Family Car Review: 2026 Toyota Hilux BEV

How much does the Toyota HiLux BEV cost and what are the options?

The Toyota HiLux BEV range starts at $74,990 for the SR Cab-Chassis and goes up to $82,990 for the SR5 Double-Cab Pick-Up (excluding rego, stamp duty, etc.). For families, the pick-up body style probably is the more practical choice, so you're looking at $76,490 for the SR or $82,990 for the SR5 that has more creature comforts.

It is a lot more expensive than the diesel Toyota HiLux SR5, and costlier than, for example, the BYD Shark 6 Premium at $59,990, which is a plug-in hybrid ute with about 80km of electric-only range.

The base model SR has ‘hose-out' vinyl floor covering, which is brilliant for families. You can wipe it clean after sandy beach trips or muddy off-road adventures. It also comes with fabric seat upholstery, a four-speaker audio system, manual-levelling LED headlights, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both the SR and SR5 come with the 220V/1500W household plug socket as standard, which means you can use the main battery to power camping fridges and other gear (if its small range is enough to get you there).

Step up to the SR5 and you get leather-accented seats with heated fronts, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, a wireless phone charger, an eight-speaker audio system, auto-levelling LED headlights, a heated leather-accented steering wheel, electro-chromatic rear view mirror, and rear privacy glass. The SR5 swaps the vinyl floors for carpet, which looks nicer but is harder to keep clean with messy kids and outdoorsy life.

There are only three colour choices: Glacier White (solid), Frosted White (metallic), and Ash Slate (metallic). Premium Paint is the only option at $675. So if you were hoping for a blue, red, or black HiLux BEV, you're out of luck for now.

Toyota offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. The traction battery gets a five-year warranty that can be extended to ten years with an annual battery health check. There's also an eight-year, 160,000-kilometre guarantee that Toyota will replace or repair the battery if its capacity drops below 70%.

How big is the tray of the Toyota HiLux BEV?

As this review was done at a media launch event in Queensland, I didn't have my prams, shopping bags, and other BabyDrive testing gear with me to test the tray of the Toyota HiLux BEV. I will do our full testing when the vehicle comes home for an extended family test in the coming weeks, so check back for updates!

The tray dimensions should be similar to the standard diesel HiLux Pick-Up. For reference, the previous model Toyota HiLux Rogue held 29 shopping bags in our testing. That matches the BYD Shark 6 (29 bags) and is close to the Ford Ranger PHEV (30 bags) and Kia Tasman (31 bags). It's more tray space than the Isuzu D-Max (25 bags).

The HiLux BEV comes with a tailgate damper with lift assist as standard, which makes opening and closing the tailgate that bit easier when you've got your hands full with kids and gear although like almost all utes it opens to toddler head height so make sure they're well clear!

The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don't want to move around while I'm driving such as my daughter's lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it's not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.

Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don't move around on the journey.

I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum's life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually measurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.

How good is the storage in the Toyota HiLux BEV for families?

Storage inside the Toyota HiLux BEV is practical for families. The interior in the SR grade feels hard-wearing with plenty of black plastic, but it's tough and built for off-road use. That means it'll handle the daily wear and tear of family life with kids dropping snacks and dragging sandy towels everywhere.

In the back of the HiLux BEV, there are USB-C charging sockets in the back of the central console box, so rear passengers can keep their devices charged while you're travelling.

The front and rear door bins have bottle holders, which is handy for keeping everyone's water bottles within reach.

In the front, there are two cup holders in the central console as well as cup holders on the dash. Those dashboard cup holders have got to be parent favourites because you can keep your cup of tea or coffee right at hand.

In the central console box, there's a 220V/1500W household plug socket that I'd definitely plug my portable fridge into with the snacks for the kids at the beach. Being a fully electric vehicle, you've got the battery to power it all without needing the engine running. There's also a 12-volt accessory port in the front.

The centre console box itself is a good size with a padded lid.

The SR5 adds a wireless phone charger  in the front and the front visors include lit vanity mirrors on the SR5 grade.

How many child seats will fit in the Toyota HiLux BEV?

The Toyota HiLux BEV has ISOFIX in the two outer rear seats. They're not within plastic guides but they're lovely and easy to connect to.

