Toughened-up 2026 Toyota Fortuner that could finally take down Ford Everest is coming - but will Toyota Australia even launch it?

A Toyota Fortuner that could reverse the model's underwhelming sales performance and finally take the fight to the Ford Everest is coming soon – but is Toyota in Australia preparing to axe the model just as its about to come good?

A new HiLux is coming in hot, and with it will come the new version of Toyota's ute-based SUV, with fans across South-East Asia – where it is far more popular – excitedly awaiting its arrival.

It will introduce all of the ute's improvements, including a fresh new look, better cabin technology, new interior materials and the standard fit of Toyota's 48-volt assisted 2.8-litre turbodiesel across the range.

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International reports are even pointing to the new model introducing a GR Sport variant, wth a tougher look and more off-road credibility.

But just as a more modern version of the Fortuner looks set to finally take the fight to the top-selling Ford Everest, reports have surfaced of its demise.

Toyota in NZ has made the decision to remove the slow-selling Fortuner from its line-up, with its executives telling local publication Stuff that the model had been discontinued to allow the brand to "provide a range of electrified powertrains and lower our emissions with a balanced product portfolio. We have now cleared out of all units and it’s not in our future production plans so has effectively been discontinued from our line-up".

In Australia, the brand has previously been pretty noncommittal, having only assured the model's "foreseeable future" in interviews with local media, while also pointing out that NVES is changing the game, and will change the lineup.

Toyota has pledged an electrified (not electric) version of every model in its lineup by 2030, which leaves the brand with a choice – either fit a hybrid engine to the Fortuner, or give it the flick.

It's looking increasingly likely the latter will be the case, but all will be revealed in time, with the new HiLux on approach.