (208 kW) and 349 lb-ft of torque.

Energy comes from a new 59.2 kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack mounted safely inside the chassis rails. This battery provides a driving range of up to 160 miles under the combined WLTP testing cycle. For purely urban operations, the range jumps to 236 miles on the city cycle. A 125 kW DC fast-charging system can take the battery from 10% to 80% capacity in approximately 30 minutes using a standard CCS2 connection. For overnight charging, a 10 kW AC wallbox can fully recharge the truck from 10% to 100% capacity in about 6.5 hours.

Toyota resolved the issue of frame twisting when traveling over rough ground by adding a new front crossmember, an additional rear crossmember, and a dedicated battery sub-frame that isolates the lithium-ion cells from torsional forces. To maximize ground clearance around the rear motor, engineers used a de Dion solid rear axle paired with traditional leaf springs. This way the unsprung mass stays low to improve ride comfort while protecting the electric drive components.

The new Hilux sports a 27.6 inches water wading depth, a 29-degree approach angle, and a 24-degree departure angle. The under-floor battery positioning lowers the overall ground clearance slightly to 8.3 inches and decreases the break-over angle to 20 degrees. To aid drivers in rough environments, the truck gets a five-mode Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system. This electronic control system automatically modulates motor torque and individual braking pressure across five manual settings: Rock, Sand, Mud, Dirt, and Mogul.

Inside the cabin, the layout shares a clear design language with the new Toyota Land Cruiser. The updated dashboard comes with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen for the Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system, though the base Entry grade uses a smaller nine-inch display. The driver can view vehicle information on a digital instrument cluster that can use four distinct themes: Casual, Smart, Tough, and Sporty.

Despite the heavy battery pack, the truck is highly practical for commercial buyers. The rear load bay matches the exact dimensions of the mild-hybrid Hilux variant. Depending on the chosen equipment grade, the vehicle handles a maximum payload weight up to 1,576 lb. It also has a maximum towing capacity of up to 3,527 lb to handle heavy work trailers easily.

Safety technology takes a step forward with the inclusion of the third-generation Toyota T-Mate safety package. Because the truck has an electric power steering system, it gains Lane Tracing Assist and Emergency Steering Assist for the first time. The Pre-Collision System can now detect oncoming vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians at intersections. A built-in Driver Monitor Camera also supports an Emergency Driving Stop System, which safely brings the truck to a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive.

Toyota backs the truck with a three-year manufacturer warranty that owners can extend up to 10 years or 114,950 miles through regular servicing at authorized centers. Business owners worried about battery degradation get extra peace of mind from the dedicated Battery Care Program, which guarantees that the battery will keep at least 70% of its original energy capacity for up to 10 years or one million kilometers of driving.

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