There are top tether anchorages for the outer two rear seats only. The setup is a little different to some utes: they're fabric loops behind each seat's headrest.

You pass the top tether strap through the loop and connect to the metal anchorage behind the central seat headrest.

You cannot install a child seat in the central seat because there's no top tether anchorage there. This is the same as most dual-cab utes on the market. See our full list of which dual-cab utes can fit three child seats.

I could fit two child seats in the outer rear seats with good space between them. There's enough room for an adult to sit between the two child seats as well, which is great news for families who need a parent or older sibling riding in the back.

With forward-facing child seats, at least a 186cm driver can fit comfortably in the front, which is great news for tall parents. With a rear-facing child seat, we could fit about a 180cm driver in front.

The rear footwell has only a small hump in the central position, so it's nice and easy for kids to get to and from their seats. The grab handles on the doors are a real help for kids climbing in and out of the ute.

How comfortable is the Toyota HiLux BEV for families?

Comfort in the back of the Toyota HiLux BEV is a bit of a mixed bag. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard but there are no air-conditioning vents in the back, so you'll have to rely on the front vents to keep your little passengers at the right temperature while you're driving. In the heat of an Australian summer, this could be a real downside for rear passengers!

The good news is that there are USB-C charging sockets in the back of the central console box, so rear passengers can charge their phones and tablets while travelling.

There are handles above both rear doors, so you can hang a little toy to keep rear-facing passengers entertained on longer journeys. There's also a light centrally in the ceiling, which is useful for putting kids in and out of their seats when it's dark.

I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it's really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.

Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON'T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a 5-minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it's not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!

It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.

Front seats in the SR grade have six-way manual adjustment with fabric upholstery. The SR5 has an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, heated leather-accented seats, and a heated leather-accented steering wheel. Much more comfortable for longer drives. The steering wheel moves up, down, in and out and includes audio, phone, and vehicle controls.

The media system in the Toyota HiLux BEV is on a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash. It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in, which is fantastic. There's also built-in satellite navigation and panoramic view monitor, giving you camera views all around the vehicle for parking and checking that no little ones are nearby before you move off.

One of the big comfort wins with this being a fully electric vehicle is how quiet it is. There's no engine noise, no diesel rattle, no vibration. For families with sleeping babies, that is a massive benefit. The indicator sound and other cabin noises are much more noticeable when there's no engine drone to mask them, but the overall experience is much calmer and quieter than the rattly diesel HiLux!

Toyota Connected Services come standard too, including SOS emergency calling, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle tracking, and remote vehicle status. The remote charge status feature is handy so you can check how much charge the battery has from your phone.

How safe is the Toyota HiLux BEV for families?

The Toyota HiLux BEV shares the same five-star ANCAP safety rating as the standard HiLux, scoring 89% for child occupancy and 84% for adult occupancy. It also scored 82% for vulnerable road user protection and 82% for safety assist. That 89% child occupant score is strong, matching the Isuzu D-Max (89%) and the Mitsubishi Triton (89%), though the Ford Ranger scores higher at 93%. You can compare all ute safety scores in our safest dual-cab utes for families guide.

The Toyota HiLux BEV features eight SRS airbags, including:

Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags that extend to the second row, a driver knee airbag, and a front centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.

According to ANCAP, installation of child restraints in the centre seating position of the second row is not recommended as there is no top tether anchorage.

The HiLux BEV comes with Toyota Safety Sense as standard, which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, and oncoming vehicle detection, active cruise control (ACC) with curve speed reduction, lane trace assist (LTA) with lane departure alert, emergency steering assist, emergency driving stop system, road-sign assist, and automatic high beam.

The driver-assist safety features also include blind spot monitor (BSM) with safe exit assist, rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), rear parking support brake, front and rear parking sensors, tyre-pressure monitoring (TPMS), panoramic view monitor, downhill assist control, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control, hill-start assist, and ABS with brake assist.

The safe exit assist feature works with the blind spot monitor and warns you if a vehicle or cyclist is approaching from behind when you open your door. Such a handy feature for families who are often getting in and out at school and daycare.

Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub's asleep!

