Toyota's new HiLux surprise for 2024! Japanese giant has a trick up its sleeve to take on the Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max

The introduction of Australia's first electrified HiLux isn't the only surprise Toyota has in store to wrestle attention back from the Ford Ranger in 2024, with the Japanese giant promising that new things are afoot.

Could that mean an updated HiLux will arrive to try and reclaim Australia's number-one sale spot before the all-new HiLux arrives in 2025? Time will tell. The brand is keeping its cards close to its chest for the time being - only saying that it wil be "enhancing Hilux at every single opportunity" - but it will .clearly not take losing Australia's best-selling vehicle crow to the Ford Ranger lying down

We know already that certain variants of the Toyota HiLux will introduce 48-volt mild-hybrid systems before the middle of the year, with the SR5 and Rogue variants to see electrification added to their 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engines.

Read More About Toyota HiLux

Watch out, Toyota HiLux 48V? Isuzu D-Max dual-cab ute to gain 'mild-hybrid' 48V variant in coming years - report Toyota HiLux EV vs Ford Ranger PHEV: Which is the right electric car tech for Australia's most popular utes? It's here! Electric Toyota HiLux Revo BEV ute concept lands on Aussie soil unannounced, but what's it doing here?

Toyota is careful not to use the word "hybrid", mild or otherwise, when discussing the HiLux, because any fuel-efficiency gains won't match those seen on any convention hybrid products.

"We'll headline it with the 48-volt assist technology, which customers, we think, will value and appreciate," says Toyota Australia's VP of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley.

But that's not where the HiLux story will end in 2024, with Toyota promising other, yet-to-be-disclosed updates.

"There are some things you can expect in 2024, but we'll announce them as we get closer," Mr Hanley says.

"As always, Toyota is focusing on providing the right capabilities for our customers regardless of what's under the bonnet.

"We've always said that we are focused on enhancing Hilux at every single opportunity, including for younger buyers as we have done with Hilux Rogue and GR Sport."

The promise comes after the Ford Ranger ended the HiLux's seven-year reign at the top of our sales charts in 2023.

The official numbers landed in early January, and they declared the Ford Ranger our new dual-cab king, with 63,356 examples finding homes throughout 2023.

That was enough to topple the Toyota, with a total 61,111 examples of the HiLux sold over the course of the year.

It ended an incredible reign for the HiLux, with the formidable dual-cab at the top of the sales charts from 2016 to 2022.

“There are so many people who play a role in the success of a vehicle. For Ranger, that’s our team of designers, engineers and everyone at Ford who pours their passion into making the vehicle what it is, our dealers who are passionate about serving their customers and communities, and ultimately our Ranger customers whose passion for their vehicle is what gets us up in the morning,” said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia's President and CEO.