A new generation of Hilux pickup – Toyota’s ninth – is set to arrive in June next year and, for the first time, it will be available with battery power as an alternative to diesel.

The Japanese maker looks to have all bases covered with these two powertrains, plus a hydrogen fuel cell setup that is due to launch in 2028.

Internal combustion comes by way of the 2.8D 48V very-mild hybrid introduced on the outgoing range this year.

See also: On test: Electric assistance for Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V

With no straight diesel options – the 2.4-litre, 150hp version has been ditched – this will undoubtedly be the volume seller in the medium term.

It comprises a 48V lithium-ion battery housed beneath the rear seats, an electric motor-generator and a DC-DC convertor.

These elements support the 2.8-litre oil-burner to refine the delivery of its 204hp, and improve acceleration and deceleration – the latter through a regenerative braking system.

Critical stats are unchanged, with payload set at a tonne, towing capacity at 3.5t and wading depth 700mm.

They’ll also get the firm’s Multi-Terrain Select that allows drivers to adjust vehicle stability control parameters according to conditions by selecting one of five pre-set modes – dirt, sand, mud, deep snow or rock.

Battery power

As mentioned, Toyota will be offering a battery-electric model to challenge the Maxus eTerron 9 and Isuzu D-Max EV.

It has the same body-on-frame construction as the diesel – a format that appears to have limited the size of the battery to a 59.2kWh lithium-ion array, which is less than those of the Hilux’s Asian rivals.

This powers the eAxles that provide permanent four-wheel drive: 205Nm of torque at the front and 269Nm at the rear.

Expected range is about 150 miles – again modest, especially compared with electric SUVs – but Toyota promises “best-in-class” charging capabilities to minimise downtime.

Load bed and tow bar ratings are yet to be confirmed, though the firm tentatively quotes figures of 715kg and 1,600kg, respectively. The former means it won’t qualify as a commercial vehicle.

© Toyota

Fresh outside and in

These latest Hilux models will only be available in double-cab guise, as other derivatives sell too few to justify.

New Land Cruiser-inspired features include a fresh exterior with slit-eyed headlights, redesigned bumpers and classic Toyota badging across the nose.

Inside, the maker hopes to beguile buyers with an “all-round elevation of sensory quality”.

This presumably refers to the new digital dash display and horizontal touchscreen – both 12.3in – as well as wireless device charging and extra USB ports.

Mercifully, there still looks to be plenty of physical controls that will save drivers desperately trawling the computer to alter the temperature or tamper with off-road controls.

The newcomers will also be the first Hilux models to get electric rather than hydraulic power steering to reduce the risk of kick-back when off-roading.

And there’s a broader suite of safety and driver assistance systems, including emergency stop and blind spot monitoring.