The battery pack in the HiLux BEV is mounted between the chassis rails and protected by a full undercover. Toyota says it has used additional crossmembers and thicker steel rails to protect the high-voltage battery from water splash and off-road impacts.

What is the Toyota HiLux BEV like to drive?

The Toyota HiLux BEV is a great ute to drive. Being fully electric, it's smooth and quiet, with none of the diesel clatter and vibration you get from the standard HiLux. For families, that quietness is a huge win. Sleeping babies stay sleeping. You can hear the kids' conversations from the back. The whole cabin feels calmer.

The dual electric motors power an all-wheel drive system with six modes (Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Mogul, and more) that adjusts the drive and braking to suit the conditions.

Off-road, this HiLux BEV is really capable and enjoyable. You do feel aware of the battery sitting underneath when going over big rocks and obstacles, and despite the protection Toyota says it installed, I'd want to be more careful when driving off-road compared to the diesel HiLux. But it tackled the off-road course on the launch with ease, and the instant response from the electric motors felt smooth and controlled over obstacles.

The range is where families need to think carefully. The pick-up has a quoted range of about 315 kilometres and the cab-chassis about 245km, measured using NEDC figures, which tend to be shall we say optimistic compared to real-world driving. So expect less in practice, especially when towing, driving off-road, or running the air conditioning hard to make up for the lack of rear air vents in summer. That said, the range is probably than enough for the weekly school run, commuting, and local errands. If you can charge at home overnight, you'd rarely need to visit a public charger for daily driving, just longer trips where you're probably better of with a PHEV ute like a Shark, Ranger or Cannon Alpha.

According to Toyota DC fast charging takes about 30 minutes from 10% to 80% using a 150kW charger. AC charging from a home wallbox (10kW) takes about six and a half hours from 10% to 100%. Overnight charging at home will have you topped up every morning.

The towing capacity is 2,000kg braked, which is enough for a small boat, a camper trailer, or a box trailer for weekend camping trips. But it's a lot less than a diesel HiLux's 3,500kg and towing will use SO MUCH battery. If you tow, this isn't the ute for you!

The turning circle is similar to the diesel HiLux, so tight supermarket car parks and school drop-off zones still require careful manoeuvring, but the panoramic view monitor cameras help with that.

One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and the kids have either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful.

One of my favourite things about the HiLux BEV being electric is what happens when you're parked up. You can sit with the kids asleep in the back, have the air conditioning running on battery power with absolutely no engine noise, no vibrations, and no fuel being burned or exhaust fumes. For parents who spend a lot of time parked up while little ones sleep, or waiting in that primo parking spot at school pick-up this is brilliant.

Since becoming a mum I spend A LOT of time parked up somewhere with a nice view while my daughter is asleep in the back! If it's hot I need to leave the engine running and the aircon on but I do like to get out and drink my cuppa tea in the fresh air while enjoying the fact my limbs are free from said dangling child! This is a very important test as I have found that sometimes I have been held hostage by a cars BEEEEPING alarms when I have taken off my seatbelt or opened the door while the engine is still running!! (I only stand outside the car, I am not a bad mother!!)

The HiLux BEV is about 400kg heavier than the equivalent diesel version and payload is up to 725kg for the pick-up models compared to around a tonne for the diesel HiLux. Something to keep in mind if you're loading up with camping gear, bikes, and all the kids' stuff.

Additional Information:

Toyota offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for the HiLux BEV. The battery warranty starts at five years and can be extended to ten years with an annual battery health check. There's also an eight-year, 160,000-kilometre guarantee that Toyota will repair or replace the battery if its storage capacity falls below 70% of the original.

Its chassis frame has been reinforced and thicker steel rails to protect the battery. A full undercover shield protects the battery from water and debris during off-road driving.

Ground clearance is 218mm, the approach angle is 29 degrees, and the departure angle is 25 degrees (pick-up), so it's still capable off-road despite carrying the battery underneath.

Compare the Toyota HiLux BEV:

If you're considering the Toyota HiLux BEV as a fully electric ute for your family, here's how it stacks up against the competition.

