2026 Toyota Hilux Review: Cyber Sumo is all tech
This ninth-generation, facelifted 2026 Toyota Hilux fixes everything in the cabin that was wrong with the outgoing Hilux launched in 2022. Its cabin tech never matched its road presence, with a 7.8-inch touchscreen and wired-only phone mirroring. The 2026 facelifted version prices itself more aggressively too, at Rs 31.99 lakh for the entry 4X2 GX AT, Rs 33.69 lakh for the 4X4 GX AT, and Rs 36.69 lakh for the range-topping 4X4 VX AT. For something as recognisable as a pickup truck on Indian roads, the 2026 facelift pushes the “look at me” button even harder with a new “Cyber Sumo” design.
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Design: A squatting Sumo wrestler
It entails a sculpted bonnet, wider grille and an even more muscular stance that, at least on the designer’s sketch, looks like a squatting sumo wrestler ready for attack. Expect the same face on the next-gen Fortuner, whose spy shots already show an identical fascia grafted on, so whether you like it or not, it’s going to get ubiquitous very soon on Indian roads.
Cabin & Tech: Big jump, but with fine print
Step in and the new cabin is a genuine step up, literally and figuratively. More soft-touch materials all around, a crisp 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto replacing that old 7.8-inch wired unit, Toyota’s i-Connect suite, voice control, steering-mounted audio buttons and an 8-speaker system that’s acceptable for this class. Even the manual AC controls feel appropriately chunky, built to the same high standard as the rest of the switchgear. Cupholders in front of the AC vents help cool drinks if iced Americano is your poison, and plenty of storage options make it a practical place. However, the wireless charging pad requires orthopaedic precision to place it right for charging and even extract it out of its position.
That manual climate control and a 7-inch digital cluster are among the few things this India-spec model has to live with compared to the global Hilux, which also gets Level 2 ADAS. Stranger still is Toyota’s call to go with fabric seats, easier to stain on an off-roading day than leather, and steering that leans hydraulic rather than featherlight electric, going by the heft at parking speeds. The camera resolution is great though and something that you will need to manoeuvre this beast.
Off-Road: No contest
A 7-inch instrument cluster is rudimentary, but the Hilux is all about functionality. The hardware that matters, an Electronic Differential Lock, Toyota’s Downhill Assist Control, and the H4/L4 lever for the 4WD system, are ergonomically spot on. On a specially built obstacle course, the Hilux made light work of axle breakers, articulation pits and steep ramps, its approach and departure angles and locking diff were more than up to the task. Out in the woods on the outskirts of Jaipur, we forged our own trails; river, boulder or loose mud, it was unstoppable in 4L. With a wading depth of 600mm, we couldn’t find a stream or puddle deep enough to make us nervous. Through slushy and loose ground which would have many capable SUVs struggling for grip, the ATRAC (advanced traction control) on the Hilux is enough to get you out without even engaging the diff lock in most cases.
On the Road: Trail truck, not a tourer
Cargo capacity is rated at around 460kg, and the torquey 2.8-litre diesel’s 204hp and 500Nm, paired exclusively with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic, shouldn’t break a sweat even loaded up. On tarmac though, the ride is lumpy and the steering heavy; besides an excellent view out and a commanding driving position, there isn’t much going for it as a highway carrier of four. The second row is tight and upright, built for short hauls and luggage at best.
Verdict
Use it the way it’s meant to be used, and the Hilux has no competition in the segment. Toyota’s decision to offer a base variant at Rs 31.99 lakh but restrict it to 4X2 is an odd one though; buyers who lust after a pickup truck rarely want the “sensible” choice. It’s a bet in the opposite direction of its only rival too, the updated Isuzu D-Max V-Cross dropped its 4X2 option entirely for 2026, and still undercuts the Hilux by over Rs 6 lakh, but with some downgrades.
Editor’s Rating: 8 / 10
Pros
- Massive tech leap with new wireless touchscreen, i-Connect
- Genuinely unstoppable 4WD hardware and diff lock
- Sturdy switchgear, soft-touch cabin materials throughout
- Torquey, refined 2.8-litre diesel with 500Nm
Cons
- No ADAS or digital cluster versus global Hilux
- Heavy steering, lumpy ride on the highway
- Fabric seats, cramped second row for four
