The unkillable truck, renewed
The ninth-generation Hilux arrives in Britain with the nameplate's first genuine fork in the road: the familiar 2.8-litre D-4D diesel, now 48-volt mild-hybrid assisted (201bhp/500Nm), from £42,845 — and, from mid-June 2026, the Hilux BEV: a dual-motor AWD electric pick-up at £57,845, qualifying for the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant. UK sales are Double Cab only, running Active to the £54,095 Invincible X, with dual 12.3-inch screens modernising a cabin that finally matches the badge's price.
The working numbers survive intact where it matters: the diesel keeps the 1-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing that fleets specify by reflex. The BEV's range — around 150 miles — and reduced capability suit depot-based duty cycles, not the long-haul site runs diesel owns.
The honest assessment
Autocar's early verdict captures it: legendary toughness, now easier to live with. The new cabin, refinement gains and mild-hybrid smoothness address the old truck's crudeness; dependability heritage does the rest. The bills: a substantial price rise over the outgoing generation, diesel economy around 30mpg that no SUV-alternative flatters, and — for the BEV — a working range that demands honest route math before the grant seduces the spreadsheet.
No Euro NCAP result yet for the new generation; the old truck's five-star (2016 protocol) history and Toyota's kit list are the interim comfort.
The questions buyers actually ask
Diesel or BEV? Depot-radius urban fleets with charging: the BEV's grant, BiK and fuel math can win. Everyone else — farms, sites, towing: diesel, as ever.
Hilux or Ranger? The Ford drives better and configures wider; the Toyota holds the durability religion and now counters on cabin tech. Fleet loyalty usually decides.
Invincible X worth it? As a lifestyle statement, it's the one they photograph. As a tool, Active/Icon trims do Hilux things for £11k less.
- All-new 9th gen: diesel 48V from £42,845; BEV £57,845 (£5k van grant applies)
- Double Cab only for the UK; 1t payload/3.5t towing retained (diesel)
- First-ever electric Hilux — ~150-mile range suits depot duty
- Big price rise; ~30mpg diesel; no NCAP result yet
- Rivals: Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, KGM Musso
Key takeaways
- All-new 9th gen: diesel 48V from £42,845; BEV £57,845 (£5k van grant applies)
- Double Cab only for the UK; 1t payload/3.5t towing retained (diesel)
- First-ever electric Hilux — ~150-mile range suits depot duty
- Big price rise; ~30mpg diesel; no NCAP result yet
- Rivals: Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, KGM Musso
Sources & further reading
- Toyota GB 2026 pricing and launch materials
- Plug-in Van Grant eligibility
- Autocar first drives, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
