When it comes to pickups, we default to diesel power. In many ways, it makes sense as pickups are primarily for carrying loads, and the low-end pulling power of diesels make it well-suited for this kind of vehicle.
Of course, there are those who would prefer gas power for their pickups. For instance, just take a look at the North American pickup market. Normally, to compensate for the lesser torque gas engines offer, manufacturers are forced to add a large capacity engine.
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But advancements in turbocharging technology has changed that. Which is why we’ve been seeing more turbocharged four-cylinder engines power midsize pickups, at least in the West and the Middle East.
Toyota is aware of that, and an interesting report from Japan hints at one of the possible options for the next-generation Hilux. The said report comes from Kuruma News, and even claimed that a select few motoring journalists there were able to drive prototypes fitted with a 2.0-liter turbo mill.
Before you jump on the keyboard and ask where the diesel is, don’t worry. Diesel power is still very much in the cards for the redesigned Toyota Hilux due in 2026. It’s likely to have a refreshed version of the current 2.8-liter turbodiesel seen in the current model, perhaps with a mild-hybrid option.
But back to the 2.0-liter turbo-gas engine. Why the need for it? Presently, there are two gas engine options for the Toyota Hilux. It’s the familiar 2.7-liter VVT-i and 4.0-liter V6 units that have spanned two generations of the pickup since 2004. With that, it seems Toyota reckons it’s time to retire the 20+ year old engines and the boosted 2.0-liter will take replace both blocks.
Details of the new turbo-gas engine are still murky, but Kuruma News says it produces 300hp. If true, it’s a massive step up from the 2.7-liter’s and a good amount more than the V6.
As for the debut of the next-gen Toyota Hilux, that’s also up in the air. Per the company’s timeline, it’s targeting a late-2025 premiere for the 2026 model year.
