ELECTRIC AMBITIONS (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The ninth generation version of Toyota's indestructible Hilux pick-up now comes in full-electric form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 29

Toyota follows the market by creating an all-electric version of its ninth generation Hilux pick-up. Despite some design compromises, it's a proper Hilux to drive. And that's some achievement.

Backgroundword count: 107

Though Toyota has been talking about making a full-electric Hilux pick-up for a very long time, it's only with the launch of the ninth generation model that it's actually felt able to do it. In truth, this is a somewhat tentative step into this genre; design constrictions have affected battery size and range, payload and towing. But Toyota is proud of the way it's been able to preserve this Hilux's legendary off-road prowess with a completely different kind of powertrain. Ultimately, only a certain kind of customer will want a Hilux BEV. But it could conceivably satisfy that person very much indeed. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 282

Very early on in development, Toyota realised it couldn't have everything here. In the end, everything was thrown into maintaining off-road prowess rather than on-road range. It'll be interesting to see from sales whether this turns out to be the right approach. To create permanent 4WD, the Hilux BEV has two electric motors - one on each axle - together generating 193bhp. The battery that energises these has to fit within the confines of the chassis rails - which is significant because it means that it can't be very big, rated at just 59.2kWh. Which in turn means that range is restricted to just 150 miles. It might also bother long-time Hilux owners to learn that like all MK9 versions of this design, electric power steering has been at last been adopted. And, even more significantly, unlike the diesel, the EV has no differential locks or anything like a low-range gearbox. Instead, there's a Multi-Terrain Select system to control motor output. You just pick the mode you need for the ground you're covering, whether it's sand, mud, rocks, dirt roads or moguls. Or leave the system in auto to manage throttle, steering and the AWD system by itself. The BEV matches the Hilux diesel when it comes to approach and departure angles (which are 29 and 24-degrees respectively). It has the same 700mm wading depth, 500mm of wheel articulation and 207mm of ground clearance, but the breakover angle is 4-degrees shallower than the diesel, at 20-degrees. On the highway in the BEV, 0-62mph takes under 10s on the way to just 87mph. Mid-range pulling power though is strong, with 206Nm of torque developed by the front motor and 269Nm at the rear.

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