Toyota tests SUV based on Hilux BEV, with features from the new Hilux

Toyota is testing an SUV based on the Hilux BEV, pointing to the Fortuner/SW4 and several powertrain options.

A new Toyota SUV was spotted testing in Thailand, based on the latest generation of the Hilux BEV. The Hilux BEV was recently introduced with refreshed looks and improved electric capabilities.

What is known about the base and powertrain

While the Hilux BEV is expected to arrive in Europe in April, the camouflage on a mysterious SUV, built on the same IMV platform, suggests a probable sibling to the Fortuner/SW4.

According to the Brazilian press, the SUV under testing could be the Toyota SW4, sold as the Fortuner in various markets. Even camouflaged, the design points to inspirations from the Hilux, featuring thin LED headlights connected by a light bar and a redesigned rear end.

Since the SW4/Fortuner shares the IMV body-on-frame platform with the Hilux, the possibility of electric, hybrid, diesel, and even hydrogen fuel cell versions is also being considered.

The Hilux BEV, in turn, is powered by a 59.2 kWh battery, with a WLTP range of up to 257 km, and up to 380 km in urban use. The powertrain offers a combined torque of 473 Nm, a payload of 715 kg, and towing capacity of up to 1.6 tons. Electric steering is a novelty for the Hilux line.

• WLTP range: up to 257 km (urban up to 380 km)
• Torque: 473 Nm
• Payload: 715 kg
• Towing: up to 1.6 t
• Electric steering, new to the Hilux line

Other data such as 212 mm ground clearance and the ability to wade through 700 mm of water remain aligned with other Hilux variants.

In some markets, like Brazil and Thailand, the Hilux will retain the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system.

Inside, the Fortuner/SW4 should follow the same layout as the Hilux, with dual 12.3-inch instrument panels and central multimedia screens.

According to Car250, the next generation of the Fortuner should arrive in Thailand by the end of 2026, but it is not expected to be fully electric; Toyota is likely to keep the 2.8-liter diesel engine, possibly adding a 48V mild-hybrid system.

Although the Fortuner is not planned for the US, Toyota confirms it will not be without electric news: by the end of the year, there will be four fully electric SUVs, including the three-row Highlander EV.

Conclusion

Toyota's strategy points towards a 100% electric line via various pathways, maintaining hybrid and diesel options in selected markets. The bet on the Hilux BEV as the basis for a new SUV reinforces the synergy between the pickup and the mixed-use SUV, focusing on load capacity, traction, and range.

Time to give your opinion: would you buy an SUV based on the Hilux BEV, like the Fortuner, if it were launched? Leave your opinion in the comments.