The most obvious comparison is the ICE 2026 Toyota HiLux SR5. It's cheaper, has 3,500kg towing capacity, unlimited range (as long as there's a servo), and shares the same five-star ANCAP rating with 89% child occupant protection. If range anxiety or heavy towing matters to your family, the standard HiLux is the safer bet. But you miss out on the silent EV driving, the lower running costs, and that gorgeous feeling of running on battery power while the kids nap.

For families interested in electrified utes, the BYD Shark 6 Premium ($59,990) is a plug-in hybrid that holds 29 shopping bags in the tray, has about 80km of pure electric range, and a five-star ANCAP rating with 87% child occupant protection. It tows 2,500kg in Premium spec (or 3,500kg in the new Performance variant). It's cheaper than the HiLux BEV and gives you a petrol engine as backup for longer trips, but it can't match the HiLux BEV's full electric range of 315km.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak Plug-In Hybrid is another electrified option. It holds 30 shopping bags in the tray, tows 3,500kg, and has a five-star ANCAP rating with an excellent 93% child occupant protection score. It has less electric-only range than the BYD but more towing capacity.

If you don't need any EV capability and just want a great family ute, the Kia Tasman X-Pro (31 bags in the tray, 3,500kg towing, five-star ANCAP with 85% child occupant protection, and reclining rear seats to help prevent head flop)…

… and the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain (25 bags, 3,500kg towing, 89% child occupant protection) are both worth a look at lower price points.

For families wanting a ute that can fit three child seats across the back row, see our full dual-cab ute comparison here.

BabyDrive Verdict on the 2026 Toyota HiLux BEV

To sum up, the Toyota HiLux BEV is an exciting addition to the ute market and it does make a good BabyDrive for the right family. This is the first fully electric HiLux, so it's not perfect but does have some benefits.

You can fit those two child seats in the outer rear seats with good space between them, and there's room for an adult in the centre. Legroom is pretty good too, with a 186cm driver fitting in front of forward-facing child seats and a 180cm driver in front of a rear-facing seat or infant capsule.

The silent EV driving is a huge win for families with sleeping babies. No engine rumble, no vibrations, just smooth, quiet travel. And the ability to sit parked up with the aircon running on battery power, no engine noise, no fumes, is something every parent will appreciate.

The 220V household plug socket is brilliant for camping families, and the all-wheel drive with Multi-Terrain modes means this HiLux can still tackle off-road adventures (just be mindful of the battery underneath over rough terrain). For families who want an electric ute and are inspired to get out there are lots of great reasons why EVs suit families.

Where it falls down is range and towing. The 315km NEDC range (real-world will be less) is fine for daily commuting and the school run, but it won't cover long family road trips without careful planning and charging stops. And the 2,000kg towing capacity is a big step down from the standard HiLux's 3,500kg, ruling out bigger caravans and heavy trailers.

It's also expensive, starting at $76,490 for the SR Pick-Up and $82,990 for the SR5. That's a lot more than the diesel HiLux and more than most competing utes, including the hybrids.

No rear air vents is a miss for families, and the limited colours (all whites and greys) is a shame.

If your daily driving fits within the range, you can charge at home, and you don't need heavy towing, the HiLux BEV could be an interesting ute families who want the EV benefits in a proper, capable ute (but Toyota admits it's aimed at a specific kind of business customer). If you need more range, more towing, or a lower purchase price, the diesel HiLux SR5 or a plug-in hybrid like the Ford Ranger PHEV or BYD Shark 6 might suit your family better.

Key Pros:

• Australia's first fully electric Toyota HiLux
• Five-star ANCAP safety rating (89% child occupant protection)
• Fits two child seats comfortably in the outer rear positions
• 220V/1500W household plug socket standard for camping
• Silent EV driving perfect for sleeping babies
• Can run aircon on battery while parked (no engine noise or fumes)
• AWD with six-mode Multi-Terrain System
• DC fast charge in about 30 minutes (10-80%)
• Eight airbags including side curtain extending to second row
• Panoramic view monitor and full suite of active safety tech
• SR vinyl floors are easy to clean for families

Key Cons:

• Cannot install a child seat in the centre rear position
• Tiny 315km battery range (real-world will be less)
• Only 2,000kg towing capacity (diesel HiLux tows 3,500kg)
• No rear air-conditioning vents
• Expensive
• Only three colour options (all whites and grey)
• No child presence detection