Toyota has brought back one of Top Gear’s most infamous Hilux torture tests, but this time there is a major twist: the truck being abused is not powered by diesel. It is the all-new, ninth-generation Toyota Hilux BEV.
To test whether the legendary Hilux reputation for toughness can survive the transition to electric power, Toyota dropped a 760kg caravan directly onto the pickup from around 30 feet, or roughly 9 metres, in the air.
The stunt took place at Bentwaters Airfield in Suffolk, UK, and was inspired by the famous Hilux destruction tests carried out by Top Gear more than two decades ago. Back in 2003, the show famously subjected a Hilux to a wrecking ball, seawater, a building demolition and, among other things, a caravan drop.
This time, Toyota actually let the internet decide how the new Hilux should be tortured.
The company asked UK Reddit communities to choose between repeatedly attacking the truck with a one-tonne wrecking ball or recreating the legendary caravan drop. Hundreds of people voted, and the caravan won.
So Toyota put a full-size caravan on a crane, lifted it roughly 30 feet above the ground and released it directly onto the Hilux’s cab.
The impact was spectacular. The caravan was essentially destroyed, while the Hilux suffered visible body damage, including damage around the roof and rear section.
But then came the part Toyota really wanted to demonstrate.
After engineers inspected the truck, the electric Hilux powered up and drove away under its own power. Toyota says the vehicle suffered only modest bodywork scars from the impact and was able to leave the test area without assistance.
Toyota Hilux BEV: Key Specifications
Underneath that battered body is a very different Hilux from the one tested by Top Gear in 2003.
The new Hilux BEV uses two permanent-magnet electric motors, one at each axle, giving it permanent all-wheel drive. The system produces up to 144 kW, or around 193 hp, while maximum combined torque is reported at approximately 349 lb-ft (473 Nm).
Power comes from a 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, mounted within the ladder-frame chassis. Toyota designed additional protection around the battery to help it withstand demanding off-road conditions.
Key specifications:
- Powertrain: Dual electric motors
- Drive: Permanent AWD
- Maximum output: 144 kW / 193 hp
- Battery: 59.2 kWh lithium-ion
- Range: Up to around 159 miles / 257 km WLTP, depending on market specification
- Transmission: Single-speed
- Length: 5,320 mm
- Width: 1,855 mm
- Height: 1,800 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,085 mm
Toyota’s European version also offers a payload of up to 1,065 kg, depending on powertrain, while maximum towing capacity across the new Hilux range can reach 3.5 tonnes.
The Hilux EV also represents a major technological shift for the nameplate. The ninth-generation model receives a heavily redesigned front end, slimmer headlights and a more modern cabin influenced by Toyota’s latest SUVs. Higher-specification versions feature dual 12.3-inch displays, while electric power steering is also available in Western European markets.
But Toyota clearly wants people to remember that adding batteries has not turned the Hilux into a fragile lifestyle pickup.
The company says the BEV underwent extensive durability testing during development, including deep-water driving, rough-terrain testing and battery immersion. The battery itself is protected as part of the truck’s ladder-frame architecture.
And there is an interesting sequel coming.
Toyota has now handed the keys of the electric Hilux to the Top Gear YouTube channel, meaning the caravan stunt may only be the beginning of another round of Hilux punishment.
More than 20 years after Top Gear famously tried to destroy one, the question is now whether an electric Hilux can inherit exactly the same reputation for toughness as its diesel-powered ancestors.
What do you think? Has the electric Hilux earned its place in the legendary Hilux family, or does it still have something to prove?
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
